They are a metal processing company located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. They handle OEM production of pens and manufacture and sell mechanical components for wooden-shaft pens.
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At a glance I can see that they supply high quality MP internals to handicraft makers, perhaps Nohara Kogei etc. But I didn’t manage to find any references to original designs like a body knock mechanism. I guess I was hoping for official documentation like how Kotobuki does on their site.
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Yes, check out their Instagram！
They explain it .
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cke45bkvjkv/?igsh=MTE2bjhwYnNwdDhxdA==
Or search for #kato.metal on Instagram.
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If anyone here from the USA doesn’t have the late model KOKUYO Mistral and thinking about getting one, I learned a little secret.
Apparently the KOKUYO USA division decided to market the Mistral to the USA, but instead of calling it “Mistral,” they named it “FLEX & WRITE.” The model number is W-PSM100C. So it’s really the Mistral, but with the name missing.
There’s presently one on eBay for a pretty attractive price and since seller has a “Best Offer” you might be able to get it for a few dollars cheaper.
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would you say the W-PSM100C is on par with the PS-100?
Well, I don’t have it in hand yet. If it’s identical to the rOtring Side-Knock, I’d say it’s very close.
I have the PS-1, PS-2, PS-12, and PS-100, 101, 102. I’ve not been able to disassemble the pencils further than this:
So, I don’t know what the mechanism is like. All I can say is, I feel a noticeable difference from the PS-1, PS-4, PS-12 to the PS-10x. The PS-10x feels more premium, fluid, and refined. But, I’ve not yet tried a well worn PS-“X” to see if usage smooths it out, as I’ve come to find with the Artline Shachihata.
Btw, Kokuyo is so annoying. You have the PS-1 in brushed metal alloy (aluminum?), then PS-2 in various plastic colors, and then the PS-3, PS-4, with other body styles in metal alloys, except that the colorways can be extremely different. For instance, the PS-4 came in a few colors (including a glossy silver) with gold furniture, but then also in a grid pattern (quite sought after). And the PS-3 came in black, red, blue… but then striped brushed steel.
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