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From its establishment in 1918, Pilot has not only been a renowned fountain pen manufacturer, but also a dominant player in the Japanese stationery industry. However, despite its formidable reputation, the company faced a near-closure in the 1960s. Leading Pilot's remarkable comeback from the brink of bankruptcy was none other than the Elite S Pocket Pen, which we are excited to introduce today!

1963年，Sailor推出市面上第一支短鋼Sailor Mini，並獲得了巨大的成功。Platinum不甘落後，也在1964年推出兩款自家短鋼，其中一款便是PK-1000。而今天要介紹的更是常規途徑買不到的透明示範版本PK-1000！

短鋼雖然曾經十分流行，但其起源如今卻是鮮有人知。網上有些說法指短鋼的首創筆廠為Pilot或是Platinum，然而，短鋼的面世應該歸功於日本筆廠三巨頭中排名最後的——Sailor。Sailor於1963年推出第一款短鋼，比前二者早五年及一年，而該筆款就是Sailor Mini（セーラーミニ）。

The regular Elite 95S pocket fountain pen comes in two versions, black and burgundy. However, there is actually another very special and almost unknown hidden version - the blue shareholder limited edition!

During the New Year season, instead of focusing on the history of pocket pens as before, let me share with you the pocket pen that has had the biggest impact on me, and even changed my life. The Platinum PKN-4000, with its etched grid pattern on the steel cap, was my first pocket pen in my life.

Previously, like many pen enthusiasts, I mistakenly believed that the first pocket pen by Pilot was the Elite S in 1968, as it was the most well-known. However, after communicating with Mr. Nobuyoshi Arakura, a.k.a. Mr. Pilot, he revealed to me the true originator of Pilot's pocket pens, which was the Sporty 12!

Two years ago, before I prepared for my college thesis, I boasted that I would introduce more pocket fountain pens after completing it. I never thought that two years have passed and I haven't finished a single article, and my collection has only increased by 14 pens, totaling 172.

Time passing so quickly. Four years have gone since I first established the website “Pocket Pen Chronicle”. And now, I am already a graduating student. Four years ago, when I started my website, I had only 35 pocket pens. But now, the number of my collection have achieved 158!

I used to be focused on Japanese pen manufacturers such as Pilot, Platinum, and Sailor. However, after discovering the Taiwanese brand S.K.B. and its RS-301N brass pocket pen, I realized that there are many good pen manufacturers in Taiwan that produce pocket pens. Today, I'll be discussing a vintage S.K.B. pocket fountain pen with a gold-plated barrel and green stripe.

Nowadays, apart from the Elite 95S launched by Pilot, pocket pens are hard to find in the first-hand market. However, the design of the pocket pen has not been forgotten. In 2018, S.K.B., a Taiwanese brand of Wen Ming Fountain Pen Mfg. Co., Ltd., released a brand new brass pocket pen: the RS-301N.