Where can I order the pencils used in the PSP? I used to order them through survival resources but they are no longer on their website.

You could try making some. It is a little spendy, but it may be useful. Here is a link: http://www.instructables.com/id/mini-pencil-for-survival-kit/

Here is a link to the Staedtler site showing a thick pencil lead.
http://www.staedtler.com/Mars_carbon_gb.Staedtler

You could also try sourcing the pens for the Swiss Army knives.

Good luck.

Standard Disclaimer

My $.02

I'm guessing the golf store.

Just wander into the pro shop at the local golf course, admire the merchandise and view out the window, get a souvenir score card and a few pencils, and leave. If you feel a bit guilty, eat a little something at the snack shop or restaurant.

Golf sized pencils are available at any Staples. I think I paid about $8.00 for a box of about 150 of them...not for survival purposes obviously. I have also seen smaller packs of 5-10 pencils at dollar stores.

Best place, as others have mentioned is the local golf course or ask around at your work. There are usually more then a few golfers in any decent sized workplace who will spot you a few pencils.

Golf pencils are considerably thicker than the one in the DR PSK.

A positive if you intend to use a knife or manual pencil sharpener to create wood shavings from the pencil or other small dry wood as part of fire-starting tinder.

Just use a fine toothed saw (mini hacksaw) and make them yourself. Works for china markers too. Or just save your old worn down pencils for your EDC kits.

I picked up a box of 150 golf pencils at our local Staples for $7.99. They're thicker than the ones in the DR PSK but I like that - easier to to shave with a knife!

If that doesn't work, pop into the pro shop of your local golf shop. They'll probably give you a few on the house.

Wow. I went through the Instructable link. I am equal parts amazed at the ingenuity and scared by the OCD some people have at being ultralight for a PSK.

IMHO I don't see the need for anything less than a golf pencil, for the obvious reasons above, plus just sharpen the thing down to 1 inch and your good to go. Furthermore if you carry your PSK as part of a larger scheme of EDC, (like in a daily backpack or work bag) then there should be multiple writing devices in there anyway.

The hard part is finding something to write on that can be found and read. In fact, based on the ETS forum, For my hiking I ditched my grease pencil and switched to a sharpie and a 35mm tube of bright orange plastic tree tape. Write on the tape, pull apart, tie it around something for contrast and movement, move on.

The trouble with dollar stores is that each kind carries different stuff. The best chain around here went out of business -- they had a GREAT buyer.

Sue

There is a model of the SAK Classic that incorporates a ballpoint pen. I prefer to EDC that model and the pen has come in handy fairly often.

I say get some thick mechanical pencil refiles and throw a coat of enamel spray paint on um.

Or wrap some glued paper round and round the lead refill. Papier mache pencils! Sharpen with an emery board.

Sue

Genius!

I sell these for $12 a piece, plus $5 shipping and handling. There's a small wait time, 3 weeks right now due to the survival holidays.

Umm, dumb question here. What about buying a box of #2 wood pencils (5-10 cents each) and cutting them short? For a more robust implement, use "contractors pencils" (10-60 cents each)from the hardware store.

If you have to have a neato toy, buy one of these.
http://www.penagain.com/index.html

Good idea, but those aren't survival pencils. Do you reall want to bet your life on a regular pencil? I don't think so.

Now, THAT'S funny!

Mark, regular yellow pencils, even cut down, take up too much room in an Altoids tin. We want the hard-to-find stuff.

Sue

This also doubles as being able to decorate your survival retreat. Keeps the tarp from being as drab.

Glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read this, Sue!

The best bet for the original poster might be a Victorinox dealer.
If you are satisfied with the hard-to-find stuff, you cannot be too serious about being prepared wink. The real thing would be a custom made mechanical pencil with build-in sparking device.

which, in turn, was enclosed in a para cord bracelet, that had a condom also entwined on the opposite side.

Think that'll be the new DR PSK-lite?

$12 each?! Seriously! Wow! Good business if you can find customers.

LOL!

"Survival with Martha Stewart: Keeping your spirits up while awaiting rescue."



Sue

Great idea!
At least the pencil/sparking device should be doable in a size that fits into an Altoids can. I build a springless design mechanical pencil around a 3.2 mm lead. It is just over 2" long and about 1/4" in diameter. The size is a little uncomfortable for writing.

You have given me an idea (always scary).
Combine Fisher Space Pen Refill with pencil in a survival sized form factor.
Presently Fisher makes a compact one which has either a bullet style or a pull up style expansion "rod".
Now just either modify one or take the refill and somehow add a mechanical pencil to it. It would still be smaller than a golf sized pencil and give you write in the rain ability as well.
A little shrink tube, a little old pencil, maybe an old clutch type pencil with 2mm lead and your there.

What's the market, both survival and "wallet" use.

The PSP uses a thin red pencil. They are manufactured by somebody. I do not want a cut down pencil, a shaved down pencil, one to use as tinder, or one that has other functions.

You can see a picture of the pencil if you go to Ritters PSP site.

Does anyone know a source for this particular pencil???????

I found a source about 1.5 years ago. Of course, I have slept since then and have forgotten where. My thought is/was that you have to buy these things by the gross from any of the sources you may find. What are you going to do with 144 pencils?

Notch the ends, and have a pack of multi-use portable Lincoln Logs to take for that quiet night around the fire?

Not sure if its the same thing, but the first google search result for "tiny pencils" was this.

http://www.vippies.com/vippiesticks.htm

I have the tactical version for $15 each.

I believe you have found the elusive tiny tiny pencil. Good find.

Pete

Well done LED, well done. I don't know what the prize is, but you have just won it!

After you get a pencil, send it to me for artisanal sharpening ($25/tip). I have my blades sharpened in Japan by craftsmen trained in the traditional apprentice system. The tactical pencils will have to get tactical sharpening ($30/tip). OD/coyote/digital camo are optional. I'll throw in for free three sheets paper hand-cut to the dimension of your specification.

You can also buy an annual subscription.

Da Bing

Only if you can add a licensed DR logo somewhere on my tacticool pencil....

For the right price......

(If you have to ask, you cannot afford it)

I'm saving up but it's hard on the retirement income :-)

Everyone is overlooking the fact that my survival pencil comes complete with an eraser (once again for $12 + $5 S&H), essential for those embarrassing moments when you make a mistake while using your last ounce of strength to write out a Last Will and Testament. One tool, many uses.

Hi Sotto, Looks like your tactical pencils have a flat grind, have you given any thought to a convex version or the ever popular Scandi ?

LOL!!!
-Blast, who now has to clean coffee off his screen.

Aussie: Of course, this fits right in with my company motto, "Anything for a buck." I'm happy to take pre-paid orders for convex, Scandi, or any other grinds for my tactical survival pencils with the understanding that it will cause a substantial but uncertain prolongation of the waiting period. The advance payment is needed to upgrade my tooling, but I assure everyone that the wait will be worth it. I'm also gearing up to produce hand-sewn toilet-roll holsters for the pencils available in any color as long as it's brown.

Also, I'm a little busy right now so I may not get back to PMs right away. Go ahead and send money though.

I sounds like you're ready to take on a government contract

LOL!!

Sotto, I PM'd you my cc info and order for a dozen survival pencils, tactical grind. Please verify my order and shipping date when you have a minute. Also, do I get a discount on shipping for a quantity order?

While I wait for Sotto's industry-shattering products, I will have to make do with my CountyComm Pico Pen. I keep one on my keychain at all times, and it's been quite useful over the years. It is small enough to fit in a candy tin, with or without the magnetic cap. The magnetic cap might actually be a benefit, as it would make the pen "stick" inside the tin, less likely to get lost.

Linky: http://countycomm.com/picopen.html

Unfortunately, you can't use the Pico Pen for kindling.

After a lot of searching, I find 2 tiny and inexpensive pens, that are more suited to a wallet or elsewhere where you want something very thin. For a keychain, the pico pen and Inka both seem great, But I was looking for something for my wallet. The first link below is a bit smaller, and is about $10 shipped on ebay. Hopefully someone will find these links useful:

http://www.jetpens.com/Ohto-Petit-B-Needle-Point-Ballpoint-Pen-0.5-mm-Orange-Body/pd/5324

http://www.thewritingpenstore.com/p-149-derringer-wallet-pen.aspx

I EDC the version of the SAK Classic that incorporates a small, but very functional ball point pen. It has come in handy several times.

Interesting thread!

Another source of small pencils: a local artist.

Good quality sketching pencils have wide, soft leads and because of their high price they are used almost all the way up, using a pencil extension holder. (Sort of like an old-fashioned cigarette holder) You can ask for the stubbie leftover bit and it will still have a considerable amount of lead in it. Not enough to write a novel, but enough for basic directions, etc.

As seen in the pocket kit I posted earlier:

http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showgallery&Number=241840



If you don't know someone who still works in traditional mediums (so many are going digital these days) you can purchase one of these pencils yourself*, and, after whittling it down (or doodling for about 60+ hours) you'll have an amazing tool that will be MUCH more reliable than any golf pencil or ballpoint pen. Seriously.




*Derwent's 4B sketching pencil especially recommended.
http://www.dickblick.com/items/22040-1050/?wmcp=google&wmcid=items&wmckw=22040-1050

I can find some in white if you need some ( plenty at work ).

Lee