--- title: "Pentel Sign Pen: The 1963 Fiber-Tip Pen Explained" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-sign-pen/" description: "Pentel Sign Pen S520 explained: the acrylic fiber tip, 0.8–1.0 mm line, water-based ink, size and weight, its 1963 and Gemini history, and where it's made." category: "Pens" type: "Felt-tip pen" published: 2026-10-20 updated: 2026-10-20 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 22 products: - name: "Pentel Sign Pen (S520)" brand: "Pentel" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Acrylic fiber tip in a metal sleeve, water-based ink; 80% recycled plastic body in black, red, blue and green (Pentel of America)" released: "1963" price_band: "$ (under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand" model: "S520" gtin: "072512100004" url: "https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/pen/pentel_signpen/" --- # Pentel Sign Pen: The 1963 Fiber-Tip Pen Explained > The Pentel Sign Pen (S520) is a capped, disposable fiber-tip pen with water-based ink that Pentel launched in Japan in 1963. Its 2.0 mm acrylic fiber tip in a metal sleeve writes a line retailers give as 0.8–1.0 mm. Pentel says it flew on a NASA Gemini mission in 1966, and Pentel of America gives Japan as its origin. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-sign-pen/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-20 - Updated: 2026-10-20 ![Side view of a capped black Pentel Sign Pen S520, 133 mm (5.2 in) long: slim black barrel with white printed lettering, black cap with molded clip, and a close-up of the pointed fiber tip in its metal sleeve](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/pentel-sign-pen-16x9.png) *A black Sign Pen (S520A), capped, to JetPens' 133 mm capped length.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/pentel-sign-pen-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pentel Sign Pen (S520) | Pentel (by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand) | Japan | Japan | Acrylic fiber tip in a metal sleeve, water-based ink; 80% recycled plastic body in black, red, blue and green (Pentel of America) | 1963 | $: under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Pentel Sign Pen (S520)): Japan. Pentel of America's 2023–2024 product guide gives the S520's origin as Japan. Retailer spec sheets agree: Officeworks (Australia) lists Japan as the country of manufacture for the black 12-pack (S520-A) and the assorted 6-pack, Brock's Compass (UK) lists Japan for the red S520-B, and Aztek (US) lists Japan for the black S520A dozen. Digitec (Switzerland) lists China for the violet S520-V, so origin may vary by color or market. Pentel's Japanese product page doesn't state it. Source: https://pentel.mywestamerica.com/2023ProductGuide/86/ ## Key takeaways - Pentel launched the Sign Pen in 1963; ITmedia reported in 2017 that more than 2.1 billion had sold in over 100 countries. - The tip is a 2.0 mm acrylic fiber point in a metal sleeve; retailers give the line as 0.8 mm or about 1 mm. - JetPens lists the pen at 13.3 cm (5.2 in) capped, 15.8 cm (6.2 in) posted and 11 g. - Pentel UK says NASA adopted the Sign Pen and that it went into space on a Gemini mission in 1966. - Pentel of America's product guide gives Japan as the origin; in Japan the pen lists at ¥165 (about US$1.00) including tax from October 1, 2026. ## What is the Pentel Sign Pen? **The Sign Pen is Pentel's capped, disposable fiber-tip pen with water-based ink, first sold in Japan in 1963.** Pentel's Japanese site calls it the world's first water-based pen with a fiber ink reservoir (中綿式), made to write like both a pen and a brush without showing through paper. Its point is made of acrylic fibers in a metal sleeve, and it writes a line between a fine marker and a ballpoint. The name says what it was for: signing. Pentel's UK site tells the launch story: after a trade fair, a sample reached US President Lyndon Johnson, who ordered it in quantity; Pentel's Japanese site adds that this made it famous across the US. Pentel Japan's design archive lists a Long Life Design Award in 2008. ITmedia reported in 2017 that more than 2.1 billion had been sold in over 100 countries. Pentel the company changed its legal name to ASTRUM Corporation on April 1, 2026, as part of the PLUS group, but says it keeps Pentel as its brand worldwide. ## Pentel Sign Pen specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | ASTRUM Corporation (formerly Pentel Co., Ltd.), Tokyo | | Model | S520 (S520-A black, S520-B red, S520-C blue in the US); S520-AD etc. and XS520 packs in Japan | | Type | Capped, disposable fiber-tip pen | | Tip | 2.0 mm acrylic fiber in a metal sleeve | | Line width | 0.8 mm (Officeworks, Monotaro) or about 1 mm (UK supplier) | | Ink | Water-based, non-permanent | | Colors | 12 at Pentel of America; 8 in Japan | | Body | 80% recycled plastic in black, red, blue and green (Pentel of America) | | Length | 13.3 cm (5.2 in) capped · 12.4 cm uncapped · 15.8 cm (6.2 in) posted, per JetPens | | Weight | 11 g, per JetPens | | Launched | 1963 (Pentel Japan) | | Japan list price | ¥165 (about US$1.00) including tax, from October 1, 2026 | | Made in | Japan (Pentel of America; one Swiss listing says China) | Pentel doesn't publish the size or weight, so those come from JetPens. Pentel Japan raised the list price from ¥132 (about US$0.80) to ¥165 (about US$1.00) including tax on October 1, 2026; the JAN code of the black S520-AD is 4902506340115. JetPens also notes the pen carries Japan's Eco Mark. ## How thick a line does the Sign Pen write? **Retailers give it as 0.8 mm or about 1 mm, from a 2.0 mm tip.** The fibers are pressed to a point, so the line gets wider as you press harder or as the tip wears. That makes it bolder than a [Sakura Pigma Micron](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/sakura-pigma-micron/) 05 (0.45 mm) and similar to a [Paper Mate Flair](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/paper-mate-flair/) Medium. It suits signatures, headings, labels and short notes rather than tiny handwriting. For true brush strokes from Pentel, see the refillable [Pentel Pocket Brush Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-pocket-brush-pen/), or the Sign Pen's brush-tipped sibling, the [Pentel Touch Sign Pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pentel-touch-sign-pen/). ## Did the Sign Pen really go to space? **Pentel says it did: its Japanese site says the Sign Pen was taken aboard NASA spacecraft, and its UK site names a Gemini mission in 1966.** Other accounts name the Gemini 6 and Gemini 7 missions of 1965. We haven't seen NASA records that confirm either version, so treat it as the maker's story. ## Is Pentel Sign Pen ink waterproof? **No: retailers describe it as non-permanent, water-based ink.** A drop of water can make it run, and it isn't sold as archival. For permanent lines, use a pigment fineliner such as the Micron. Water-based ink in a fiber tip can also show through thin paper. Try it on the last page of a notebook first. ## How does the Sign Pen compare to other felt-tip pens? **The Sign Pen is the classic signing pen; the Flair is its main US rival, and the Micron is the permanent, finer option.** | | Pentel Sign Pen | Paper Mate Flair (Medium) | Sakura Pigma Micron 05 | |---|---|---|---| | Tip | 2.0 mm acrylic fiber, metal sleeve | Felt, 0.7 mm point | Fiber, 0.45 mm line | | Ink | Water-based, non-permanent | Water-based | Water-based pigment | | Launched | 1963 | 1966 | 1982 (Pigma line) | | Price band | $ | $ | $ | | Made in | Japan (most retailers) | Mexico (US packs) | Japan (retailers) | For a finer water-based felt tip in many colors, Korea's [Monami Plus Pen 3000](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/monami-plus-pen-3000/) has a 0.4 mm point and comes in sets of up to 60 colors. ## Where is the Pentel Sign Pen made? **In Japan, according to Pentel of America's 2023–2024 product guide.** Officeworks in Australia, Brock's Compass in the UK and a US office supplier also list Japan. Digitec in Switzerland lists China for the violet pen, so origin may vary by color or market; Pentel's Japanese page doesn't state it. ## How much does a Pentel Sign Pen cost? **It's in our lowest price band, $ (under $5 per pen), in a typical box of 12.** Single pens from specialist shops cost a little more. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Pentel Sign Pen a felt tip or a marker? It's a fiber-tip pen, often called a felt tip. The point is made of acrylic fibers in a metal sleeve and writes a line between a fine marker and a pen, which is why Pentel pitched it for signing. ### How thick is the Pentel Sign Pen line? Retailers give the line width as 0.8 mm (Officeworks, Monotaro) or about 1 mm (a UK supplier), from a 2.0 mm tip. Pressure and paper change the result, and Pentel doesn't publish one figure in the sources we found. ### Did the Pentel Sign Pen go to space? Pentel says so. Its Japanese site says the pen was taken aboard NASA spacecraft, and Pentel UK names a Gemini mission in 1966; other accounts name Gemini 6 and 7. We haven't seen NASA records confirming it. ### Is Pentel Sign Pen ink waterproof? No. Retailers describe it as non-permanent, water-based ink, so it can run if it gets wet. For permanent lines, a pigment fineliner is a better pick. ### Is the Pentel Sign Pen refillable? No. Pentel of America calls it nonrefillable, and Pentel Japan labels it a use-up (使いきり) pen. ### Where is the Pentel Sign Pen made? Pentel of America's product guide gives Japan, as do Officeworks, Brock's Compass and a US office supplier. One Swiss listing for the violet pen gives China, so check the pack. ### Is Pentel still called Pentel? The brand is. The company changed its legal name to ASTRUM Corporation on April 1, 2026, and says it keeps selling worldwide under the Pentel brand. ## Sources - [ぺんてるサインペン (Pentel Japan product page: 1963 launch, world's first fiber-reservoir water-based pen, Johnson and NASA story, S520 codes, JAN, ¥165 list price)](https://www.pentel.co.jp/products/pen/pentel_signpen/) - [サインペン (Pentel Japan design archive: released 1963, Long Life Design Award 2008, hexagonal body)](https://www.pentel.co.jp/about/design/08l01007/) - [ぺんてる: 製品価格改定のお知らせ (Pentel Japan: price revision from October 1, 2026; S520 ¥120 to ¥150 before tax)](https://www.pentel.co.jp/news/202600806/) - [Pentel of America: Sign Pen (12 colors, 80% recycled plastic, nonrefillable, UPCs)](https://www.pentel.com/products/sign-pen) - [Pentel of America: 2023–2024 product guide, Sign Pen family (S520 origin Japan)](https://pentel.mywestamerica.com/2023ProductGuide/86/) - [Pentel UK: Pentel celebrates 80 years of success in writing (Sign Pen 1963, Johnson, Gemini 1966, ASTRUM)](https://www.pentel.co.uk/trade-news/pentel-celebrates-80-years-of-success-in-writing/) - [Impress Watch (Japanese): Pentel renames itself ASTRUM Corporation from April 1, 2026](https://www.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/2094175.html) - [ITmedia (Japanese): Why Pentel's Sign Pen is easy to write with (1963; 2.1 billion in 100+ countries)](https://www.itmedia.co.jp/business/spv/1704/24/news029.html) - [All About (Japanese): The Sign Pen's acrylic fiber tip](https://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/441091/) - [JetPens: Pentel Sign Pen, Sky Blue (length, weight, Eco Mark)](https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Sign-Pen-Fine-Point-Sky-Blue/pd/11091) - [JetPens: Pentel Sign Pen, Brown](https://www.jetpens.com/Pentel-Sign-Pen-Fine-Point-Brown/pd/11086) - [Officeworks: Pentel S520 Sign Pens 0.8 mm black, 12-pack (country of manufacture Japan)](https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/pentel-s520-sign-pens-0-8mm-black-12-pack-pe5534blk) - [Officeworks: Pentel S520 Sign Pen 0.8 mm assorted, 6-pack](https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/pentel-s520-sign-pen-0-8mm-assorted-6-pack-pes5206as) - [Brock's Compass: Pentel Sign Pen red S520-B (country of origin Japan)](https://shop.brockscompass.co.uk/pentel-sign-pen-fibre-tip-red-s520-b--5) - [Aztek: Pentel S520A Sign Pens, dozen (country of origin Japan)](https://aztekc.com/product/1hd5wcvcsk5) - [Digitec: Pentel Sign Pen violet S520-V (country of origin China)](https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product/pentel-sign-pen-1-x-pencils-5609716) - [Service Graphics: Pentel Sign Pen S520 (2.0 mm tip, 1.0 mm line, 12 colors)](https://evolution.servicegraphics.co.uk/pentel-sign-pen-s520-fibre-tipped-2-0mm-tip-1-0mm-line-black-ref-s520-a-pack-12--10) - [Monotaro (Japanese): Pentel Sign Pen (0.8 mm line)](https://www.monotaro.com/g/00012724/) - [Stationery World: Pentel Sign Pen fibre tip 2.0 mm S520A (metal-encased tip)](https://stationeryworld.com.sg/pentel-sign-pen-fibre-tip-20mm-s520a) - [Postshop.ch: Pentel Sign Pen 2.0 mm S520A (classic since 1963)](https://shop.post.ch/en/stationery/writing-utensils/pentel-fibre---tip-pen-sign-pen-2-0mm-s520a-black/p/758185) - [CompSource: Pentel Sign Pen S520A](https://www.compsource.com/buy/S520A/Pentel-1914/Sign-Pen-Porous-Point-Pen-S520A/) - [Wikipedia: Pentel (Sign Pen history, over two billion sold)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentel)