Another outfit that I would consider a household name in the machined pen world is Ti2 created by Mike Bond out of Hawaii. Long an EDC guy, Mike has created several successful products/projects over the years, many of which have been pens.
In 2014 he released a very cool, and very interesting pen called the TechLiner that had what some might consider an odd look, but was a smash hit and is still one of my favorites today. That particular pen has seen a variety of iterations, innovations, newly added materials, and sizes based on the demand of the community of which Mike and Ti2 have a solid reputation.
Well, Ti2 is not done and have come out with a new version of the TechLiner, but this time in a bolt-action style. And, appropriately named… BoltLiner. Mike was kind enough to send me over one of the sample BoltLiners to review as the pen is currently being funded on Kickstarter.
While different in mechanism, the BoltLiner is the TechLiner through and through and I’m so pleased that Mike decided to keep the design fairly untouched as I think while very different aesthetically than what we normally see in pens, it is a cool, rugged, badass sort of design that wraps ultra function into a unique package.
Some of the familiar design elements with the BoltLiner to it’s close cousin are the slim cylindrical shape, slanted ends, and the almost sci-fi square grip section. If you have used or own a TechLiner then the BoltLiner will feel right at home as the profile is nearly identical.
The version that Mike sent over to me is the Blackwash TRD, a coated titanium barrel with a matte grey/black finish. Looks excellent, feels great, and gives the pen a clean look. In addition to the TRD there are three additional finishes to choose from, all in titanium barrels. No brass or copper this time around which I know are fan favorites, but I wager as the pen gets off the ground Ti2 will certainly expand. The titanium is a great starting material though that people will enjoy.
To make the pen accessible to a wider range of users, they have again offered their standard size (shown in review) that takes the Pilot G2 refill, as well as their “shorty” that sits a half inch less in length that takes a Parker style refill.
While the pen is made for the Pilot G2, I did some hacking/experimenting and was able to also get a Signo 207, Pentel Energel, and Pilot Precise V7 in there and they worked pretty well. As you can imagine, none quite as good as the G2 since it was machined to fit it like a glove. To that point, while writing the pen has almost no movement which is pretty impressive considering how the tip is deployed.
If you are unfamiliar with the TechLiner, one major difference in the pen is how far the tip is extended. Where most pens stop at the conical section of the refill right near the ballpoint, the TechLiner and BoltLiner pens extend WELL past that. At first glance this is really odd as it seem out of place or unfinished, but is by design to ensure there is enough visibility while writing due to the wider end of the pen. This is definitely one of the design elements that some might see as quirks, but I actually really appreciate it and makes it unique. It also helps if you’re pressing the tip against a ruler or guide as it gives more clearance.
The bolt action works well. This being a sample and prototype, the final fit and finish may be slightly different, so take that into consideration. Easy enough to deploy, but found it wasn’t as smooth as expected and I wager this is due to it being an early production sample. There is some feedback in it which may be on the TRD models alone, but can’t quite be sure. Feels like it is rubbing against the edge which creates some tension while trying to make it work. It is mainly in the bottom of the action where you’re moving the knob either in or out of the “J”. Just feels a bit gritty when catching the metal to metal (or “finish” I guess) on some passes, but I imagine this is something Mike will work out as he makes the final pieces.
The knob is a custom machined screw that has a sort of mushroom shape head on it that flares out slightly and then up to a small peak. I’m not sure I would want it to be any bigger, but it is on the smaller side. My thumb finds it just fine but it has a fairly sharp edge on the flared section that tends to dig into the flesh a bit. It is effective at catching so rarely does it ever slip, but isn’t the most comfortable if doing a lot of fidgeting with it.
I did find with the knob that fairly quickly it tends to loosen out of its threads and requires retightening with normal use. I haven’t had it fall out of the pen, but for safe keeping I might consider a small dab of blue Loctite to keep it in there. Unless wanting to fully field strip the pen, this is the only reason I might hold off. This is not unique to just the BoltLiner, but most bolt action pens. Many makers put Loctite on prior to shipping so this is something Mike is also likely to do.
A clip is attached to the pen and is an integrated part of the design this time. On the TechLiner, the clip is an add-on you can elect to have, but on the BoltLiner it comes standard and has a machined notch at the end to fit it. Made of bent titanium and tumbled it is really sturdy. Not indestructible or unbendable by any means, but for most people it should never give a problem. I like the clean look of no fasteners as well.
Even with the few nitpicks over the knob/bolt (again, prototype/sample), overall I really love the BoltLiner and think it is a fantastic addition to the TechLiner family. I’ve backed the project myself since I am such a fan and I feel that Mike makes these pens fairly affordable being between $80 and $120 depending upon finish.
If looking to get a new machined pen or to expand your Ti2 collection, definitely take a look at the Kickstarter campaign. Special thanks again to Mike for sending this my way to check out!