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EDC gear is a well-liked matter for these eager to be ready for the unknown.
Gear that individuals keep on their particular person can take all types of types and lately there may be one merchandise that’s usually introduced up. That merchandise is a tactical pen.
Originally, a tactical pen was fairly easy as they provided two most important instruments: a glass breaker and a writing pen.
Over the years some pens turned extra various and provided further instruments similar to a knife, bottle opener, noticed, flashlight, and a ferrocerium rod.
However, typically much less is extra.
That is why I used to be intrigued to check out the product featured on this article as a result of it’s a easier instrument.
In this text, I can be taking a detailed have a look at and testing the Hoffman Richter Stinger Tactical Pen. Let’s begin by having a look at what the Stinger has to supply.
Hoffman Richter Stinger Specifications
Material
The pen is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum with a titanium coating.
Features
Hoffman Richter Stinger comes with two most important instruments. On one finish is a glass breaker tip and on the alternative finish is a ballpoint pen.
Carrying
Comes with a rugged pocket clip that can be utilized to connect the tactical pen to any strap or inside pocket.
Color
The pen is simply obtainable in black.
Country of Origin
The label on the container reads “Made in P.R.C.” P.R.C. stands for People’s Republic of China
First Impression of Hoffman Richter Stinger Pen
When I first took the Stinger out of the container it felt stable and effectively made. It was not too gentle or too heavy, however excellent.
The spherical form of the body makes it ergonomic to carry like a pen for writing or as an affect instrument. The textured floor of the steel additionally provides the instrument a little bit of grip regardless of how it’s being held.
Testing the Hoffman Richter Stinger Pen
Glass Breaker
I wish to begin by saying I made an enormous mistake in that I didn’t take a close-up image of the tip of the glass breaker earlier than testing, and that I knew higher. This will make extra sense in a minute.
I didn’t have any massive panes of window glass or automobile home windows that I may take a look at the glass breaker out on. So, I needed to make do with a glass jar I discovered laying round my workshop.
After placing on correct PPE I positioned the jar right into a cardboard container to assist comprise of the damaged glass.
With every thing arrange and able to go, I raised my arm up and swiftly introduced the pen down onto the jar.
I heard the pen contacting the jar however didn’t hear glass breaking. I repeated this, 4 extra occasions, every time hanging the jar tougher. But the glass didn’t break, and the jar survived the take a look at.
Before persevering with I finished and glanced on the finish of the glass breaker tip. This is after I seen that the tip had been utterly flattened.
Before the take a look at, the tip was rounded, not a pointy level, however a rounded tip. After 5 strikes in opposition to a glass jar, the tip was flattened and regarded destroyed.
I then inspected the jar and located no cracks or chips. I assumed perhaps I had myself a super-strong jar constructed from indestructible glass.
After placing that notion apart, I grabbed a distinct tactical pen and tried it out on the jar. After one agency swing, the jar shattered into a whole lot of items.
Additionally, I discovered that even with a agency grip on the pen, there was a good quantity of motion within the snap cap which rests within the palm when utilizing the glass breaker finish.
This causes the pen to twist and switch upon affect. Because of this, there may be potential for the cap to grow to be separated from the remainder of the pen throughout aggressive use.
Writing
As a author, I spend a whole lot of my time typing away at a keyboard however my love of placing pen to paper has by no means diminished.
I solely convey this up as a result of a pen is an important tool for me. And seeing that it’s one in all two instruments on the Stinger i’d say it’s a fairly necessary operate to have.
The ink cartridge is in a hard and fast place, which suggests you don’t click on or twist the body to make use of it.
To entry the pen, merely take away the cap which snapes on and off.
Having a snap cap is a pleasant characteristic however what’s even nicer is that the cap snaps onto the alternative finish over the glass breaker tip.
i’ve used different tactical pens that use an analogous cap, however these don’t snap onto the alternative finish. They merely sit loosely which is annoying when attempting to put in writing.
When I used to be writing with the Stinger pen, the cap sat secured to the opposite finish and I didn’t have to fret about dropping it.
Speaking of writing with the pen…
I feel the pen writes fairly effectively. It produces a daring black line that doesn’t bleed into the paper, run, or smear. It creates clean steady strains, and the body of the pen is comfy within the hand whereas writing.
While the body is a bit cumbersome as pens go, I may see myself doing much more writing with this aside from signing my title on receipts.
O-ring
There are two small rubber O-rings on the Stinger. One on the pen finish and one on the glass breaker finish.
It seems that these are used to assist maintain the pen cap in place, whether or not that be whereas it’s masking the pen or the glass breaker.
My first assumption was that the cap was held in place primarily by this O-ring, so I made a decision to do a fast repetition take a look at to see how effectively the ring would maintain up.
To do that, I eliminated and absolutely changed the cap 5 hundred occasions to simulate utilization over time. Afterward, I seen that the cap was nonetheless being held on simply as snugly because it had been initially.
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Two O Rings -
O Rings Removed
Next, I used to be curious how the cap would keep on if the O-ring failed. To simulate this, I took a sharp instrument and eliminated one of many O-rings.
Surprisingly, the cap nonetheless snapped into place and felt safe even after the O-ring was eliminated.
Should an O-ring fail it may simply get replaced by visiting the native ironmongery store however seeing that the cap stays on with out it, it’s in all probability not one thing i’d rush out to do.
Pocket Clip
On one finish of the pen cap, there’s a black pocket clip. I’m a giant fan of those clips as a result of it permits a pen to be carried in a wide range of methods.
The clip on the Stinger seems to be rugged and difficult. It additionally has a great quantity of rigidity in it which suggests as soon as it’s clipped onto a strap or in a pocket it ought to maintain effectively.
However, I bumped into two issues.
The first is that the clip is hooked up to the cap, which snaps onto the pen. The cap holds effectively and isn’t going to fall off the pen, which I attempted by whipping the pen round.
But the cap does slide off simply when it’s pulled away from the pen. This is good for while you wish to use the pen, however it isn’t good for while you wish to clip the pen to an outdoor strap or pocket.
Just a bit little bit of strain within the mistaken route will trigger the pen to separate from the cap and this might go away you with a cap and no pen.
Lastly, the very finish of the cap has a small piece that screws into the cap and holds the pocket clip in place. I discovered that it doesn’t take a whole lot of sideways strain on the pocket clip to loosen up that small steel finish cap.
In truth, after my glass breaking take a look at, I took an image to point out how unfastened the tip cap had grow to be. It had virtually utterly unscrewed itself.
I’m assuming the endcap is threaded in order that the pocket clip will be eliminated for individuals who don’t need it. However, I feel it might have been higher if this part had been forever hooked up.
As much as I like pocket clips, my suggestion can be to take away the clip so that you just should not have to fret as much about dropping the pen.
Pros and Cons of The Stinger Tactical Pen
Pros
- The ballpoint pen writes easily
- Overall, the pen is ergonomic and is comfy within the hand
- The pen cap finish cap offers a pleasant flat floor for thumb placement when utilizing the Stinger as an affect instrument
- The snap cap works with out the O-ring
- The Stinger will be carried discreetly
Cons
- Expensive
- Glass breaker failed to interrupt glass
- Glass breaker was flattened and destroyed after minimal use
- The pen cap could come off too simply
- The finish cap on the pen cap unscrews simply
Open Questions Regarding Hoffman Richter Stinger
Q: What sort of cartridge refills does the pen take?
A: I eliminated the cartridge and after shut inspection, I didn’t discover any markings on it. However, I used to be capable of finding a six-pack of refills that work with a number of tactical pens, together with the Hoffman Richter Stinger. They will be discovered here on Amazon.
Verdict
I used to be shocked at what is the cost I preferred utilizing the Stinger to put in writing contemplating that the pen is made by an organization that produces gear and instruments and never pens.
It was comfy to carry and wrote easily. I give the ballpoint operate a thumbs up.
I used to be equally shocked by the failure of the glass breaker tip. i’ve used glass breakers up to now that weren’t as efficient as they might have been, however they nonetheless labored with minimal harm to the instrument.
Unfortunately, that was not the case with the Stinger because the glass jar remained intact after testing whereas leaving the glass breaking tip flattened and destroyed.
In my opinion, this instrument is reasonably costly for what it’s, particularly with the issues I bumped into throughout testing.
As a writing utensil and a instrument for use on comfortable targets, the Stinger would work nice. But if you happen to require an efficient glass breaker i’d suggest looking elsewhere.
Thanks for studying and keep ready!
What are your ideas on tactical pens? Sound off within the remark part under and tell us!
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