Which Grafton pen should you buy? The five compared
Written by the team at Everyman. We make every pen on this page, so there's no winner to crown. This is about fit: which Grafton suits the way you write and carry, and where each one falls short.
The short answer
Start with the Original Grafton. It's the full-size pen, $54, rated 4.8 from 922 reviews, and it's the only Grafton shape that takes a Pilot G2 refill. Move off it for one of four reasons:
- You want it to vanish in a pocket: Grafton Mini, $54. 125 mm, 0.8 oz, click. The lightest Grafton.
- You don't want a click: Grafton Mini Twist, $54. 130 mm, 1 oz, flush clip.
- You want no shine: Super Matte Grafton, $64. The same full-size pen in a velvety, non-reflective finish.
- You want real weight, or it's a gift: Brass Grafton Mini Twist, $84. 1.8 oz of solid brass.
All five share the same 11 mm grip, and the same promise: if it ever fails, we fix it or replace it.
Where most men should start
The Original Grafton Pen
$54
"Solid premium feel without being too heavy." Grafton owner
Shop the Original Grafton Super Matte, $64What's the same, and what isn't
Pick up any two Graftons and your fingers land in the same place. Every one is 11 mm across with a deep machined groove, and every one ships with our 0.7 mm black gel refill. So the grip isn't what you're choosing.
Four things change from pen to pen: how long it is, how much it weighs, whether the tip comes out with a click or a twist, and which refills fit. Get those four right and you'll keep the pen for good.
| Pen | Price | Rating | Length | Weight | Body | Tip comes out by | Clip | Takes Pilot G2 | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Grafton | $54 | 4.8 (922) | 145 mm | 0.9 oz / 26 g | 6061-T6 aluminum | Click | Bolt-on, two hex screws | Yes | Classic Black, Crimson Red, Taipan Orange, Aegean Blue, Military, Rose Gold, Gold |
| Super Matte Grafton | $64 | 5.0 (12) | 145 mm | 0.9 oz / 26 g | 6061-T6 aluminum, Super Matte finish | Click | Bolt-on, two hex screws | Yes | New Oxblood, OD Green, Black, Midnight, Amber, Military |
| Grafton Mini | $54 | 4.8 (221) | 125 mm | 0.8 oz / 23 g | 6061-T6 aluminum | Click | Heavy-duty clip | No | Black, Gunmetal, Silver, Crimson, Aegean |
| Grafton Mini Twist | $54 | 4.9 (264) | 130 mm | 1 oz / 28 g | 6061-T6 aluminum | Twist | Embedded, sits flush | No | Black, Gunmetal, Crimson, Aegean |
| Brass Grafton Mini Twist | $84 | 4.9 (325) | 130 mm | 1.8 oz | Solid brushed brass | Twist | Heavy-duty clip | No | Brushed brass |
Prices, specs and ratings come from each product page on everyman.co. Worth noticing: the Mini Twist is shorter than the Original and still a little heavier. Swipe the table sideways on a phone.
Original Grafton: the one to start with
This is the pen most of our reviews are about, and the one we'd hand a man who has never held a Grafton. At 145 mm it's the length of a desk pen. At 0.9 oz it still disappears into a shirt pocket. The clip is bolted on with two hex-head screws, not snapped on, so it holds a pocket or a notebook spine and stays there.
The bigger reason to start here is ink. The full-size Grafton takes a Pilot G2 as it comes, plus Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde and our own Metal Gels in 0.5 and 0.7 mm. If you already have a refill you love, this is the Grafton that takes it.
Who it's for: the man who writes every day, at a desk and on the move, and wants one pen for both.
"The pen practically floats across the page."Grafton owner
"I'll never have to buy another pen, just the refills."Grafton owner
Where it falls short. It's the longest Grafton, so it rides higher in a pocket than the Minis. It clicks, which not everyone wants in a meeting. And the clip screws are the hardware owners mention most, in 8 of the 188 reviews we read closely. If yours ever works loose, write to us and we fix it or replace it.
Super Matte Grafton: same pen, no shine
Same body, same bolted clip, same refills as the Original, G2 included. What's different is the surface. Super Matte is a velvety, non-reflective finish over the aluminum, and it comes in six colors we only make this way: New Oxblood, OD Green, Black, Midnight, Amber and Military.
It carries without flash. On a uniform, in a boardroom or at the bottom of a field bag, it reads as a tool rather than jewelry. The finish also comes on the Mini and Mini Twist; see the OD Green Super Matte line.
"As a law enforcement officer, I rely on my gear to be tough, reliable, and always ready. It's not just a writing instrument; it's an extension of my daily toolkit."Joe D., Super Matte owner
"I love everything about these pens. The color is great, the quality of the instruments is great and the customer service is, you guessed it, great. I write with one of my 5 Graftons everyday."Tim H., Super Matte owner
Where it falls short. You pay $10 more for the finish alone. It writes exactly like the Original. And its page has 12 reviews so far, all five stars, which is a lot less to go on than 922.
Grafton Mini: the lightest one
125 mm and 0.8 oz. This is the Grafton for a jeans pocket, a shirt pocket under a jacket, or the pen loop inside a notebook. It keeps the full 11 mm diameter, so you lose length, not grip. It clicks like the Original and is rated 4.8 from 221 reviews.
"Clean lines, smooth writing, perfectly balanced and super easy to carry. Fits in my shirt pocket, my cargo pants side pockets, even my zippered Lochby notebook. I'm sold on these pens." Mark, Grafton Mini owner
Where it falls short. Refills. The Mini takes its own Mini Metal Gels in 0.5 and 0.7 mm, plus Fisher Space Pen and Rite in the Rain. Pilot G2 and Parker don't fit. If G2 is your ink, buy the Original. And with less pen behind your hand, a man who fills pages for an hour at a time will be happier with the full size.
Grafton Mini Twist: no click at all
Twist the barrel and the tip comes out. Twist it back and it's gone. There's no button to go off in a pocket and nothing to click in a quiet room. The clip is embedded and sits flush with the body, so there's no hardware to catch on a pocket edge.
It's 130 mm and 1 oz, rated 4.9 from 264 reviews. It takes Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde and our Metal Gels in 0.5 and 0.7 mm.
Where it falls short. A twist takes a beat longer than a click when you need to write down a number fast. Pilot G2 doesn't fit, because the barrel is narrower than the full size. And it comes in four colors, the fewest of the aluminum Graftons.
Brass Grafton Mini Twist: the heavy one, and the gift
The same twist and the same 130 mm as the Mini Twist, made in 100% solid brushed brass. At 1.8 oz it's twice the weight of the aluminum Original, and you feel it the first time you pick it up.
It's also the Grafton we'd put in a box for someone else. It's rated 4.9 from 325 reviews.
"Fantastic weight and feel. It has heft which helps make writing a breeze. The look of the brass is classic."Jake B., Brass Grafton owner
"The response was 'wow, this is so nice' when I gifted this pen."Grafton owner, on giving one
Where it falls short. Weight cuts both ways. If you like a light pen, 1.8 oz will feel like a lot by the end of a long page. At $84 it's the most expensive Grafton here, and like the Mini Twist it doesn't take a G2. It does take Fisher Space Pen in medium, fine or bold, Parker Ballpoint, Parker Gel and our Metal Gels.
How to choose, in four questions
What ink do you use? If the answer is Pilot G2, choose the Original or the Super Matte and stop there. Nothing else in the line takes it.
Where does it ride? Desk, bag, or a shirt pocket under a jacket: the full size. Jeans pocket, a notebook loop, or a pocket you want to forget about: the Mini or the Mini Twist.
Click or twist? A click is faster. A twist is silent and won't open by accident in your pocket.
Light or heavy? Mini 0.8 oz, Original 0.9, Mini Twist 1, Brass 1.8. When owners talk about how a Grafton feels, the word they use most is balance, not weight. Heavier isn't better. It's a preference.
Buying it for someone else? If he likes things with heft, the Brass. If you don't know what he writes with, the Original, because it takes the most refills.
Still torn between two? Get both. Put any two Graftons in your cart and 15% comes off at checkout, applied automatically. Plenty of owners end up there anyway: about a quarter of the 188 reviews we read closely came from people who own two or more.
If your Grafton ever fails, we fix it or replace it. No expiry, no registration, for as long as you own it.
Orders placed before 2 pm EST ship the same business day. US shipping is free on orders of $75 or more. Questions about refills or sizing go to real people at info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday.
Frequently asked questions
Which Grafton pen is the best?
For most people, the Original Grafton at $54. It is the full-size pen, rated 4.8 from 922 reviews, and the only Grafton shape that takes Pilot G2 refills. Choose the Grafton Mini or Mini Twist for a smaller pocket pen, the Super Matte for a non-reflective finish, or the Brass Grafton Mini Twist for weight.
What is the difference between the Grafton Mini and the Grafton Mini Twist?
The Grafton Mini is a click pen, 125 mm and 0.8 oz, the lightest Grafton. The Grafton Mini Twist deploys with a twist, has a flush clip, and is 130 mm and 1 oz. Both are $54, made of 6061-T6 aluminum with an 11 mm diameter. They take different refills: the Mini uses its own Mini Metal Gels, Fisher Space Pen and Rite in the Rain; the Mini Twist takes Parker Gel, Parker Ballpoint, Fisher Space Pen, Monteverde and Everyman Metal Gels.
Which Grafton pens take Pilot G2 refills?
Only the full-size pens: the Original Grafton and the Super Matte Grafton. The Grafton Mini, the Grafton Mini Twist and the Brass Grafton Mini Twist do not take Pilot G2.
Is the Super Matte Grafton different from the Original Grafton?
It is the same full-size pen, 145 mm and 0.9 oz, with the same bolt-on clip and the same refills. The difference is the finish: a velvety, non-reflective Super Matte surface in six colors made only in that finish. The Super Matte Grafton is $64; the Original Grafton is $54.
How heavy is the Brass Grafton Mini Twist?
The Brass Grafton Mini Twist weighs 1.8 oz, twice the 0.9 oz of the aluminum Original Grafton. It is 130 mm long, made of solid brushed brass, and sells for $84.
Is there a discount for buying two Graftons?
Yes. Put any two Grafton pens or pencils in your cart and 15% comes off at checkout automatically. It does not combine with other product discounts.
What happens if my Grafton breaks?
If your Grafton ever fails, tell us and we will fix it or replace it, for as long as you own it. There is no expiry and no registration. Write to info@everyman.co, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm EST.