Pentel Pocket Brush Pen: Bristles, Ink & Refills

The black Pocket Brush Pen, drawn to scale at Pentel Japan's 136 mm length.

Product facts

Product: Pentel Arts Pocket Brush Pen (GFKP3), black
Brand: Pentel
Brand origin: Japan
Made in: Japan^*
Material: Plastic barrel, nylon bristle brush, pigment ink cartridges
Price range: $$$5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)

Notes on these facts

Made by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand. Made in Japan: Pentel of America's 2023–2024 product guide and 2022 catalog give the origin of the Pocket Brush Pen (GFKP3) and its FP10 refills as Japan. Officeworks also lists Japan for the GFKP3BPA. Pentel's Japanese product page doesn't state it. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

The tip is a brush of synthetic nylon bristles, not a felt or fiber point, so it draws from a hairline to a broad stroke.
Black uses Pentel FP10 cartridges, per both Pentel of America and Pentel Japan; the US pen comes with 2 refills, and Japan sells FP10-A cartridges in 4s for ¥385 (about US$2.40).
Pentel Japan lists its version (XGFKP-A) at 136 mm (5.4 in) long; LarryPOST gives 14 cm (5.5 in) for the GFKP3.
Amazon mirror listings show the black pen with about 3,170 ratings averaging 4.7 stars, ranked around No. 105 to No. 123 in Drawing Pens.
Pentel of America's product guide gives Japan as the origin, and Officeworks lists the GFKP3BPA as made in Japan.

What is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen?

It’s a refillable brush pen with a tip of synthetic nylon bristles and waterproof pigment ink in cartridges. Pentel sells it in the US as the Pentel Arts Pocket Brush Pen, model GFKP3; the black pen with 2 refills is GFKP3BPA. In Japan it is ぺんてる筆〈携帯用〉 (Pentel Fude, pocket type), model XGFKP-A.

Because the tip is a real bristle brush rather than a felt point, it behaves like a fine ink brush: a light touch gives a hairline, more pressure a broad stroke, and a nearly dry brush leaves textured strokes. That’s why comic inkers and sketchers use it.

Pentel Pocket Brush Pen specs

Spec	Value
Maker	Pentel (ASTRUM Corporation, Tokyo)
Model	GFKP3 (black with 2 refills: GFKP3BPA)
Tip	Synthetic nylon bristle brush
Ink	Pigment; water- and fade-resistant once dry (Pentel of America)
Refill	FP10 cartridge (black, gray, sepia in the US; FP10-A black in Japan)
In the pack	Pen with 2 refills (some retailer packs 4)
Japan model	XGFKP-A (JAN 4902506111197), medium (中字) brush
Length	136 mm (5.4 in) per Pentel Japan; 14 cm (5.5 in) per LarryPOST
Body	Plastic
Made in	Japan (Pentel of America product guide)
Japan list price	¥1,045 (about US$6.60) including tax, ¥950 (about US$6.00) before tax

Pentel’s Japanese site lists the XGFKP-A at 136 mm, with a medium brush, black water-based pigment ink and a short barrel that fits a suit breast pocket; it doesn’t give a weight or the country of manufacture in what we found. LarryPOST gives 14 cm for the GFKP3; our drawings use Pentel’s 136 mm. Swiss listings give larger numbers that look like package sizes, so we don’t use them.

How does a bristle brush differ from a felt brush tip?

A bristle brush splays and springs back, so it draws a wider range of lines and dry-brush texture, but it’s harder to control than a felt tip. Felt brush pens such as the Tombow Fudenosuke keep their shape under pressure, which suits even lettering.

The bristles also hold a bead of ink at the tip, so slow, loaded strokes come out very black. Fast strokes can skip and leave texture, which inkers use on purpose.

What refills does it take?

Pentel FP10 ink cartridges. Pentel of America lists FP10 refills in black, gray and sepia in 2- and 6-packs, and Pentel Japan sells the black FP10-A in packs of 4 for ¥385 (about US$2.40). The US pen ships with 2 cartridges; LarryPOST sells gray and sepia versions with 4.

The cartridge snaps into the barrel like a fountain-pen cartridge. Because the brush stays on the pen, a worn brush means a new pen: Pentel Japan suggests buying a new one after about 2–3 cartridges, depending on use.

Is the ink waterproof?

Pentel of America calls it permanent pigment ink that’s water- and fade-resistant once dry. Focus Nordic, Digitec and Bic Camera Japan describe it the same way, which makes the pen a good choice for line art you’ll color with watercolor or markers.

Give heavy strokes time to dry before erasing pencil lines or painting over them. We haven’t timed this ourselves yet.

What colors are there?

Black is the main ink; Pentel of America also sells gray and sepia, and Staples lists sanguine. Pentel’s Japanese page lists the XGFKP-A in black only, so the colors may not be sold in Japan. Pentel has sold limited-edition barrel wraps with black ink, such as Staples’ Indigo Wrap.

How does it compare to other brush pens?

It’s the refillable, bristle-tip choice; the felt-tip pens are easier to control.

	Pentel Pocket Brush Pen	Tombow Fudenosuke	Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen
Tip	Nylon bristles	Felt brush, hard or soft	Felt brush, 1–5 mm
Ink	Pigment, cartridges	Water-based pigment	Pigmented India ink
Refillable	Yes (FP10 for black)	No	No
Length	14 cm	13.4 cm uncapped	13.8 cm capped

Four brush pens drawn to scale: Pentel Pocket Brush Pen 136 mm capped (Pentel Japan), Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen Brush 138 mm capped, Tombow Fudenosuke soft tip 134 mm uncapped and Tombow Dual Brush Pen 190 mm capped — The Pocket Brush Pen is about the size of other small brush pens, and much shorter than a Tombow Dual Brush Pen.

For bold color lettering instead of black line art, see the Tombow Dual Brush Pen.

Is it popular?

Yes, among artists: Amazon mirror listings show the black pen with about 3,170 ratings averaging 4.7 stars. Snapshots rank it around No. 105 to No. 123 in Drawing Pens.

Where is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen made?

In Japan: Pentel of America’s 2023–2024 product guide and 2022 catalog give Japan as the origin of the pen and its FP10 refills. Officeworks also lists the GFKP3BPA as made in Japan.

How much does it cost?

It falls in our $$ band ($5–20 per pen). Pentel Japan’s list price for the XGFKP-A is ¥1,045 (about US$6.60) including tax. Refill cartridges are sold separately and cost much less than a new pen.

Frequently asked questions

What refills does the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen use?

Pentel FP10 ink cartridges, per Pentel of America and Pentel Japan. The US pen ships with 2 refills, and Pentel of America sells FP10 refills in 2- and 6-packs in black, gray and sepia.

Is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen ink waterproof?

Pentel of America calls it permanent pigment ink that is water- and fade-resistant once dry, and Focus Nordic and Digitec say waterproof and lightfast. That lets you paint watercolor over your inked lines after they dry; we haven't tested it ourselves yet.

Does the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen have real bristles?

Yes, synthetic ones. The tip is a brush of nylon bristles that comes to a fine point, unlike felt-tip brush pens such as the Tombow Fudenosuke or Dual Brush Pen.

Is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen good for beginners?

It's harder to control than a felt brush tip because the bristles splay with pressure. Many beginners start with a firmer pen such as the Fudenosuke hard tip, then move to the Pocket Brush for inking and sketching.

How long is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen?

Pentel's Japanese site lists its version (XGFKP-A) at 136 mm (5.4 in), short enough for a suit breast pocket. LarryPOST gives 14 cm (5.5 in) for the GFKP3.

What colors does the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen come in?

Black is the main color. Pentel of America also sells gray and sepia, Staples lists sanguine, and there are limited-edition barrel wraps with black ink.

Where is the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen made?

In Japan, according to Pentel of America's product guide; Officeworks agrees for the GFKP3BPA.

Sources (15)

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