OHTO… maker of the weird and wonderful. Often tacky, sometimes brilliant. I consider the V-Gripper series from 2002 one of their better outings due to 3 things:
- Solid construction - each model is an all metal affair, with well fitted parts and good finishing.
- Bold design - the black rubber section is greatly accentuated by both the color contrast of the body and the relative slimness and linearity of the shaft versus the relatively bulbous grip. I find this almost brutalist in its functional expression.
- A fully developed line-up - OHTO not produced a standard knock ballpoint and mechanical pencil, they even made a capped rollerball in the same style. I hardly see OHTO doing anything similar nowadays.
The thick grip may not be for everyone, but I’ve found it comfortable and controllable. Over the years, the original needle point refill has dried up and I have simply switched to a Zebra F07. The MP has a sliding tip and the rollerball takes the usual OHTO ceramic refill (or most gels with a little modification or spacer).
For the curious, OHTO has had a long business relationship with Kyocera, who developed the ceramic ball technology for their refills. You might occasionally see listings for identical designs bearing the Kyocera name.