--- title: "OHTO GS01: The Aluminum Needle-Point Ballpoint" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ohto-gs01/" description: "OHTO GS01 ballpoint explained: 136.4 mm aluminum body, 0.7 mm needle-point PS-107NP refill, G2 fit, colors, the Horizon it replaced, and origin." category: "Pens" type: "Ballpoint" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-24 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 10 products: - name: "OHTO GS01 retractable ballpoint pen, 0.7 mm, silver (GS01-S7-SV)" brand: "OHTO" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Aluminum barrel, brass tip cone and knock, steel (SK) clip" released: "2021-03" price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "OHTO Co., Ltd. (Japan)" model: "GS01-S7" mpn: "GS01-S7-SV" gtin: "4971516028139" url: "https://ohto.co.jp/global/products/gs/gs01/" --- # OHTO GS01: The Aluminum Needle-Point Ballpoint > The OHTO GS01 is a retractable all-metal ballpoint with an aluminum barrel that turns from hexagonal to round. OHTO lists it at 136.4 mm long and 10.1 mm across, with a 0.7 mm needle-point PS-107NP refill in low-viscosity oil-based ink. It takes Parker-style G2 refills and is made in Japan. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ohto-gs01/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-24 ![Silver OHTO GS01 0.7 mm ballpoint drawn to scale at 136.4 mm, with an inset of its needle-point tip](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/ohto-gs01-16x9.png) *The silver GS01 at 136.4 mm, drawn to scale.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | OHTO GS01 retractable ballpoint pen, 0.7 mm, silver (GS01-S7-SV) | OHTO (by OHTO Co., Ltd. (Japan)) | Japan | Japan | Aluminum barrel, brass tip cone and knock, steel (SK) clip | 2021-03 | $$: $5–20 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (OHTO GS01 retractable ballpoint pen, 0.7 mm, silver (GS01-S7-SV)): Japan. OHTO's Japanese product page for the GS01-B7 says MADE IN Japan; Modulor also lists the GS01 (sold there as Grand Standard) as made in Japan. Source: https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs01b7 ### OHTO GS01 retractable ballpoint pen, 0.7 mm, silver (GS01-S7-SV) colors - Body colors (4 standard, 0 special edition): Blue; Black; Orange; Silver. - Per OHTO (English) (https://ohto.co.jp/global/products/gs/gs01/), checked 2026-10-24. Colors and item codes per OHTO's English GS01 page. Tints were sampled from OHTO's product photos. Shops stock different colors; check the listing. ## Key takeaways - OHTO lists the GS01 at 136.4 mm (5.4 in) long, 10.1 mm across and 11.2 mm at the clip; its Japanese site gives 17.3 g. - It ships with the PS-107NP refill: a 0.7 mm tungsten carbide ball in a needle tip, with OHTO's low-viscosity oil-based soft ink. - OHTO's Japanese site lists the 2026 GS01-B7 at ¥1,000 (about US$6.30) before tax, in black, silver, blue and orange. - OHTO announced the GS01 on January 5, 2021, for sale in early March 2021; US importers say it replaced the Horizon Needle Point. - OHTO's Japanese product page says made in Japan, and it sells in our $$ band ($5–20) in the US. ## What is the OHTO GS01? **The GS01 is OHTO's all-metal click ballpoint: a hexagonal aluminum barrel that turns round toward the tip, a brass tip cone and a 0.7 mm needle-point refill.** OHTO is a Japanese pen maker founded in 1919, best known abroad for its fine needle tips and ceramic rollerballs. OHTO announced the GS01 on January 5, 2021, for sale in early March 2021. Its Japanese site now lists a 2026 version, the GS01-B7, with the same body and refill. The US model code is GS01-S7; the silver one is GS01-S7-SV. ## Is the GS01 the same pen as the OHTO Horizon? **It is the Horizon's successor.** US importer Yoseka Stationery says the GS01 joins the body of OHTO's popular Horizon Needle Point with a new refill, and that the older Horizon models were discontinued. The visible change is the release: the Horizon had a side button to retract the tip, and the GS01 retracts with the top knock. Many shops still call it the Horizon or Horizon 2021, which is why both names show up in searches. ## OHTO GS01 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | OHTO Co., Ltd., Japan | | Model | GS01-S7 (US); GS01-B7 (Japan, 2026) | | Type | Retractable ballpoint, low-viscosity oil-based "soft ink" | | Ball | 0.7 mm tungsten carbide, needle tip | | Refill | PS-107NP, G2 type, 98.4 × 5.8 mm (3.9 × 0.2 in) | | Length | 136.4 mm (5.4 in) | | Diameter | 9–10.1 mm; 11.2 mm at the clip | | Weight | 17.3 g | | Materials | Aluminum barrel; brass cone and knock; steel clip | | Colors | Black, silver, blue, orange | | Japanese list price | ¥1,000 (about US$6.30) before tax | Sizes are from OHTO's English GS01 page and its Japanese GS01-B7 page; the weight is from the Japanese page. Cult Pens lists 141 mm and 9 mm, but we use OHTO's figures. ## What is the needle-point refill like? **The PS-107NP pairs a long, thin needle tip with low-viscosity oil-based ink, so a 0.7 mm ball writes a finer-looking line with a clear view of the point.** OHTO says its soft ink writes smoothly, and Modulor notes the one-piece tip has no plastic adapter, so it doesn't bend under pressure. The Well-Appointed Desk found the old Horizon's needle tip finer than you'd expect from a 0.7 mm ballpoint. OHTO's own timeline dates its cut needle tip and soft ink to 1999; our [OHTO history](https://stationerytimes.com/stories/ohto-history/) covers that story. ![OHTO GS01 136.4 mm long and its PS-107NP refill 98.4 mm long, drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/ohto-gs01-refill.svg) *The G2-size PS-107NP fills about 70% of the GS01's length.* ## Can you put other refills in the GS01? **Yes: OHTO says the GS01 uses an international-standard G2 refill, the same size as a Parker ballpoint refill.** That means gel and hybrid G2 refills from other makers fit as well. OHTO's own options are the PS-107NP ballpoint refill and the 0.5 mm PG-105NP Flash Dry gel refill, which OHTO fits to the GS01-G5 gel version. The heavier, gel-only [OHTO GS02](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/ohto-gs02/) uses a ceramic-ball gel refill in the same G2 size. ## How does the GS01 compare with other metal ballpoints? **It's lighter than a solid-brass pen and heavier than a plastic one, and it costs less than most metal ballpoints.** | Pen | Length | Weight | Refill | |---|---|---|---| | OHTO GS01 | 136.4 mm (5.4 in) | 17.3 g | PS-107NP (G2) | | [Parker Jotter](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/parker-jotter/) | 128 mm (5.0 in) | 15 g | Parker (G2) | | [Zebra F-701](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/zebra-f-701/) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | about 21 g | Zebra F-Refill | Figures for the other two pens come from our guides to them. The Jotter is the classic G2 click pen; the F-701 is the cheap steel pen people modify. The GS01 sits between them with its hexagonal barrel and needle tip. Our [best ballpoint pens](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-ballpoint-pens/) roundup covers the wider field. ## Where is the OHTO GS01 made? **In Japan: OHTO's Japanese product page says MADE IN Japan.** OHTO's head office and factory are in Yuki, Ibaraki, where the company says it makes tips and ink and assembles pens. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the OHTO GS01 the same as the OHTO Horizon? Nearly. US importer Yoseka Stationery says the GS01 combines the body of OHTO's Horizon Needle Point with a new refill, and that the older Horizon models were discontinued. Some shops still sell the GS01 as the Horizon or the Horizon 2021. ### What refill does the OHTO GS01 use? The PS-107NP, a 0.7 mm needle-point refill with low-viscosity oil-based ink. OHTO says it is the international G2 type, so Parker-style refills from other makers also fit. ### How heavy is the OHTO GS01? OHTO's Japanese site lists 17.3 g for the current GS01-B7, and Modulor lists 17 g. That is a medium weight for a metal pen. ### Can you use a gel refill in the GS01? Yes, any G2-size refill fits. OHTO itself sells a gel version, the GS01-G5, with its 0.5 mm PG-105NP Flash Dry gel refill. ### What colors does the OHTO GS01 come in? OHTO lists black, silver, blue and orange for the 0.7 mm ballpoint. The 0.5 mm gel version adds gold and red. ### Is the OHTO GS01 made in the USA? No. OHTO's Japanese product page says made in Japan; OHTO assembles pens and makes tips and ink at its factory in Yuki, Ibaraki. ### Does the GS01 have a retractable tip? Yes. A click of the top knock extends and retracts the refill; unlike the old Horizon Needle Point, it has no side release button. ## Sources - [OHTO Japan: 油性ボールペン GS01-B7 (MADE IN Japan, 136.4 mm, 9–10.1 mm, 17.3 g, ¥1,000, JAN codes, PS-107NP)](https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs01b7) - [OHTO Japan: home page news list (GS01 announced January 5, 2021; GS01-B7 announced October 15, 2026)](https://ohto.co.jp/) - [OHTO Japan: ローラーゲル GS01-G5 (gel version, 19 g, PG-105NP)](https://ohto.co.jp/?product=gs01g) - [OHTO (English): GS01 (GS01-S7 colors and JAN codes, 136.4 mm, 10.1 mm, max 11.2 mm)](https://ohto.co.jp/global/products/gs/gs01/) - [OHTO (English): PS-107NP 0.7 refill (TC ball, 98.4 × 5.8 mm)](https://ohto.co.jp/global/products/refill/gs-refill/ps-107np/) - [Yoseka Stationery: OHTO Horizon Ballpoint Ink GS01 0.7 mm (released 2021; replaces the Horizon Needle Point)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/ohto-horizon-gel-ink-gs01-0-7mm) - [Yoseka Stationery: OHTO Horizon Needle Point 0.7 mm (discontinued; side release button)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/ohto-horizon-needle-point-0-7mm-ball-point) - [Modulor: Ohto ballpoint pen Grand Standard 0.7 (made in Japan, 136 mm, 17 g, materials)](https://www.modulor.de/en/ohto-ballpoint-pen-grand-standard-0-7.html) - [Cult Pens: OHTO Horizon 2021 Ballpoint Pen](https://cultpens.com/products/ohto-horizon-2021-ballpoint-pen) - [The Well-Appointed Desk: Pen Review: Ohto Horizon Needlepoint Ballpoint (October 2017)](https://www.wellappointeddesk.com/2017/10/pen-review-ohto-horizon-needlepoint-ballpoint/)