A stainless steel pen, 8cm long. However, when you unscrew the top, the "pen" is a solid piece of metal. No ink, however, this pen to write on virtually any type of paper.
In medieval times, artists and scribes often used a metal pin in order to have a specially prepared paper surface. Generally known as Metalpoint or silver tip when the needle was silver, artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Dürer and Rembrandt all used this technique.
The pens we sell are a modern version. The solid metal stem "consists of a metal alloy that leaves a mark on most types of paper. If you use the type of paper typically used in printers and photocopiers, the pen leaves a mark that looks as if it were made by a pencil. However, the line does not stain and can not be easily erased. This has a number of advantages, especially if you are left handed!
Since there is no ink, there is nothing to dry, so that the pen works just as well in 25 years as it does today.
I imagine that eventually began to wear down the tip, as you are leaving a small amount of metal on the page. However, this has to be a much slower process than with a pencil, which wears out quickly. The designer says that if the point becomes overwhelming, you can not tune 'again with sandpaper.
The tip of metal alloy is relatively soft, so it is advisable not to drop the pen on a hard surface. Otherwise you may run off the tip.
The pen comes in a very clever, circular, silver, tin, metal filing and would be a very unusual gift.