I first encountered the Tactile Turn crew at the Los Angeles Pen Show (gone but not forgotten) where I picked up a nice black and white Delrin Gist fountain pen (gone and maybe forgotten.) Despite my failure to write a timely review, I do like the pen, and I’m happy to know that the brand is still turning out passion products at their shop in Dallas, Texas. Their catalog now includes pens, pencils, and knives all featuring the unique Tactile Turn styling. Their products offer an assortment of tools with alternative accoutrements such as the increasingly popular bolt action mechanism, and the less-common side click. The former using a rifle-style “bolt” lever to advance and retract the ink cartridge, and the latter using a standard push-button knock to extend with a separate side button to retract. One thing that sets them apart from other machined pen makers is also (I suspect) what inspired their brand name, and that is the subtle micro-ribbed texture present across all of their writing implements. This addition gives the pen a unique, tactile feel that elevates the product above its contemporaries.
Tactile Turn have also taken to the trend of releasing limited edition versions of their core products, a risky tactic that they have managed to pull off successfully so far without diluting their place in the market. One such limited edition, the 8-Bit, caught my eye in a major way. So press F to pay respects and let’s take a look at the Tactile Turn Side Click.
Side Click – 8-Bit – Short
The 8-Bit edition was inspired by the early days of videogames, when the TV had to be on channel 3 and Donkey Kong was an under-dressed barrel-throwing menace. This edition features a gray matte Cerakote finish with a bright orange clip and red “reset” side click button. The pen’s design evokes imagery of Nintendo’s beautiful NES, and the “Zapper” controller that spelled doom for so many pixelated ducks. My chosen 8-Bit, the Slim Short, shipped with the Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 medium ballpoint refill which is a good, standard, every-day refill. Not the best, but better than average.
The Side Click is available in both standard and slim versions. The standard measures in with a diameter of 0.43 inches, or 10.92mm. The slim comes in at an airy 0.365 inches, or just 9.27mm, perfect for the Plotter Mini5’s pen sleeve insert. When it comes to length, Tactile Turn have gone the extra mile in offering three options; the Standard, which uses the common Pilot G2 gel pen refill; the Short, which uses the Schmidt EasyFlow Parker-style cartridge, and the Mini, which uses the somewhat-unique Pilot G2 Mini refill.
I chose the Slim Short for two primary reasons. First, I was looking for a replacement for the Parker Jotter. As I mentioned, the pen fits perfectly in the Plotter Mini5’s pen sleeve. I use my Mini5 as a wallet, and prefer to carry a metal pen on the go. Ever since I misplaced my beloved stainless steel Jotter, I’ve been on the hunt for a worthy replacement. Plastic Jotters just aren’t the same. Second, I’m not a huge fan of the Pilot G2 refill. It’s fine, but not perfect. And pens designed for the G2 tend not to accept other gel pen refills quite as readily. Designing around a Parker-style cartridge opens up a world of diverse refills. Even though I choose the Uni Jetstream refill every time, it’s nice to have the option on the table.
The Mechanism
The side click mechanism is pretty much what it says on the tin. Rather than having the refill advance and retract via a single clicky button at the end of the pen, the Side Click’s knock presses down and stays there. It doesn’t spring back up or rattle around, you press it down and it locks in place. To retract the cartridge, there is a button on the side of the barrel back near the clip that, when pressed, releases an internal mechanism allowing the forward spring to push the refill back to its resting place. The mechanism is sturdy and, as a former employee of Pentel of America, a little familiar. If I had the choice, I’d have probably opted for a Bolt Action version, but this is the edition that was made. It is, as they say, what it is.
Something this mechanism offers over standard/traditional retractable pens is stability. The knock takes a bit more pressure to actuate than other mechanisms, and once it’s down, it stays down. The side click release is equally robust, requiring a deliberate press to retract the cartridge. Not having a traditional clicky button on a pen is a bit of an adjustment for me, particularly when I get a little fidgety at my desk, but it’s a nice piece to have in the lineup.
The Start of a New Collection (?)
Overall, I’m a fan of the Side Click pen. It’s well-built, visually interesting, and comfortable to use. That being said, I don’t think I’ll pursue a collection of these in the way I have gathered multiple TWSBI Ecos or Retro51s. I will, however, keep my heart, mind, and wallet open for an interesting Bolt Action edition in the future. If you’re in the market for a new (non-fountain) pen that will stand out in a sea of machined pens, I highly recommend checking out the offerings from Tactile Turn.
Check out Tactile Turn’s products here.
Disclaimer: The products in this article were purchased at full retail price by the author. All opinions stated are my own.
The Poor Penman 