CRKT Tao Pen Series — Short Review

The CRKT Tao Pen springs from the fertile mind of Allen Elishewitz.  Allen has practiced martial arts over the past 30 years and combined with his time as a Recon Marine gave rise to the idea of the Tao Pen series. For several years, Allen has been producing tactical pens.  The Tao series is the non assuming evolution of what began many years ago.

Tao translates as “the way”.  In the Chinese philosophy, tao means the true nature of the world.  Our current world, in truth, is a chaotic and full of uncertainty.  In many instances, you can’t carry a typical weapon for self defense. Each Tao pen is an unassuming defensive tool that looks modern, sleek and stylish.  Unlike many tactical pens, it is built so as to offer a writing tool that will not only look fantastic in your pocket but perform as a pen should.

The Tao pen offers you a tool which can be used in your daily life to write with, but should the need arise, it also offers you three levels of defensive capabilities–depending on the threat you are faced with.  Allen states:

“At the lowest level of engagement, the impact crown on the cap can be used to strike the assailant on the head or hands by raking or thrusting. This provides notice of self defense, and may deter the attacker with minimal injury to him.

“At the second level, the more pointed butt of the pen may be used to thrust or provide a disabling pressure point behind the ears, at the armpit or throat.

“At the third level, if the attack persists, the pen point may be thrust for penetration in soft tissues of the throat, chest or abdomen with potentially lethal results if the assailant does not break off the attack.”

The pens are made of 6061 aluminum, precision-machined and hard anodized. The heavy cap is threaded so that it will not pull off in use, and castellated for greater impact. The flutes and grooves on the pen, combined with the pewter-toned stainless steel pocket clip, provide a secure grip.

The pens are built from 6061 aluminum.  Each one is precision machined and then hard anodized.  The cap is threaded and castellated.  The body of the pen has various flutes and grooves which give you a nice, secure grip whether writing or using it as a defensive tool.  The Tao is available in olive drab, tactical black, black with bright grooves and brown with bright grooves.  Each one uses the Fisher Space Pen ball point cartridge.  This pen cartridge has a tungsten carbide ball point and the ink is designed to write in freezing cold, boiling heat, underwater and even upside down.

You may not be able to carry your knife, but you can rely on your Tao.
SPECIFICATIONS:

• Open Length: 5.75″
• Weight: 1.7 Ounces
• 6061 Aluminum