Pentel Glidewrite Executive Ballpoint Pen, (1.0mm) Medium, Silver Metal Barrel, Black Ink, Pack of 1 (BX970ZBP)

Bottom line: This is a superb, state-of-the-art ballpoint.For details on the GlideWrite Executive, read on.The star of the show is Pentel’s TechniFLO low-viscosity ink, a combination of gel and traditional ballpoint inks. Pentel claims it has 25% less friction than competitive ballpoints (not specified). In my opinion, it as smooth or smoother and more consistent than Schmidt’s easyFLOW 9000 and Pilot’s Acroball, and equivalent or slightly better than Uni’s Jetstream. The 1.0 mm ball (the only point size available at this time) lays down a smooth, consistent, and clean densely pigmented line with no excess ink on a wide range of papers. Drying times are almost instantaneous, so this pen is suitable for left-handed writers.The Executive edition (model BX970) features a weighted metal body with a subtle dimpled pattern in the grip area. Pentel says the body is metal (it is ferromagnetic) and has “chrome accents,” which in advertising parlance suggests it is not metal, but a chrome-finished plastic. The knock appears to be a chrome-finished plastic, but I don’t know if the nose is metal (brass), metal with a chrome-finished plastic shell, or all-plastic with a chrome finish. Regardless, there’s virtually no difference in appearance in the metal clip and the other chrome hardware. There is minor rattle when shaken vigorously, but there are no rattles or clicks when you write, and there is essentially no tip wiggle. The GlideWrite Executive is also available with a matte black body with the same shiny clip and accents.Pentel has a winner in its GlideWrite Executive. It’s writing performance is outstanding; perhaps, the best combination of smoothness, line consistency, ink density, and price of any ballpoint pen I’ve written with. In my opinion, the pen body design is not inspired, but it is balanced and solid, and does not detract from the sheer writing performance of Pentel’s GlideWrite Executive.

I love this pen. I use this pen at work every day on surfaces and in conditions that most pens don't stand a chance. This pen is made out of metal so it has a good grip but is not too heavy. The ink is very smooth flowing and it is bold. Flows like a gel but doesn't smear on your paper. The price was way cheaper than I expected for a pen this good and it is refillable.

It writes nice, I was expecting it to have a finer point, but not all pens are equal (even if they say they are) This however is a very comfortable pen to hold, so I feel the overall is a win.

This was a great find. For the value, you get a very fine “executive” style retractable pen with solid weight and moderate length. The click operation is smooth with a nice “click”, and the nib extends out where it is apparent. The clip is also flexible and pliable. This is some of the best ink I’ve found in a ballpoint, very similar to the Jetstream yet not as slick. The “Glide Write” logo is not very apparent, so aesthetically it’s clean and doesn’t seem over-branded; very discreet. You’ll see in my photo on the left is the Glide Write ink, on the write is a standard ballpoint. This is far more smooth and rich.

The pen is smooth but still skips. It looks like there is grip but it’s smooth plastic so you have to really hold tight so that your hand doesnt slip down as you write. My hand was fatigued very quickly. The ink is bold, doesn’t seem to smudge but the pen itself leaves a lot to be desired

The ink 'refills' that come in the lesser priced original GlideWrite and the new GlideWrite Signature pens are the same, (BXTL10) but the refill for this Executive model is thinner and smaller (BXTM10) and not yet available to buy as a refill, it appears! Pentel corp. did not yet respond to my inquiry about this and I couldn't find either replacement refill by search on Staples, Office depot or ebay. Maybe soon? In any event after 2 days use, the Executive writes a bit smoother than the original but it also uses ink, to my eye, much faster. Just so you know.

I ordered three of these and one of them showed up in a bag by itself and the other two were in original package but taped closed as if they were opened previously. Two of the three came with the ink nip on the end. All three of them have a different "click" feel to the original one I own. They all write as good as the original and I will update if one of them dies before the others. The original one lasted about a year.

Wish I still had the packaging to return the item. Poor writing instrument and no refills available. Lasted a week.