Work Sharp, the knife sharpener company, announced the launch of their new limited edition USA Bolt Action EDC pen.
This pen is a collaboration between Work Sharp and Big Idea Design.
It features a Grade 5 titanium body and bolt action retractable design.
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The Work Sharp pen has a yellow pocket clip and bolt tip, with laser-marked logo.
They say it can be used with “common refills.” The regular Big Idea Design pen (more on that in a moment) takes Schmidt P950M MegaLine pressurized refills, which is a G2 Parker-style refill. That is indeed an easy-to-find type of ink refill.
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At this time, Work Sharp says the new pen is coming soon, and they list a price of $164.95.
Ouch, that’s a steep price.
I own some metal-body EDC pens, including bolt-action ones. I’m not familiar with Big Idea Design, although I might have seen the brand’s products before.
Bolt action pens are basically desktop and pocket fidget tools. They’re functional, and it’s something to play with when idle. It’s a mature alternative to clicky and twist-type retractable pens for folks who like pocket jewelry.
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That’s not bad, I’m just being real. If you spend more than say $20 on a pen, it’s because it does more than just write. It’s perfectly fine for EDC gear to have fidget-friendly operation, or a feel-good design.
But for $165?
Big Idea Design sells what looks to be the same exact pen for as low as $90.
The Work Sharp costs $75 more for what, a yellow-colored pocket clip, bolt pin, and laser marking?
$90-$100 is still a lot for a pen, but I think that’s in the realm of acceptable for a bolt-action titanium-body pen.
Here’s where things get confusing
Work Sharp advertises their pen as “USA Bolt Action Pen, Work Sharp x Big Idea Design.”
According to BladeHQ, the Big Idea Design bolt action pen that they carry is made in China. Amazon doesn’t list the COO.
On Big Idea Design’s website, they list a sold-out USA Bolt Action Pen with a price of $140. They also have a listing for what I presume is an imported version for $100.
I guess that explains the price differential. The import version is $90 and up, the USA version was $140, and the Work Sharp USA version is $165.
I’ve seen brands collaborate with EDC gear makers to offer less expensive import versions, and it seems unusual to see a limited edition USA version.
This looks to be a product for collector or folks who really like Work Sharp knife sharpening products.
If you like the idea of a metal-bodied pen but want something more affordable, Karas has USA-made semi-bolt-style pens with anodized aluminum bodies starting at $70. They also have a more traditional bolt-style pen for $79.
I’ve had mostly positive experiences with Karas Kustoms.
