Right off the bat, I’d like to say that I know it’s been some time since the last review, and thank everyone for their patience. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the ensuing stay-at-home orders, it has been impossible to access ammunition and range facilities. Now, however, with ranges opening back up, and ammunition available again, more reviews are on the way. To start off, I’m reviewing what I believe to be an excellent piece of everyday gear- the tactical pen.
What makes a pen “tactical” anyway? Studies have shown that, when physical altercations occur, often there is no defensive means readily within reach. However, pens are frequently present, and in many cases already in hand. It follows that, in order to give a person an immediate means of countering a physical assault, a pen can be hardened so that it can be used effectively as a weapon without breaking. Thus, the tactical pen. And, while the tactical pen’s usefulness readily comes to mind for law enforcement, it’s applicable for many others. Imagine you’re a delivery person who needs to get a signature or collect cash. Suddenly, you’re confronted by an irrational actor who’s bigger than you, who either tries to grab you or throw a punch. As a delivery person, you don’t carry weapons, or the array of defensive devices available to law enforcement. But, you do carry a pen. If that pen is hardened, it gives you a means of countering the assault, creating distance to escape, so that you can get away and call 911.
I previously used a Smith & Wesson M&P tactical pen, and found it to have some shortcomings. First, it was big, so that it drew attention to itself. It looked more like a pointed kubotan than a pen. A tactical pen should be unobtrusive- it should just look like a pen. Second, the anodized green finish bled through clothing when it got wet. I often work in the rain, and the anodizing ruined a good uniform shirt, and uniform shirts aren’t cheap. Also, the part of the barrel of the pen that unscrewed in order to replace the ink cartridge kept loosening, so that I had to tighten it down at least once a day. Last, the cap was a friction fit. That’s why I ultimately lost the pen- the cap came off in my pocket, and the pen fell out. A pen’s no good if it’s not there, and at $35, I didn’t like losing an expensive pen.
Enter the Guard Dog Security tactical pen. I’ve been using it for some time now, and I like it a lot. The pen is made of aluminum, and has a substantial feel to it. But, it also has the feel in the hand of a normal pen. The cap is a screw on type, with a strong clip that keeps it secure in shirt pockets. With the cap on, it looks like a standard push button pen. When you take the cap off, it fits firmly over the back of the pen, and the pen retains the look of a standard pen. Both ends of the body of the pen taper to a point so it can be used as an impact weapon no matter how it’s being held. The finish on the pen is matte black anodizing, and it does not run when wet. The pen also uses standard ink pen refills, that can be found pretty much anywhere.
There’s an additional feature on the pen that I have found to be very useful. The point of the pen opposite the writing tip has a tungsten insert. This can be used in an emergency to break tempered glass. Now, while the need to break out of a vehicle in an emergency may be slight, the feature has another use. I have found that the tip is great as a stylus for touch screen devices, if you use these kind of devices for signature capture or other business functions.
All in all, the Guard Dog Security tactical pen is a great pen. It’s a balanced writing instrument, that also has the weight and durability to be used as an impact weapon in an emergency. At a price under $15, it won’t break the bank, either.
Tactical & Target 