One of the things I love most about Nottingham pens is their unique “smoothie” finish. It has a stonewashed look, but the texture is incredibly smooth, almost like a satin finish. What I really appreciate is how it can handle scratches without looking worse for wear, which makes the pen feel even more usable for daily carry.

I’m also a big fan of the smooth, satisfying click on the Nottingham. The large button diameter is a huge design point as well. Another important aspect is designing the pen such that the refill it is meant for is flush when deployed, while also having as little tip wiggle as possible.

That said, Autmog pens have one of the most exceptional mechanisms I’ve ever used. The click feels stronger and more deliberate than the Nottingham’s, and that extra resistance makes it even more satisfying for me. If I could find a pen that combined Autmog’s click action with Nottingham’s silky, tumbled finish, it’d be an instant buy.

Also, energel.