The BP-S fine point (I’m the one in ten who likes fine point pens) were my “go to” ballpoint pen for many years. Always wrote well. They used to come in red, blue, green, black, pink and purple. Those last two didn’t sell well but were available at least into the early 2000’s.
This was my favorite pen in high school! Yes there are green colored ones, and I also saw purple ones, at least here in the Philippines. That little metallic click when the ball lifts from the paper is nostalgic for me. Thanks for the video!
Right? It's a satisfying little sound. 😌 I especially dig it because while it indicates the ink cartridge moves inside the barrel assembly, that doesn't mean it affects the trace, such as the point bending when pressure is applied. It's a solid pen that happens to make a little 'click'.
Thanks for the review. I came over from the Cavalcade and this is the first video I’ve watched from this channel. I found this review interesting and helpful.
I believe Pilot is a Japanese brand - the boxes of retractable Better pens I had were made in Japan. It also explains the ink splotching problem: European and Asian ballpoint pens often use German ink which writes more smoothly but is much runnier and leads to leaking and splotching. Hope you try the Tru Red stick ballpoint pens next (I bought a box in black and blue and the blue seem to write more smoothly for some reason). I'd also suggest the Uniball Jetstream 101 ballpoint pens but those are somewhat expensive.
Hi ilurvemv - this particular pen was made in the USA, so perhaps it's using different ink then those made in Japan or elsewhere. I'll have to look for the Tru Red pens. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog I think the ink formulation is probably the same no matter where the pen is manufactured so it might be the same ink no matter what country the pens are made in. I grew up using these pens and don't remember them splotching - sometimes this is also attributed to hot weather. Or they could've switched to a runnier ink. My pens didn't have this problem but they were a fine point.
@@AlwaysAnalog Thanks for the video. If you don't mind my rant: My favourite ballpoint pen was the Mitsubishi SA-R with an SA-7 refill blue ink of the late 1990s. That shade of blue was unique. I did not write much with those pens. Now the same pens are available but I am not able to find the same shade of blue. Also they don't write as well; these current refills are not made in Japan. Will never buy these blue refills again😢 So the current favourite ballpoint pen is a Cello Gripper 0.5 in blue for now. If you are interested: Favourite gel pen: Zebra Sarasa Clip black 0.5 Favourite roller ball pen: Uniball Eye micro black/blue (0.5).
Interesting pen..maybe one day I shall give it a try. However, I have so many BIC ballpoint pens in my arsenal that I rather have a hard time to add anymore ballpoint pens at this point..thank you so much for the review.
Oh yeah, I know that feel. I have at least 4 Bic Cristals in standard 1mm and 3 Cristal Fine Points in 0.8mm, plus 3 Faber-Castell Triluxes in 1mm, all of which have awesome smooth writing. And that is just in blue! It's hard to justify adding _even more_ pens to the rotation.
I don't have a single Bic pen with me! I have used only one, once: the Bic round Stic. But you'll find some Cello Grippers, and various Uni-balls, Zebras and Pilots. Cello happens to be a part of Bic. Similarly I don't need to add more ballpoints as I have to use up the gel pens that are still left.
In my view, no object depicts the mid-late 20th century better than this Pilot pen. It's got a more "professional" air to it than the Bic Cristal, with the sharp texturing on the grip section, and the metallic front bit adds elegance to its design. Ink-wise, since my first experience Pilot has always used more fluid ink than Bic. So instead of minor stripes where not enough ink is applied, you get those minor splotches on the corners of the trace. They're worse with bigger ballpoint sizes, with 1.6mm being particularly messy, while the fine point variants are very neat.
Thanks, DFT. I agree that the design of the Pilot barrel is very well done. I really like the metal tip - makes the pen feel more substantial. I haven't tried the fine point, as I generally like a broader line, but I'll pick one up the next time I see one to compare. Thanks!
Hi - here's what I heard - "S" stands for stick, and the BP might mean "Better ballpoint" Pen Stick; this is stick as opposed to retractable which they also make, which is called "BP-S matic" for stick matic I guess!
This very pen was available in India as a clone: cannot remember the name (Sharp or something), in the late 80s and early 90s. In those days Pilot pens used to be quite expensive in India. Have you tried out the Zebra Sarasa line of gel ballpoints pens?
I love the retractable version of this pen. Probably my favorite pen.
Hi RBS - I know this pen has a big following of fans! Thanks!
The BP-S fine point (I’m the one in ten who likes fine point pens) were my “go to” ballpoint pen for many years. Always wrote well. They used to come in red, blue, green, black, pink and purple. Those last two didn’t sell well but were available at least into the early 2000’s.
Nice review. I do remember using some of these way back in my high school days. Nice shade of blue ink.
Thanks, ebodaman!
And have you used a Mitsubishi SA-R blue ink ballpoint pen? Did you compare the shades? I liked that shade of blue, but I have never used the BP-S.
This was my favorite pen in high school! Yes there are green colored ones, and I also saw purple ones, at least here in the Philippines. That little metallic click when the ball lifts from the paper is nostalgic for me. Thanks for the video!
Right? It's a satisfying little sound. 😌
I especially dig it because while it indicates the ink cartridge moves inside the barrel assembly, that doesn't mean it affects the trace, such as the point bending when pressure is applied. It's a solid pen that happens to make a little 'click'.
Hi ronciego! There is that faint little noise from this pen. It reminds you that you're working!
Thanks for the review. I came over from the Cavalcade and this is the first video I’ve watched from this channel. I found this review interesting and helpful.
Welcome, Cynthia! If you enjoy handwriting and typewriters, you'll be right at home here.
@@DinnerForkTongue Yes, I do!
Hi Cynthia! Thanks for checking out Always Analog!
I believe Pilot is a Japanese brand - the boxes of retractable Better pens I had were made in Japan. It also explains the ink splotching problem: European and Asian ballpoint pens often use German ink which writes more smoothly but is much runnier and leads to leaking and splotching.
Hope you try the Tru Red stick ballpoint pens next (I bought a box in black and blue and the blue seem to write more smoothly for some reason). I'd also suggest the Uniball Jetstream 101 ballpoint pens but those are somewhat expensive.
Hi ilurvemv - this particular pen was made in the USA, so perhaps it's using different ink then those made in Japan or elsewhere. I'll have to look for the Tru Red pens. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog I think the ink formulation is probably the same no matter where the pen is manufactured so it might be the same ink no matter what country the pens are made in. I grew up using these pens and don't remember them splotching - sometimes this is also attributed to hot weather. Or they could've switched to a runnier ink. My pens didn't have this problem but they were a fine point.
@@AlwaysAnalog I have a box of the Tru Red pens if you can't find them but it's a box of black pens. Their blue pens do seem to be better though.
PILOT is certainly a Japanese company. Pilot Corporation. Mr. Shu Itoh is the president.
You're the person to ask, what is your favorite ballpoint pen? Do you prefer black or blue ink?
Hi Flowerdork! My favorite ballpoint pen is a Bic Cristal Soft (1.2mm tip) and I always prefer blue ink. Thanks!
@@AlwaysAnalog Thanks for the video. If you don't mind my rant: My favourite ballpoint pen was the Mitsubishi SA-R with an SA-7 refill blue ink of the late 1990s. That shade of blue was unique. I did not write much with those pens. Now the same pens are available but I am not able to find the same shade of blue. Also they don't write as well; these current refills are not made in Japan. Will never buy these blue refills again😢
So the current favourite ballpoint pen is a Cello Gripper 0.5 in blue for now.
If you are interested:
Favourite gel pen: Zebra Sarasa Clip black 0.5
Favourite roller ball pen: Uniball Eye micro black/blue (0.5).
Interesting pen..maybe one day I shall give it a try. However, I have so many BIC ballpoint pens in my arsenal that I rather have a hard time to add anymore ballpoint pens at this point..thank you so much for the review.
Hi mojahangard! Yes, I understand! I have a good supply of Bics also, so I don't have a lot of room for too many other pens! Thanks!
Oh yeah, I know that feel. I have at least 4 Bic Cristals in standard 1mm and 3 Cristal Fine Points in 0.8mm, plus 3 Faber-Castell Triluxes in 1mm, all of which have awesome smooth writing. And that is just in blue! It's hard to justify adding _even more_ pens to the rotation.
I don't have a single Bic pen with me! I have used only one, once: the Bic round Stic. But you'll find some Cello Grippers, and various Uni-balls, Zebras and Pilots. Cello happens to be a part of Bic. Similarly I don't need to add more ballpoints as I have to use up the gel pens that are still left.
In my view, no object depicts the mid-late 20th century better than this Pilot pen. It's got a more "professional" air to it than the Bic Cristal, with the sharp texturing on the grip section, and the metallic front bit adds elegance to its design.
Ink-wise, since my first experience Pilot has always used more fluid ink than Bic. So instead of minor stripes where not enough ink is applied, you get those minor splotches on the corners of the trace. They're worse with bigger ballpoint sizes, with 1.6mm being particularly messy, while the fine point variants are very neat.
Thanks, DFT. I agree that the design of the Pilot barrel is very well done. I really like the metal tip - makes the pen feel more substantial. I haven't tried the fine point, as I generally like a broader line, but I'll pick one up the next time I see one to compare. Thanks!
Would anyone know what is the meaning of letter and number combination at the side of the pen? Mine says pilot bp-s fine Japan V22
Hi Karren - hoping someone knows the answer! It may be a model number or some other identifier - I'm not sure. Thanks!
Hi - here's what I heard - "S" stands for stick, and the BP might mean "Better ballpoint" Pen Stick; this is stick as opposed to retractable which they also make, which is called "BP-S matic" for stick matic I guess!
This very pen was available in India as a clone: cannot remember the name (Sharp or something), in the late 80s and early 90s. In those days Pilot pens used to be quite expensive in India. Have you tried out the Zebra Sarasa line of gel ballpoints pens?
Hi UXD - I've not tried the Zebra Sarasa line. I generally don't use gel pens, but if I see one I'll pick it up. Thanks!
I bought a pen that looked like this at a Dollar Store. It was called "Bazic".
your pen does not write on paper but on hands
Yes, that is one of the issues with this pen. Thanks for watching!