I’m sure you’ve seen this before – BIC’s iconic 4-color ballpoint pen.
It’s wide-barrel retractable ballpoint pen with 4 different ink cartridges – black, blue, red, and green. Black and blue can be used for regular writing, red can be used for corrections or to highlight something, and green can be used for… sorry, I never quite know what to use green ink for.
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While not well suited for my typical pen preferences, I bought a 3-pack on Amazon. These are useful pens for when drawing up quick plans or project notes with ink.
To clarify about my pen preferences, if I’m at my desk, I have different color pens at my disposal. Meaning, I prefer individual pens of exact brand, style, color, tip width, and ink type. Generally, that means fine-point gel ink, but I also have some technical-pen-style markers.
A few weeks ago, I tried out a new-to-me brand of multi-color pen that allows users to fill up its slots with their cartridges of choice. And, it turned out to be pretty convenient if I just want multiple ink colors without having to carry multiple pens.
Here are 3 reasons why I bought these pens:
- Four colors in one pen
- Inexpensive
Here is what I think so far:
- Writing quality is decent
- Plastic body feels cheap
- Pen styling stands out on a cluttered table
Overall, it’s a decent utilitarian pen so far.
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Refill ink cartridges are available, but I’m not finding any good source for just blue or black refills. Personally, if I’m going to mess around with refills, it’ll be with a customizable multi-pen.
The pocket clip seems decent, and although I’m not making use of it (yet), I like the idea of the small lanyard loop at the top of the pen.
For the price, and assuming their performance is consistent over time, I’d buy these pens again.
Price: ~$6 for 3 pens
Buy Now(via Amazon)
At the time of purchase (April, 2019), the pens’ packaging is marked Made in France. The review sample was purchased from Amazon at public retail pricing.
Hilton
Accountants LOVE green pens. So do teachers as comments in red are construed to be angry.
Bill Bahmuller
Six dollars for 3 pens with four colors is more like 12 pens for six dollars, or fifty cents apiece. Not bad.
Jared McBeth
My grandfather carried one of these pens in his breast pocket all all times. He was a teacher. I thought it was fun to play with as a small child, but I can’t say I’ve ever bought one myself. Kind of a neat idea though. I could see it being handy for keeping notes if you wanted different color headings or something to help keep them organized and easy to read.
Craig
My mom had these all over the house when i was a kid. She was a teacher. Funny, i recall them looking nearly identical to the one pictured. I would take the bottom part off and write with all 4 colors at once. The things that entertain young kids….
DiamondDave
Been using for years. The older version (shown in pict) has now been updated and I have some issues with the ink puddling at the tip so if carrying in shirt pocket I try to remember to wipe off the tip of the pen before putting in shirt pocket. The good news is the RED color I believe flows better in the newer pen as I have always had issues with the red color in the older version ie too light or spotty in writing. Green is similar but possibly it is just because the color isn’t used often enough. I have been trying out the newer GEL pens and Papermate makes a version called InkJoy In both the ballpoint and gel version. Great ink flow and the ink dries quickly in the gel pens to prevent smudging. I have tried the blue .7 point and love it! Now I have to find out if they make a multi-color pen in gel point.
DiamondDave
Update. It just hit me that the 4 color pen I owned that was leaking around the pen tip WAS in fact the Papermate InkJoy Quattro NOT the BIC 4 color pen. Every time I used the Papermate 4 color Pen I would have ink on my fingers so I threw it in the trash. Sorry.
Fazal Majid
I used these in grade school in France, in the 1970s.
Red was for teachers to make correction, and we were supposed to fix/respond to the corrections in green.
Nowadays I’d use one of the sleeker and more refined Japanese versions, like the Pentel Hi-Tec-C Coleto.
Yadda
I like the Rotring Quattro version of this pen. Three colors and pencil, all encased in a very sturdy metal body.
Craig
That looks pretty awesome but I can’t justify the price since I seem to lose (or long-term misplace) a pen/pencil almost daily. This would probably end up with my other Griptilian, various utility knives, sharpies, and all my stubby screwdrivers. There’s probably more that i haven’t realized is lost yet.
PETE
My coworker has a pocket pen that i’m interested in. When you store it, the pen becomes half the size-length wise. Then when you extend the pen it opens up to write with. He got his at the dollar store that he seems to go thru once a month or so. I’d like to get one that a little more durable/quality.
TonyT
Pretty sure I’ve seen some Japanese extendable pocket pens (Pilot? Platinum? Ohto?), but can’t find an example right now. Maybe check JetPens
CaveSAR
A search finds: https://www.amazon.com/Zebra-StylusPen-Telescopic-Ballpoint-Pen/dp/B00NACZB1S
https://www.jetpens.com/blog/the-best-mini-pens/pt/388
I have gotten my multi pens from Jet Pens – I get the shell and order the ink colors I want. Usually I get Orange instead of Blue plus the usual Black, Red, Green and a pencil. In my search and rescue documents bag I have 4 shells with a 16 colors ink refills bundle. So I have groups of colored ink – greens pen, reds pen. There are times when marking maps and plans that one wants more than the basic 4 colors.
I still have a couple of these Bic 4 color pens with the Kodak logo on them. I used them when I ran a film processing lab – plot the control charts we maintained for the film and paper processing processes.
Frank D
Well look at that, the BIC 4 in 1 that all primary kids in EU probably grew up with and probably still do …
Nathan
you see them around engineering desks sometimes because we light to have checkers sign off in green, corrections are in red. checked out corrections in green, drafter in black, manager or engineering lead in Blue.
All Have to be in color except the drafter – as once printed or when scanned you know the original was done.
That doesn’t mean you don’t have people with collections of pens – I still keep 3 fine points of blue, red and green – but I have a 4 color job too. Out on the printer/plotters you will see one or 2 of those.
works good lasts long time.
JoeM
For those of you who DON’T have the EU pattern in your head, or are colourblind like myself, Fisher makes refills for other brands’ pens. If you run out of blue, black, or red, you can get the better ink version from Fisher. And, if you don’t know what to use the Green for, you can always replace it with one of their security check-writing refills, that have special ink for writing checks securely to fight signature fraud.
I’ve always thought these kinds of multi-ink pens had customization potential. Luckily, there are premium ink makers, such as Fisher and a few others (I believe Pilot and Waterman make refills for pens they don’t make.) give you plenty of options to make a multi-pen your own.
Though I may have a look at whatever model was just mentioned that had one option as the Pencil. I’m curious now. (Too fond of my Pentel Graphgear 1000 that Stuart convinced me to get a while back. Not gonna replace it any time soon. In fact, I bought a gift box set for my Nephew that has all 4 sizes, plus refills.)
John
“that have special ink for writing checks ” Checks! I though they had gone the way of the Dodo bird. Then again you may live in Outer Mongolia and cheques would be a step up from using rocks!
JoeM
HAHAHA!!! Yeah, I know, right? It was an ink designed for Checks, but is just an example of some of their metallic inks. These days you could use it for your permanent signature on something, and prevent it from being photocopied, or washed off for use in identity theft.
They have others at Fisher, I know that much. I was just using it as an example. But, you do have a point, it was a stupid example.
ktash
Don’t write many checks these days, but some independent businesses (plumber, landscaper, etc) still want them. Credit cards cost them extra work and money.
Stuart
A few brands have multi-pen + pencil pens. It’s not something I’m interested in, but I could see it being useful at times.
JoeM
To a Drafter, or perhaps an Artist, I can see it. I’m just curious. You got me hooked on the Graphgear 1000 0.5, so that isn’t going to change any time soon.
I got my Nephew this set of them, because he’s got some serious art skills:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01DMDI5XU/
It’s actually a really nice set. Still have it sitting next to me, to be added to a care package I’m sending to him, along with other stuff.
Yet again, Stuart, you really pick out some Gems from all that dirt we have to sift through! And, might I add, nice to see a resurgence of the EDC Scissors in an article. 😉 I doubt that one will leave our collective minds any time soon. VERY good scissors.
Stuart
If I wanted to really drive you crazy, I’d show you the special edition colors of the Graphgear 1000. Someone on Etsy is selling a set of them: https://www.etsy.com/listing/616028824/pentel-graphgear-1000-05mm-mechanical
JoeM
Oh this is becoming one of the funniest lines of conversation I’ve had in a while!
Those are certainly cool. But, as I’m Colourblind, “Special Edition” Colours just don’t phase me. I’m only going to see Black, White, Shades of Grey, Red, and Yellow anyways. And, as my Nephew is over the border in the USA, and really only needs these for doing line work on his art, before doing all the shading with charcoals and other media… The actual PenTel gift set is just perfect for the situation.
Of course… I don’t ever REALLY mean “Blame” or “Fault” when you’ve introduced me to stuff I want to buy (The deburring tool that blew my mind a month or two ago? Yeah, bookmarked for purchase, as per your recommendation.) it’s just some funny back and forth between us. You have a remarkably effective way of influencing what I do buy. And your readers, like Altan, or fred… They’re just so forward with sharing advice… it’s like a perfect storm of buying influence around here.
You guys rather rock at this!
Koko The Talking Ape
I can’t stand ballpoint pens. For most scribbling, I use Uniball Jetstream (smooth, non-skipping, non-smearing, non-blobbing, fadeproof, indelible, available in a retractable version). For notes and letters, I use a disposable fountain pen (Pilot Varsity). If I want the colors, Pilot Precise V5 pens come in colors.
Stuart
I don’t prefer ballpoint pens, but they have their place.
JoeM
It’s odd… I’ve heard that sentiment a lot more than I expected in my life. My Mother still has a Calligraphy set, I once knew an Artist who worked at the Computer Store with me who INSISTED he do his line work with a Gel-Ink Fountain Pen, and I knew a girl in College who was a major fan of both European and Japanese Calligraphy, even down to dying and aging modern paper to look like old parchment.
I’m personally very utilitarian, and can’t see a use for myself using fountain pens, but I’ve always been taught that they’re imperative to many parts of life today, despite most people considering them “Antiquated Technology”… I think, perhaps, Stuart here can help dispel this belief, if he’s willing to do a quick article on the advancements they’ve made in fountain pens. Cartridges, Inks, and Overflow Protection, have all changed what a Fountain Pen is since the 1900’s, and I think it would be beneficial to everyone to know just how advanced the Pens themselves have become. The old Stylus people think of, with the ink well, is an incredibly niche tool now. What we have as Fountain Pens these days are as far removed from the Stylus as Ballpoint pens are.
Given certain situations, despite my preference for Fisher Space Pens, I would quite happily pick up a modern Gel-Ink Fountain Pen with confidence. I’m not sure there’s enough explanation out there for why these things are so different from what we have in our heads about them. It’s one thing for Stuart to do an article where he explains why HE LIKES them, as we’ve had before, but I don’t think the most simple of things we take for granted, as tool users, has truly been laid out. Ballpoint and Fountain pens are tools we use, and take for granted, enough that I think a literal breakdown of them may be incredibly interesting. Plus, remember that the difference between most pens, and Fisher, is that the Space Pen is pressurized, using a thicker ink. Why that matters to writing what you write, in whatever situation, may help explain why the Fountain Pen is not as “Archaic” as people think.
But, that’s me rambling out random ideas… I think I’m going to shut up and go to sleep. See if any of this sparks any giggles among any of you Pen lovers.
ktash
Seeing that pen was a blast from the past! I like the idea of a multicolor with a pencil included, since I switch between pens and pencils.
Nate
Bic has one with 3 color pens and a pencil, it works great.
Nate
BIC 4-Color 3+1 Ballpoint Pen and Pencil, Medium Point (1.0 mm), 0.7mm Lead, Assorted Inks, 1-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7W7KU8/
Mike
They still make these pens, I was using them 45 years ago and they still look the same, I guess the saying if it ain’t broke don’t fix it applies to this
John Pyzer
The green ink was added as it is the traditional colour used in the royal navy also the head of MI6 traditionally signs documents with a C in green ink as that is how Smith Cumming used to do it!