Award-winning knife designer Allen Elishewitz has lived in the Far East and has practiced martial arts over the past 30 years, including Okinawan Te, Thai Boxing, Northern Shaolin and Kali. This training, along with his experience as a Recon Marine, gave Allen the perfect background to design these defensive writing instruments, CRKT Tao™ Pens.
In Chinese philosophy, Tao means "the way," the fundamental or true nature of the world. And appropriately, these pens reflect the current state of today's world, in which a sudden, unforeseen physical attack can come at any time.
Allen notes, "These pen designs are evolutions of the custom tactical pens I have offered successfully for many years. However, they are very different from the other aggressive-looking pens and kubotans on the market, that is, they do not look threatening, but are useful high-tech writing instruments with a stylish and futuristic design. If the user is threatened or attacked, the pens can be used at three levels of defensive force, depending on the type of threat.
"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.
Four color schemes are available: nonreflective olive drab and tactical black, plus brown with bright grooves and black with bright grooves.
All Tao models are functional writing instruments which use the Fisher® Space Pen ball point cartridge, a pressurized design developed for NASA. It has a tungsten carbide ball point and thixotropic ink which will write in freezing cold, boiling heat, underwater and at any angle—even upside down.
When you can't take a knife or handgun, you can rely on the Tao.
Living In Wisconsin with the new Concealed carry law being passed it has become difficult to even carry a legal pocket knive any where.Business, Clinics, the Library,just about anywhere are posting no weapons on premise. I feel a little safer having my Toe pen with me. It is a well made personal protection option.
Michael G
Roy
2011-11-22 West Milford, NJ
I really like the pen. Very well made. Great for use in the outdoors.
Roy
JEFF
2011-10-13 SACHSE, TX
The design of this pen is great, writes in nearly all conditions, very stylish. The only down side I see is I wish the cap was a tad lighter, when you write with it with the cap on, it seems out of balance, maybe the pen itself needs to be heavier to match the cap. Overall, I love it, well worth the price and I think it makes a pretty good self defense weapon with the cap on, in a last resort, which is what its intended for. Jeff....Texas
Mark
2011-09-21 Folsom, CA
This pen is a bit expensive, but it is a very durable pen to carry on a daily basis in an industrial environment. I don't view it as overly useful as a self defense item, but recommend it as a sturdy pen.
Lawrence
2011-09-05 Sarasota, FL
This pen is exactly as described and I am very pleased with it. The workmanship is precise and it is both stylish and functional. There are some people that have reviewed the logistics of using the pen tip (third weapon option) in a high pressure situation. I find that a little unrealistic. I wouldn't walk around with the pen open either, and due to the screw on/off cap, it would not be an immediate removal. However, I purchased this mainly for travel, as I can take this pen on a plane with me as I can not travel with any knives. If you did want to walk with the pen open, then you would have to accommodate for that. I can see how some might want a retractable pen tip, but I would guess that it would not be strong enough to withstand repeated strikes. This pen would.
Kai
2011-09-01 Lynden, WA
Excellent pen. Definitely not "dainty". My wife was thinking of getting one until mine showed up and she realized it would be too big for her hands. Comes with black ink
Joel
2011-07-18 Long Beach, CA
My take is similar to James. The quality and workmanship is not at question. The design approach to self defense is. I began M'Arts in 1966, still keep my shape and level. The reality of a violent live assualt, is unpredictable at best. It is absurd to inform an assailant that you have a weapon. Such warns the attacker, pushing him to escalate his intentions, making him attack stronger. Perps don't want a fight, they want a victim. If suddenly they become the prey, they will fight harder. The element of surprise of your defending, will upset the attacker's timing
Robert
2011-01-13 Airway Heights, WA
This pen is great I really had a hard time shelling out the cash for this, but now that its in my hands I can see it was well worth the price of admission. Very pleased
Bob
2011-01-10 Bluffton, SC
I have a problem with the practically of the TAO being a self defence device. I say that because you can't realistically store the pen with the point exposed. In this state the pen is longer than most shirt pockets so it just won't fit. Second is that the point is non-retractable so IF you place the pen in your shirt or pants pocket the ink will bleed onto your clothes. Keeping the pen tip covered by screwing the cover over it then takes the advantage you have away in that in a situation you would never have time to unscrew the cap and then screw it on the other side of the pen. I would like the pen more if it didn't write and I could keep a sharp point out all the time as this would make for a great defense device.
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