This pen is chinese crap thats slippery. Not what they used to be. I have a cross 3501 from 1967 and 1970 and the old ones are solid and heavy and usa made. I sent in a 1980 cross 3501 that broke and they sent me this as a replacememt and i am disappointed. Its slippery becsuse it lacks a grip engraving, the two pieces don't aline correctly and doesnt write as smooth. Go buy a vintage cross 3501 on ebay. I bought several used vintage ones on ebay because the older ones are high quality and a pleasure to write with.