- Body Material - 6061-T aluminum alloy
- Machined texture - Fine rings
- Finish process - Ceramic tumbled (light)
- Button Material - 6061-T aluminum alloy
- Machined texture - Concentric circles
- Finish process - Raw aluminum
- Piston Material - Black Delrin (polyoxymethylene)
- Clip Material - 400 series stainless steel
- Clip Finish - Ceramic tumbled (medium)
- Fastener Material - 18-8 Stainless Steel
- Fastener Style - 7IP Torx
- Spring material - Zinc-plated steel wire
Where It's Made
Body, button, and piston are designed and manufactured in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
Clips are designed in-house, and manufactured at Wrico Stamping Co in Gilbert, Arizona, USA.
Fasteners are sourced from McMaster-Carr, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA.
Springs are manufactured (to our specifications) by W.B. Jones Spring Co in Wilder, Kentucky, USA.
Refills are manufactured by Pilot Corporation, Tokyo, Japan.
Everyday Karas unofficially launched on social media in 2017 via collaborations with EDC (everyday carry) small makers and influencers, Everyday Karas is now officially launched via this webstore and corresponding social media platforms. Everyday Karas is a return to the foundation of machined writing instruments designed and manufactured for everyday carry use. Designs take a step back from complexity of form to focus more fully on function. Everyday Karas products will feature minimal parts in an effort to reduce failures and maintenance while focusing on streamlining the manufacturing process with the use of our CNC machining technology. Minimalism and simplicity are NOT the goal; rather they are two reference points as we journey back to the basics of our design language and process will shape the product and categories Everyday Karas focuses on. Everyday Karas will redefine the durable writing instrument for everyday carry use by first identifying what an everyday carry pen "needs" to accomplish. The design and manufacturing will follow suit benefiting heavily from the advances we’ve made in the last thirteen years.
Karas Pen Co is the sister-company of Everyday Karas, founded in 2008 under the Karas Kustoms, LLC formation, and later rebranded Karas Pen Co in 2016. Karas Pen Co began designing and manufacturing pens in 2011 that were initially launched via multiple successful Kickstarter campaigns. Over time, Karas Pen Co migrated away from crowd-funding new pens designs, and focused solely on launching new products directly via the Karas Pen Co website. Karas Pen Co designs focus on machined pens, primarily made out of aluminum, brass, and copper with designs that appeal to a variety of customers from the EDC community to the fountain pen community. Karas Pen Co features a vast array of styles, colors, materials, pen types, refill compatibility, and features that make up a vast and growing collection of products and models. For the full catalog of current and past Karas Pen Co products, CLICK HERE.
Everyday Karas and Karas Pen Co are managed, owned, and operated by parent company Karas Kustoms, LLC.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Kevin Keeney (verified owner) –
Awesome pen. Very attractive, nice weight, and feels comfortable to write with. Well worth the money!
Paul Bennett –
Kevin,
Thank you for the review. We’re overjoyed that you’re happy with the pen.
chaplaingreen (verified owner) –
Great potential, but misses the mark.
(Do not recommend)
Good – diameter, weight, stonewash, packaging
Great – price, length, refills, J-bolt, no tip wiggle
Bad/Questionable – plastic (longevity of threads), clip (sides rough, but standard for Karas), speed grooves (not for everyone)
Ugly – unfinished tip (In the pictures I thought this was a prototype issue and how it caught the light, but you can actually feel various levels of unrefined finish on the tip. Based on this alone, I can’t recommend this pen. Charge $5 more and finish the tip properly.)
Paul Bennett –
Sorry the basik.001 doesn’t get a recommendation from you. To address some of your concerns.
The Delrin piston and threads for the side button should hold up well. We’ve threaded Delrin in the past for a variety of projects including finer threads than this piston/button. However, in the event the threads do become damaged during normal removal and replacement of refills, we will replace the Delrin piston at no cost as part of our lifetime warranty.
In terms of the unfinished tip. If you’re referring to the “steps” or chamfers rather than it having a smooth, rounded tip like the Karas Pen Co Bolt, that was a design feature that is meant to be the inverse chamfer design that is present in the rings. This initial design utilizes chamfers in the rings on the grip and detail area, and chamfers on the tip. However, if there are machining flaws in terms of rough texture, tool wear, or surface scallops/waves then it is possible we missed the QA/QC on your pen when we were assembling it. If that is the case, we’ll replace the pen at no cost, and provide you with a return shipping label.
miathet (verified owner) –
Very industrial looking, I think it looks cool but could be too unpolished for some. Definitely doesn’t affect writing performance. Also the balance was really nice.
The extend / retract works well for left handed people. The clip is a normal Karas design and a bit sharp edges but works extremely well. Also fits in a pocket well. Easier than I expected to replace the refill.
Really great pen for the money.
Paul Bennett –
Thanks for the review. We’re glad the basik.001 meets your specifications including the left-handed feature.
Jim (verified owner) –
Overall, I am very happy with the Basik.0001. Deploying and retracting the ink cartridge is easy and smooth. The weight of the pen is amazingly light. Not thrilled with the aluminum finish—I look forward to the Cerakote ones. The price is admirable, and Kara’s should be praised for offering a quality pen at this price.
Paul Bennett –
Jim,
Thank you for the review. We’re glad you’re overall happy with the basik.001. In terms of the aluminum finish, we wanted to be under $30 and the only way we could accomplish that was a raw, tumbled aluminum finish. We do think there is some room for adding some more premium options down the road in very limited quantities. That’s not the main focus of the basik, but it is potentially something we’ll consider down the road.
chris.edison (verified owner) –
Very impressed with the pen , great feel in the hand. Love the one piece construction and simple design of changing the refill. I would definitely recommend it especially with the $29.00 price point. A+A+
lowellhillman (verified owner) –
$30 isn’t going to get you the nicest pen in the world, but the basik.001 might just be the nicest pen in the world that you can get for $30.
I will definitely be buying more to give out as gifts, especially if they can offer some anodized options at the same, or even a slightly higher, price.
ladreamzinc (verified owner) –
Nice feel and well balanced. I even love the plastic protector it was mailed in. I am employed in a factory and only carry tumbled or battle-worn pens at work due to the beating they receive. I think I could carry a coloured pen and not worry about the paint being chipped. I have been starring at the pen trying to figure out how to change the refill (I prefer the Pilot G2 1.0 for heavy ink flow) before Karas uploads an instructional video.