I had been lusting after the County Comm Embassy Pen for a while, and needing to tell my in-laws something to get me for Christmas, I figured this would be a perfect fit. I really had no idea until Christmas day whether they actually bought it or not (they aren't big fans of the internet shopping thing), but I was pretty psyched to see a pen sized package heading my way that morning.
The packaging for the Embassy Pen was pretty unique. It comes in an oversized clear plastic tube - similar to a test tube - sealed with a screw off cap like you would find on a two-liter soda bottle. I would have taken a picture of the container, but my kids discovered that it was a pretty cool toy, and I haven't seen it since that fateful morning. Needless to say, it was unique looking enough that my mother in-law told me she had to do a double take when she first received it, not knowing exactly what this thing was.
Once I opened the tube and got the pen in my hands, it was everything I imagined it would be. It is extremely heavy duty, feeling almost like a mini-baton. It's not a pure tactical pen like some other pens on the market with the dedicated window breaker tip, but it is more than substantial enough to do some damage if that is your thing. Put it this way - I wouldn't want to deal with bringing this through airport security very often.
From a construction standpoint, the pen body is constructed from T6061 Type 3 Anodized Aluminum with a stainless steel clip, and a machine knurled body and grip. Short version: It is substantial. The stock ink cartridge is a medium black Fisher Space Pen refill, and while that is not my personal favorite, it is a perfect choice for this type of pen. This is essentially a field pen, and the Fisher Space Pen refill is almost mandatory. What I need to do is hunt down is a finer point Fisher refill, so I'll let you know how that turns out (and am open for suggestions).
One point to mention with the Embassy Pen - and it is clearly marked on their website - is that the cap is not made to post on the end of the pen, so you will be writing with the cap loose. Their exact quote is as follows, which is one part funny, and one part cryptic:
NOTE: The CountyComm Embassy Pen industrial design purposely DOES NOT provide for the cap to fit on the back of the barrel. There are several reasons for this, one will become apparent when someone asks to borrow your pen - loan them the pen while you hold the cap and you will get your pen back! Other more discrete reasons are best kept quiet! If you require a pen that holds the cap on the barrel while writing, there are thousands on the market to choose from. If you are looking for a rugged, failsafe, multi-purpose EDC pen, we hope you will choose our distinctive Embassy Pen.
In the end, I really love this pen. For me, it is not an every day at my desk writer, but I don't hesitate to grab it and clip it to my shirt or jeans, and write anywhere and everywhere I please. Plus, it looks cooler than just about any other pen I own.
Click here for the XL review.
