[Pen/Pencil Review] Shachihata Artline BLOX Pen in Green
This week’s pen is one of the Christmas pens from JetPens. It’s the Shachihata Artline BLOX line. This is, I guess, technically (from the name) a pen more designed for artists, but this particular line is geared to those who love LEGOs or MegaBlocks (which means Kids of All Ages). I bought these are “stocking stuffers” for both Jimmy and myself at Christmas – one fiber tip pen and one pencil apiece. Today we’ll talk about the pen. Next week, the pencil.
This pen is the Blox 0.4mm fiber tip. I bought the green one for me and the red one for Jimmy. Both for Christmas and because we have complimentary favorite colors. This pen is LONG – especially with the cap posted (which is does do). With the cap posted, it’s over 7″ long. It’s about 5.5″ capped or uncapped. The cap can either post to the end of the pen or you can snap it to one of the sides.
It’s triangular with interlocking knobs (like a LEGO but not) on two of the three sides. There’s tapering to the point so that there’s some nod to ergonomics. It’s not as weird and uncomfortable as it first appears, but it’s definitely NOT streamlined. It’s more comfortable than it should be and relatively light but balanced so you don’t get fatigued from it being a giant pen. It’s supposedly a “drawing pen” but I don’t know how much someone would really draw with this? It’s more along the “novelty” lines because, hello, non-branded LEGOs you can write with.
The 0.4mm point doesn’t detract from the ink. The green is rich and dark. The lines are smooth. There’s only a little “scratch” from it being a fiber tip. Not sure how long it’ll last before the tip frays or breaks but it seems solid. It’s a decent pen that doubles as a toy. The clip is non-existent, so snap them together or something, there’s no securing it to anything else It’s also a decent price point – less than $3 each It’s an okay pen.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – The line doesn’t skip, has minimal blobs, and doesn’t smear easily. The cap posts well.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s neither completely uncomfortable, but it’s not comfortable either. The grip is smooth plastic, but you have to adjust your hand to keep the interlocking bits from digging. It’s can be quite long with the cap posted but it’s both light and pretty well balanced.
3. Material – 1 – This is an inexpensive plastic with toy bits.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – Physically the pen is well-made and designed to do what it’s supposed to – write smoothly and comfortably. HOWEVER, it’s also a novelty. The triangle design and interlocking bits may not suit a lot of people. If you don’t like really long pens, don’t post the cap. If you don’t post the cap, attaching it to one of the sides is a bulky option.
5. Price Point – 1 – It’s pretty cheap. It’s $2.10 on JetPens. For a decent quality fiber point with toy accents, it’s an okay price point.
That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
