Mightier Than the Sword: 5 Perfect Pens

Whether you're a verbose dandy or the hopelessly paranoid, Wired has a pen for you.
Photo Greg Broom
Photo: Greg Broom
  • 1// Uni-ball 207
    Geek factor: Many gel pens use dye-based inks that enterprising thieves can wash off checks. The 207's pigment-based ink embeds itself into the paper, resisting chemical erasing techniques. Wait ... you still pay by check?
    Perfect for: The hopelessly paranoid.
    $2.25
  • 2// BIC Cristal
    Geek factor: It's the most common pen in the world, and it can deposit ink on paper. But two things about the Cristal stand out: the iconic design (it's in MOMA's collection) and the low price (great for people who use once and misplace).
    Perfect for: The loss leader.
    19 cents
  • 3// Pelikan M805
    Geek factor: Sure, fountain pens are fussy and retro. They're also a joy to write with, especially when they're built like this classic German instrument. A huge ink reservoir means you can pen miles of pretentious prose between fill-ups.
    Perfect for: The verbose dandy.
    $520
  • 4// Zebra Sharbo X CB8
    Geek factor: Order the body, then choose from 40 ballpoint, gel, and mechanical-pencil inserts. Collect 'em all—the CB8 holds three at a time—and deploy the right writer for any situation.
    Perfect for: The change agent.
    $120 (body), $1.20 and up (inserts)
  • 5// LAMY Safari
    Geek factor: LAMY's indestructible Safari is a dangerous gateway fountain pen—cheap, fun, low hassle. So be warned: A taste of this rig and you could end up trading your mom's TV for just one more cartridge of blue-black ink.
    Perfect for: The fountain-pen curious.
    $35