Overview
A tactical pen is a solid steel object built to survive what an ordinary pen would not. The MKSA measures 135 mm by 10 mm in diameter — the proportions of a slightly heavy office pen — and hides a tungsten carbide tip at one end. Carbide is among the hardest materials used in tooling: it is what lets a short strike break tempered glass where steel would simply skid.
Technical details
Stainless-steel body, 135 mm long, 10 mm in diameter. Tungsten carbide glass-breaker tip. Two sections that screw together into a T configuration. Lanyard supplied. Weight 73 g.
Uses
The glass breaker is the real subject here: in a submerged or crashed vehicle, a tempered side window gives way to a hard point applied at a corner, where it resists a flat impact. Kept in the door pocket, within reach while seated, the MKSA is the safety tool you hope never to need.
Care
Stainless steel asks for little: wipe it after exposure to moisture, and check the thread now and then — it is the only moving part. The carbide tip is extremely hard but brittle: it must never be used as a screwdriver or a lever.
What sets the MKSA apart
The tip is tungsten carbide, one of the hardest materials used in tooling — which is what makes a glass breaker work on the first strike. Add the T-shaped assembly, which gives the tool a transverse grip, and the lanyard supplied.
Legal notice. Tactical pens and impact tools are restricted or prohibited in a number of countries and are frequently refused in aircraft cabin baggage. Check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.
