Introduced (as such things so often are) on Kickstarter in 2018, the Mark One by Studio Neat is an all-metal machined pen designed for the Schmidt P8126 rollerball refill. The campaign promised a minimal, durable, retractable pen and, spoiler alert, it was successful. At the time, I was only a couple years into the Pen Hobby and couldn’t personally justify the plunge. I settled for listening to podcasters talk about how comfortable the pen was or how smooth it writes or how clicky the clicker is. But now, four limited edition releases later, I have joined the Mark One club, and I have opinions. Don’t worry, they’re mostly positive.
Minimal
I jumped onto the Mark One train with the fourth limited iteration: Bright Orange. The astutely-described shade of Cerekote used to finish this pen gives the Mark One a bold look. The sleek silhouette is broken only by the polished steel knock mechanism up top. There is no metal clip, no knurled grip, no grooves, no curves, no distractions. The design is simple and effective; comfortable and versatile. It’s really dang good.
Durable
The Mark One barrel is milled from a solid piece of aluminum to precise specifications. Aluminum is a popular choice for machined pen makers due to its low weight and high durability. The barrel is finished with Cerakote; a ceramic-polymer surface finish popular for firearms and industrial applications. This coating gives the Mark One an extra layer of protection from scratches and incidental damage. That means you can toss this pen into a backpack or in your back pocket with the car keys and not worry about pulling out a mangled mess. But the durability doesn’t end with the shell.
Retractable
When they were making the original Mark One, creators Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost had some options. They could use a twist mechanism, like those seen on the Retro 51 Tornado or Baron Fig Squire. They could use an existing mechanism like the one manufactured by Schmidt and incorporated into the Baron Fig Squire Click. They did neither of those things. Instead they designed a unique mechanism made entirely of metal that threads perfectly into its home in the pen. Studio Neat describes this creation as “satisfying as heck to click.” There has simply never been a piece of product copy as accurate as that statement.
Opinions
My complaints about the Mark One are minimal; the round uniformity of the barrel and grip can be a little uncomfortable in longer writing sessions, some form of clip or roll-stop would be nice but I understand the decision to exclude one, and I hate the P8126 refill. The pen also accepts standard Parker Style (international G2) refills, so swap to something like the Uni SXR-600 and you’ll have a much more consistent writing experience.
What really makes the Mark One special, what makes it a pen worth writing about (aside from everything about its inception and creation) is the clicker. Now folks, I don’t know if I have accumulated enough knowledge to be considered a Pen Expert, but I am at the very least a Penthusiast with over twenty years in the game. As long as I have had my own money to spend I have been seeking out newer and better pens. I have used pretty much every gel, ballpoint, and rollerball pen available in stores, and used a handful of the commonly-used kit or maker pen units. I am telling you these things now to provide context for what I will tell you next. The knock mechanism in the Studio Neat Mark One is the best one I have ever used. Period. The audible click, the smooth bottom-out, the near-zero wiggle placement. It’s amazing.
Therein lies the tragedy of my chosen platform; this is a written format and words can only go so far to describe the feel of this pen. I truly feel that every serious pen enthusiast needs to try this pen, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to track one down. The Mark One from Studio Neat is a beautiful piece of design and functionality, created from a place of love and sustained by pure passion. And it’s a damn fine pen.
Disclaimer: The Mark One discussed in this post was purchased at retail price by the author. All opinions are my own. That said, my inbox in open.
If you really must know what my issue is with the Schmidt P-series Rollerball refills, here it is. First of all, they lack consistency. I’ve accumulated a handful of Squires and Tornados over the past few years, all arriving to me with a fresh P8127 refill installed. They all tend to write very smooth on most paper, but preform better on premium brands. Sooner or later, however, the line width begins to waver, Ink output becomes unpredictable, and the refill becomes more of an act of chance. Writing well only when circumstances align. Second, don’t ever leave the tip exposed. Water-based ink like that found in any “Rollerball” pen is (surprise) watery! That means that the second the ball tip comes in contact with an absorbent surface like, say, the material inside of a pocket or a plush pen sleeve, that ink is going to seep out slowly but steadily. I have made this mistake on multiple occasions.
Basically what it comes down to with the P8127 and P8126 refills is this: If I have to be so particular about how and where I use a pen, I’m just going to use a fountain pen. If I need something that will just work wherever I take it, a Rollerball pen is not the answer.
The Poor Penman 