The classic ballpoint pen contains a tube of pressurized ink that flows to a tight-fitting metal ball bearing. As the bearing rotates, it deposits a line of ink onto the writing surface.

Ballpoint technology was invented in the 1800s, but Uni-ball (originally the Masaki Pencil Manufacturing Company, founded in the late 19th century) didn’t produce its first ballpoint pen until 1959.

The 100 best pens as tested by the writers and editors of the Strategist. They tested felt-tip, gel, rollerball, ballpoint, and fountain pens, including ones from Pilot, Baron Fig, Montblanc, Ohto ...

Uni-ball Signo DX Gel Ink Pen (2-Pack) See price on Amazon. See on Amazon. These Uni-ball Signo pens are not easy to find in U.S. stores, but for those who prefer an extra-fine tip, ...

Eventually, they refined both the ink and the ball-tip design to create a pen that didn’t leak badly. (This was an era in which a pen could be a huge hit because it only leaked ink sometimes.) ...

Ballpoint pens distribute fast-drying ink without the ink drying in the pen itself. It uses a thick, oil-based ink that is dispersed by a small ball in a socket at the head of the pen.

You probably have no idea where the ink in your pen comes from, much less whether it’s a simple factory process or demanding of more expertise. Josh Velson, a chemical engineering consultant for ...