Click pens, buy-it-for-life pens, bolt action pens, cheap disposable pens, there’s are tons of kinds of pens out there. While their primary function is to write down things on paper, tactical pens can do a bit more than that. Most tactical pens are intended to be low-key self-defence tools, which make them popular EDC choices.
Everyday carry items such as tactical pens, like tactical knives, are often underestimated, yet they can save your life or at the very least provide you the ability to jot down your thoughts and ideas. Tactical pens are usually made of heavy-duty machined metal, have pressured ink cartridges, and are small enough to be carried in your pocket, shirt, or belt along with your other tactical accessories.
In the event that you lose your firearm or run out of ammo, a tactical pen can double as a self-defense weapon if you’re both skilled in using it and keep it with you at all times. Impaling an intruder with a piece of titanium, steel, or aluminium is the most effective way to stop him cold. In no particular order, we’ve put together a list of the greatest tactical pens on the market right now.
What to Look for When Buying Tactical Pens
If you’re a survivalist, then a tactical pen is a practical tool to carry every day. This type of pen is low-profile, works as a glass breaker, and is adequate to be a self-defense tool. If you want to choose the right tactical pen, here are some things to consider.
Material and Construction
Military pens are usually made of solid material. Most tactical pens are aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium. These materials are robust yet lightweight enough to carry easily. Therefore, it is quite easy to find a lightweight tactical pen that lasts long.
The grip should be non-slippery to get a hold of the pen comfortably, even when you start to sweat. Some of the tactical pens have textured surfaces, diamond patterns, or grooves to enhance the grip. They even have that flat surface at the top to provide excellent leverage when striking.
The glass-breaking tip should be hard and strong enough to shatter glasses in one blow. The best material for this job is tungsten carbide and steel. As for the clip, you want something that won’t bend or, worse, snap off.
Ink
Most tactical pens have an actual pen tip for writing purposes. They’re equipped with pressurized ink cartridges to write overhead and in any unusual situation.
The ideal tactical pen should write without the ink leaking or skipping. It should write smoothly, even on wet paper. More importantly, the ink should be replaceable with many brands, like Parker, Fisher Space, and Rite in the Rain.
Type/ Mechanism
The type of tactical pen may depend on its mechanism. There’s a screw-on cap, push-button, or even a bolt action tactical pen.
A push-button mechanism is desirable for safety as it can cover the tip. Since there are no screws involved, this type of pen is easy to use and satisfying to keep clicking.
Screw-on-caps are the most secure as they keep the cap from falling off or getting lost when you use the pen. The only drawback is that you need to unscrew the cap to use the writing tip constantly, which can be a little hassle when you’re in a public area.
Bolt action pens are incredibly dependable and satisfying to click into place.
Style And Features
Tactical pens are available in various styles; hence you should choose one that fits your lifestyle. Choose a standard tactical pen that offers a self-defense weapon and writing instrument if you’re a city person. The top-rated tactical pen for self defense has a glass breaker tip to smash skulls and glass goods.
Look for extra features, like a firestarter or LED flashlight, if you plan to use a tactical pen in the woods. A tactical pen with a screwdriver and bottle opener can help you survive in remote areas.
Regardless of the features, make sure that you consider the discreteness of the pen. It should be low-profile to pass through security checkpoints and catch your perpetrators unprepared. As much as you want to boast, avoid those with brand logos printed on the pocket clip visibly to prevent tipping someone off that they’re not a regular pen.
CRKT Williams Tactical Pen
A self-defense weapon that looks as unassuming as a pen, the Columbia River Knife & Tool Williams Tactical Pen is one of the best rated tactical pens in the market.
This tactical pen from Columbia Rivers Knife and Tool is a quality self-defense weapon that’s perfect for your everyday carry. It features a smooth, and easily gripped surface that can withstand striking blows. It is also tapered to give you a comfortable grip even while writing.
The Williams Pen can also break glass; by using the pen’s pointed end. It can be used to break car windows if necessary in case of an emergency. It is made with high-grade aluminium to endure pressure without being too bulky as the pen itself weighs 6.4 ounces.
Pros
- Perfect for EDC
- Smooth, easy gripped surface
- Comfortable grip
- Made with high-grade aluminium
- Breaks glass easily
Cons
- Clip breaks easily
Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen
Those interested in self-defense and survivalism frequently discuss the Gerber Impromptu tactical pen. In spite of its weight, it fits in your pocket just like the Parker or Biro you’re now using.
Unlike normal pens, this one will never fail you down in any situation. Its Cerakote coating and machined steel body contribute to its resilience and toughness. However, the fact that it uses Rite in the Rain ink cartridges is also a contributing factor in this success.
It’s convenient to have a retractable tip because it eliminates the need for a cap. The tempered, machined-steel glass breaking tip is the actual star of the show. With the Impromptu advice, you may easily smash a windshield or fend off a thief. “
Pros
- The body is made of machined steel
Cons
- Breaker tip made of forged steel for breaking glass
- Ink Cartridges by Rite in the Rain
Schrader aluminum refillable tactical pen
One of the most well-known names in tactical pens is Schrade, and for good reason. They are known for producing some of the best products on the market. Although this 5.9-inch model is a tad longer and heavier than some of the others on our list, it has a wide range of additional capabilities.
Using a screw-off lid and a pocket grip, you can keep this concealed until it’s needed. In addition to the pen itself, you get four different survival and self-defense items in one package.
The self-defense and glass break end will astonish the assailants. Whistle at the bottom of the page if you wish to alert others to an attack, frighten off an attacker, or find yourself in the middle of nowhere.
Additionally, you may find yourself stranded overnight or camping and running out of matches or a lighter if you don’t have a spare. A fire can be started with the ferro rod and striker plate that come with the kit if this happens. With this pen, you’re never truly alone.
Pros
- Strong self-defense/glass-breaking point
Cons
- There are two pieces of equipment that are used to start fires:
- Whistle for help
The Atomic Bear Tactical Pen
Among the best tactical pens in the market, The Atomic Bear Tactical Pen is a device that works as a simple, easy to understand, and easy to manipulate weapon to protect yourself against unknown dangers.
The ends of this aircraft-grade aluminium pen can be used as possible weapons, but the pen’s blunt end offers a better thumb rest for greater control. It has a satin (matte) anodized finish. The entire pen measures 5.8 inches long, sufficient enough to stick out, and can cause serious damage to the attacker.
It weighs 1.3 ounces, so it has some heft. The weight makes it very comfortable to hold and write with, just a tad heavier than your average ballpoint pen.
Pros
- Aircraft-grade aluminium pen
- Satin (matte) anodized finish
- 5.8 inches long
- Comfortable and handy
- Ink cartridge can be replaced with any brand
Cons
- Loose cap/won’t stay in place
- Leaking ink cartridge
SureFire Writing Pen IV
In terms of tactical pens, the SureFire Pen IV stands out as one of the greatest options available right now. The retractable pen tip is one of our favourite aspects of this pen. Just as you would with any other pen, you just click the pen back into its sturdy aluminium body when you’re done writing.
The hard-anodized finish gives it a distinctive appearance that elevates it above the status of a simple pen. Schmidt easy FLOW 900D cartridges are used to provide a smooth flow of ink. Additionally, a robust steel clip is included for convenient attachment to your pocket.
What about situations in which you don’t have the luxury of taking notes or signing your name? Tactical advantage is provided by the aluminium body with its finely-sharpened point.
Pros
- Simple, but slick and sexy design
Cons
- Retractable ink tip
- Tough steel pocket clip
UZI Tactical Pen
A tactical pen should have a catchy name, in our opinion. What we get with the Uzi is exactly that. The model is considerably more impressive than the name suggests.
Since 1950, Uzi has been developing and manufacturing weapons for the military, including those used by the Special Forces, the Secret Service, and the Army. However, they are generally recognised for their high-velocity and high-powered weapons. For the sake of creating some wacky new products, they decided to enter the market for tactical pens.
People will regret using the carbide glass breaker tip alone after seeing your performance. Of course, self-defense isn’t the only reason for this pen feature. Using this method, you can jump out of moving vehicles or from high-rise structures.
This is a must-have item that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without.
Oh, and it’s also excellent when it comes to writing. This is an excellent all-around pen because it’s compatible with both Fischer Space and regular refills. What’s not to love about these tactical pens? They’re stylish and have a wonderful textured body for a better grip.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Extremely low cost.
Cons
- Tip made of carbide for breaking glass with ease
TF Takeflight Tactical Pen
This Takeflight design is a tactical pen with flashlight, bottle opener, and screwdriver, perfect for survival and EDC needs. As a device geek, I love the versatility that this pen brings.
For one, this EDC tactical pen has a flashlight that’s bright enough to blind an attacker for a few minutes. During power interruptions at night, the LED flashlight seems to come in handy to find my way in the dark. It’s a relief that the package comes with a spare battery to replenish the power once the original battery runs out.
The best part of this tactical pen is the glass breaker tip because it’s not just a single machined tip but something sturdy. On top of that, the aircraft-grade aluminum feels pretty solid yet lightweight. When I use the flashlight, I like that the glass breaker tip is on the other end, ready to strike for self-defense.
At first glance, the multi-tool parts look impressive, especially the screwdriver that helps me make some quick fixes in my electronic devices. The bottle opener has helped me a lot at dinner parties. Takeflight writes smoothly as a pen itself, plus it’s a bonus to have two extra ink refills ready, making it a reliable pen for the job.
Pros:
- Built with many features for versatile use
- Has a bright LED flashlight with a spare battery
- Designed with a sturdy glass breaker tip which can also work for self-defense
- Aircraft-grade aluminum body feels durable and lightweight
- Comes with multi-tools, like a bottle opener and screwdriver
- Writes beautifully with additional two ink refills
Cons:
- A bit of a hassle to expose the pen tip
Smith & Wesson SWPENMP2BK Tactical Pen
This particular Smith and Wesson tactical pen model has all you will want from a pen for self-defense. It’s durable, feels good on the hands, and is cool-looking.
Everything about this pen is solid, from the T6061 Aircraft Aluminum material down to the pocket clip. It’s the perfect size and weight to get good leverage for attacking. The end is pretty sharp to crack a skull if necessary, but not too sharp that it will make holes in my pocket.
The pocket clip is so strong that it stays in my pocket no matter how active you will become. Furthermore, the pocket clip sits the pen low in my pocket, making it better than the Smith and Wesson tactical stylus pen model for concealment. Thanks to the screw-off top, the pen is virtually waterproof, and you will be sure that the cap won’t get loose.
This survival tactical pen writes smoothly on paper as a writing tool itself. The ink flows like butter, making your handwriting look even better. You surely appreciate the Kubotan-style finger grooves on the shaft because they provide a nice grip when writing.
Pros:
- Has a solid construction of T6061 Aircraft Aluminum
- Has a perfect size and weight for easy striking
- Built with a self-defense end that will damage skulls and not garments
- Strong pocket clip sits the pen low in the pocket and won’t fall off
- Screw-off top makes the pen waterproof and ensures the cap won’t lose
- Writes smoothly and grips well with the Kubotan-like grooves
Cons:
- Needs to be unscrewed just to use it
Conclusion
Tactical pens are designed to be low-profile self-defense tools that can be carried every day. Aside from being used to writing down stuff, they come with various excellent features that will give you another blanket of security when you need them the most.
The best rated tactical pen will let you escape in a situation where you have to break a glass window in an emergency. They’re solidly built and can withstand great impact and changing weather. If you are into low-key self-defense tools, investing in the best rated tactical pen will be the perfect choice for your added protection.
