Yee-haw! Something American that bentirran approves of!

Actually, Falcon5000's idea of using the Fisher space pen refill in a different pen is a great idea. I was never too partial to the looks of the space pen, so this idea lets me have my cake and eat it, too.

These aren't using the Fisher refills. They're from the same company that makes the Sharpies. These claim to write under similar conditions and have a smoother line. The Fisher cartridges can smear a little after writing. The Uni-balls are dry within seconds. They developed a system to get similar performance at half the price. IIRC the Fisher refills are about $5 each.

Edit
I don't know about the top end of the heat range but they work at car in afternoon sun temperatures.

+ 4 or 5 or whatever on the Fisher space pen. My problem with pens in the truck (in the middle of Texas) was not drying out. It was popping and the ink leaking everywhere. I even had a sharpie pop, so I wouldn't go that route. Then someone gave me a Fisher bullet pen for Christmas. I thought it was ugly and stuck it in my truck. Made a believer out of me. Still one ugly pen, but very reliable and tough.

REI has a version that looks really nice. They have the Stowaway by Fisher for $8.00, and the Inka for 19.95.
http://www.rei.com/search?vcat=REI_SEARCH&query=pen&x=0&y=0

Thanks lukus! That Fisher Stowaway seems like a great, inexpensive way to try out the Fisher.

Actually, looking at Fisher's website, I now realize that Fisher makes a whole slew of "space pens" and not just the rounded, silver bullet style. And they make universal and brand-specific refills for other company's pens, too, so it's possible that I could turn my favorite pen into a Space Pen with just a refill change. Boy, I wish I knew this a long time ago!

I remember reading about the contrast between the US and Soviet space programs a while back, and one of the things they mentioned was the space pen. Kinda funny, it went something like: "After millions in research on how to create something that astronauts could use and would write in zero G under widely varying pressures and temperatures, the Americans created the Space Pen, a marvel of writing technology...the Russians had the same problem to solve, their cosmonauts used a pencil."

I don't think the US space program actually developed the Space Pen, I believe the Fisher Company did that independently , going back to even before the space program, NASA just decided it was the best option.

http://www.spacepen.ca/cdn-english/index2.htm

Hit the history button.

Also this old rumor is addressed and debunked on wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_space_pen

In any case I believe pencils are not a good idea in space as the graphite dust will float around in zero gravity playing merry hell inside a capsule.

I recommend the the variations on the police model if you don't mind a little larger pen... I gave a friend of mine one for his graduation from police college and he thinks its great, the rubberized barrel and large circumference makes it easy to hold in the cold and with his gloves on.

As an aside and more relevant to this forum, those aspects would also make it ideal in a survival situation

BTW: I carry one of these as EDC and have one in each car, they are relatively cheap so I don't mind so much if I lose them and dependable.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Fisher-Pen-Chrome-M4C...oQQcmdZViewItem

The Fisher is a great pen. I own several and always have a bullet pen in my multitool pouch. However, I find that the PowerTank writes smoother, skips less, smears less than the Fisher. And, the whole pen costs about half of a Fisher refill. I have to do a lot of writing at work and keep a journal in the outdoors, for the last year the PowerTank has been my pen of choice. The only time I switch back to the Fisher is when the temperature drops below 20 degrees or so. At that point the PowerTank starts to clog up and skip.
The cheapest place that I know of to buy the PowerTank is Sam's Club on line. They have them for $1.58 each.

I like my Inka pen. My favorite thing it that it is very small, and fits on my keychain.

With a Fisher pen, that is "yet another thing" in your pocket. You have to rememner to transfer it when you change clothes.

My Inka is slightly more cumbersome to use, but I always have it and never have to think about it.

I really like the FSP.

It is the only choice for real Americans.