Tactile Terminology

This article will attempt to compile all of the terms you may hear used when referring to Tactile Turn pens. If you have a question about a specific term but can't find it here, it may be worth asking the AI assistant to look it up for you.

Pen Mechanisms

Bolt Action - our best selling mechanism. It uses a "J-slot" cut in the side of the pen, with a bolt that travels through the slot to actuate the ink in and out. Available in both standard (.428") and slim (.365") diameter pens. 

Side Click - this all-metal mechanism uses a plunger sticking out of the top of the pen to actuate the mechanism into the writing position. There is then a button on the side that releases the refill back into the pen. This mechanism is also available in both standard (.428") and slim (.365") pens as well as the Jens Anso collaboration pen.

Switch - based on the Clickshift V1 from Magnus Industries, this pen actuates using a "switch" that flips up and down like a light switch. Like the others, this mechanism is also available in both slim and standard.

Pencil  - our all-metal take on the mechanical pencil. It comes with either a Schmidt DSM2005 (0.5mm) or DSM2007 (0.7mm) pencil mechanism which threads into the front of the pen. The lead is actuated by pressing down on the bolt and releasing, and you retract the lead by holding the bolt down and pressing down on the lead.

Pen Sizes

Lengths

Standard - also known as "long", most of our core inventory is available in this length. Pens in our core inventory in this length come with a Pilot G2 refill inside and are typically in the 5.6-5.7" overall length range depending on the model.

Short - this is the middle size for our products, and also one of the most versatile. Pens in our core inventory in this length come with a Schmidt EZFlow9000 refill but are made to be compatible with the majority of Parker-style refills. 

Mini - this is the shortest size we offer, and not all products are available in this length. Core models in this length come with a Pilot G2 Mini refill inside, and have a much shorter list of compatible refills than the Short and Standard lengths.

Diameters

Standard  - .428" diameter. Side Clicks taper from .428" at the grip to .405" at the end of the pen. 

Slim - .365" diameter. Slim Side Clicks taper from .365" to .353" at the end of the pen.

Thick - .485" diameter.

Pen Components

Universal Terms

Front - the tip of the pen. For pens that have our signature texture, the front is mated to the middle and then the texture is machined on them as a matched pair to create our signature seamless look. Our fronts use a custom in-house thread that has changed specifications slightly over the years. Because of this, not all fronts will fit all middles. 

Middle - also known as the body or barrel of the pen, this is the longest part of the pen.

Internal - also known as the "bolt carrier" on the bolt action and pencil models and the "plunger" or "top button" on the side click. The bottom part of the Switch mechanism is also known as the internal. On the bolt action and Switch, this part is drilled out to allow the refill to recess inside it. On the standard length Smooth Operator, the internal can be flipped to allow the pen to accept Parker style refills instead of G2 refills.

Spring  - the coil spring used in the mechanism of the pen. These are made to our exact specifications by a local manufacturer in Garland, TX. We use two different springs - a larger diameter, shorter spring in our standard and mini lengths and a longer, smaller diameter spring in our short length pens. The type of spring used in the pen is unaffected by the diameter and determined solely by the length and the type of refill used.

O-ring - most of our pens have an O-ring on the front to help prevent it from accidentally coming unscrewed in your pocket. Standard diameter pens use a 1mm CS X 6.5mm ID O-ring and slim diameter pens use a 1mm CS X 4.5mm ID O-ring. 

Refill - also known as the ink, the most important part of the pen. Our standard refills are Pilot G2 for standard length pens, Schmidt EZFlow9000 for short length pens, and Pilot G2 Mini for mini length pens. 

Bent Clip - also known internally as the "bolt action clip", these clips are laser cut from stainless steel and then bent to shape. They're found on the Standard Bolt Action and Standard Switch. A slimmer version is featured on the Smooth Operator and known internally as the "small loop clip" or "Smooth Operator clip".

Machined Clip - also known as the "milled clip". Older machined clips were held on using two screws and are known as "two screw clips" while the current version uses a single screw with a locating pin to keep it straight. The newer, single screw clip allows deeper carry and also features a more rounded, sleek design compared to the old clips. This clip is featured on slim bolt actions, slim side clicks, slim switches, standard side clicks and pencils. It is mounted using a single titanium clip screw with 4-40UNC threads and a T8 torx drive head. 

Clip Screw - the screw used to mount machined clips to the pens. We make these in house from solid grade 5 titanium and then mill a T8 torx into the head. They use a 4-40 UNC thread for connecting to the pen.

Bolt Action Specific Terms

Bolt - the part of the pen used to actuate it. Standard Bolts have an 8-32UNC thread and Slim Bolts have a 6-32UNC thread. 

Back - also known as the "cap" or "top piece". This part holds the clip on for standard diameter bolt actions and allows access to the internals on slim bolt actions. 

Side Click Specific Terms

Side Click Spring - also known as the "button" on a side click. This is the piece you press down on to release the mechanism on the side click. It is actually a C-shaped piece that we EDM cut from raw titanium in house. When you press the exposed button part of the spring, it compresses the C shape and disengages the spring from the internal, allowing the pressure of the coil spring to retract the ink into the pen. The standard side click, slim side click, and Jens Pen all use model-specific side click springs that are not interchangeable between diameters. 

Switch Specific Terms

Switch - also known as the "toggle", this is the heart of the Switch mechanism. The standard Switch and slim Switch use different, model-specific switch parts and are not interchangeable. The Switches are made of either C630 Bronze or 17-4 hardened stainless and both materials have been tested to ensure reliability and wear resistance that meets our standards.

Back - also known internally as the "switch back" this is the back piece on a Switch pen. Unlike the Bolt Action back pieces, it the Switch back features a stem that sticks down and is a core part of the mechanism. 

Releases

Core Inventory - this is our main catalog of pens/pencils. 4 materials, 4 mechanisms, 3 lengths. We strive to keep this inventory available and in-stock at all times, but don't always succeed. If something in our core inventory is out of stock, we are likely working on getting it back in stock shortly. 

Limited Releases - we do limited releases once per quarter. These drops feature new and unique finishes, rare/exotic materials, and other unique things in small batches. Some things may be numbered, some may be one-offs that we never do again, and some may be the first run of a product that proves to be wildly popular and ends up becoming a semi-regular item on our website. 

Seasonal Releases - we do seasonal releases once per quarter. Unlike limited releases, seasonal releases don't have a limit on quantity and instead are limited by time. They're offered for 60 days and once the sale is over, we never offer them again. Seasonal releases typically feature a specific theme with unique packaging, finishing, and theme related items included with your purchase. 

Shop Series - this is where we experiment. New materials, new ideas, nothing is off limits in a Shop Series drop. These don't have any defined limits or timelines, and often feature products that were dreamed up by the people out on the shop floor making the pens (hence the name). 

Collaborations  - we love to collaborate with other brands and makers. These collaborations are presented in multiple ways including painted designs, special machining, or other unique features. Sometimes they're sold on our website, sometimes they're sold on our collaborators' websites, and sometimes they're only available in-person at shows. The best way to keep up with these is to follow our social media, and if you have a brand in mind that we should collaborate with, send them a message and let them know.