I think OHTO are at their best when they apply a little restraint and don’t let their mechanical brain worm get the best of them. Some of my favorite OHTO designs have been their simpler affairs, like the hex-blended Horizon (now the GS01), the various G-barrel pens, Comet, and the non-Super Promecha designs.
And amongst my top ranked OHTO, the super flat Dagger series sits high up. Nothing whacky. A simple exercise in minimalist styling with just enough mechanical chops to make it work.
The Italy and France flag stickers? No idea why. The Italian connection could be due to the Aurora Thesi from 1974? The french connection? Nada. Chime in if you have theories!
I see some vague resemblance in the form factor (the pocket clip and the tip are not as closely related, though), but it could also be just a casual, promotional device to attract potential buyers. Besides, the French flag is not accompanied by the word “France”, whereas the Italian flag is supported by the imprint “Italy”, possibly showing some difference either in the age, or in the production run. Intriguing mystery.
Don’t know if I’ve already written it elsewhere on the forum, but the connection to Italy is that its inventor Silvano Dolfi is from Italy. The exact pen can be found usually labeled “Elite” in italian secondhand markets.
The french, however, remains a mystery..
Since it’s so similar to Aurora, could there really have been a french inventor behind it? Or did OHTO think that another european flag complements the italian Dagger well?
The saddening reality is that OHTO doesn’t answer any non-business emails
Is there a page somewhere that documents Mr Dolfi’s design work?
Sadly, I haven’t found something like that. He was from Settimo Torinese, maybe there are relatives of him still there haha..
Did he do other notable pens or products?
He patented only two different pens, AFAIK.
OHTO Dagger (2 color ballpoint)
Unnamed 2 color ballpoint. Gravity mechanism where a ball rolls in the red part from side to side, and blocks either opening. I found it by complete luck, because nothing from outside hints such a special mechanism. Currently for sale on ebay .
Nowhere near the complexity, but (I think) pretty cool…and very thin.. : The “SLENCIL” . Made in the USA starting in the mid 1930’s (and the successor Co. is still going). Propelling and retracting for .036" lead, this operates by rotating the little gold spindle in the mid-barrel. Holds spares under the E FABER style eraser/cap and lods by sticking the lead into the nose until it catches on the push/pull rod. Wire clip on this example is a bit distorted, but a fairly neat item in itself…
The micomerter’s or the pencil’s…?
…another potential “resource” for mid -barrel drives: LISTO from the pre-grease marker so common today… these are from the ‘20s’ and early '30’s propel only by turning the center-of-barrel ring/knob .. 0.046" lead…not grease
I think that is a later version…I have seen them, much like many other makes, with all sorts of adverts an personalization ( seen bridge sets. another niche of pencil collectors…)…They also make/made pens (ballpoint, I beleive) to make gift sets…how nice…
