Parker Jotter: The Arrow-Clip Click Pen Since 1954

The stainless steel Jotter, drawn to scale from Hobonichi's 128 mm length.

Product facts

Product: Parker Jotter Stainless Steel CT ballpoint pen
Brand: Parker
Brand origin: United States
Made in: France^*
Material: Stainless steel cap and barrel, chrome-plated trim, Quinkflow ballpoint refill
Released: January 1954
Price range: $$$$20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)

Notes on these facts

Made by Parker Pen Company (part of Newell Brands). Made in France: Wikipedia's history says production moved from Newhaven, England, to Nantes, France, after Parker closed its English factory late in 2010, and that Jotters are now imprinted Made in France. PartsSource and Galaxus list France for item 1953170, and Sainsbury's and Bruneau for other stainless models. Parker's US, UK and French sites blocked our reader. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Hobonichi and a Japanese au PAY Market listing give the Jotter as 128 mm (5.0 in) long and 15 g, with a 9.6 to 10 mm barrel; the Jotter XL is 140 mm and 11 mm.
Parker says the Jotter launched in January 1954, and over 750 million have been sold, per widely repeated figures.
It takes the Parker Quinkflow ballpoint refill: medium black 1950369, medium blue 1950371, fine blue 1950368.
The stainless steel CT with blue ink is Parker item 1953170 (EAN 3501179531700); Jotters have been made in Nantes, France, since Parker closed its English factory in 2010.
An Amazon listing mirror shows the stainless Jotter with about 17,000 ratings at 4.5 stars and ranks in the top 70 Ballpoint Pens.

What is the Parker Jotter?

The Jotter is Parker’s refillable click ballpoint, launched in January 1954 and still its best-known pen. Parker says it took nine years to develop (Newell Brands Japan says ten), and the widely repeated figure is more than 750 million sold since.

The stainless steel CT (“chrome trim”) version is the classic: a brushed steel body, Parker’s arrow clip and a chrome push button that clicks the point in and out.

Why is the Parker Jotter so popular?

It’s one of the cheapest metal pens from a heritage brand, and it is easy to keep going for decades. An Amazon listing mirror shows the stainless steel Jotter (ASIN B01DJBH2S4) with about 17,000 ratings at 4.5 stars, and snapshots ranked it between 5th and 68th in Ballpoint Pens.

Reviewers in that listing mostly praise the weight, the look and the gift box. The one recurring complaint is a faint rattle from the spring when the pen is shaken.

Parker Jotter specs

Spec	Value
Maker	Parker Pen Company (Newell Brands)
Type	Retractable click ballpoint
Length	128 mm (5.0 in), per Hobonichi and au PAY Market; G. Edward lists 129 mm
Diameter	9.6 mm per Hobonichi, 9.7 mm per G. Edward, 10 mm per au PAY Market
Weight	15 g, per Hobonichi and au PAY Market
Barcode	EAN 3501179531700 (1953170), per Swiss Post
Body	Stainless steel, chrome trim
Refill	Parker Quinkflow ballpoint
Item number	1953170 (stainless CT, blue ink)
Made in	France (Nantes, since 2010)

Some US listings give weights of 60 to 70 g and lengths near 177 mm. Those match the gift box, not the pen, so we use Hobonichi’s pen figures.

What refill does the Parker Jotter take?

It takes the Parker Quinkflow ballpoint refill, the standard Parker-style refill that also fits the Sonnet and IM. Quill lists medium black as 1950369, medium blue as 1950371 and fine blue as 1950368. Parker says its ballpoint refills are certified to ISO 12757-2.

Because the format is shared by many brands, Parker-style refills from other makers also fit. If you’d rather have a smoother low-viscosity ink in a cheaper click pen, compare the Pilot Acroball.

Jotter vs Jotter XL: what’s the difference?

The Jotter XL is a larger Jotter: Hobonichi lists it 12 mm longer and 1.4 mm thicker, at 140 mm and 11 mm across. unsharpen also gives 140 mm and almost 11 mm. Both keep the arrow clip and Quinkflow refill.

To-scale drawing of the Parker Jotter, 128 mm long and 9.6 mm across, above the Jotter XL, 140 mm long and 11 mm across — Jotter and Jotter XL at 1 mm = 4 px, from Hobonichi's listings.

Pick the XL if the standard Jotter feels thin in your hand; pick the standard for a shirt pocket or a notebook loop.

How does the Jotter compare to other metal ballpoints?

It’s the lightest of the common metal click pens and the only one with a standard Parker-style refill.

	Parker Jotter	Zebra F-701	Cross Classic Century
Length	128 mm	133 mm	133 mm
Weight	15 g	20–21 g	16–17 g
Mechanism	Click	Click	Twist
Refill	Parker Quinkflow	Zebra F-Refill	Cross ballpoint
Made in	France	Indonesia	China

The F-701 is cheaper and heavier with a knurled grip; the Classic Century is slimmer and twists open.

What has changed since 1954?

The shape has stayed close to the original, but the materials and refill have changed. The first Jotters had grooved nylon barrels, and Parker’s textured tungsten carbide T-Ball refill followed in 1957. Sources disagree on when the arrow clip arrived; most say 1958.

Our best pens of all time guide places the Jotter among ten icons by sales and years in production.

Where is the Parker Jotter made?

The Jotter is made in France, at Parker’s Nantes plant. Wikipedia’s history says Parker moved production from Janesville, Wisconsin, to Newhaven, England, in 1999, then to Nantes after closing the English factory late in 2010, and that Jotters are now imprinted Made in France. Retailers agree: PartsSource and Galaxus give France for item 1953170, and Sainsbury’s and Bruneau for other stainless models. The EAN on item 1953170 also starts with 350, a French GS1 prefix.

How much does a Parker Jotter cost?

The stainless steel Jotter sits in our $$$ band ($20–75 per pen) at list price, and sales often drop it into $$ ($5–20). Quinkflow refills cost a fraction of a new pen.

Frequently asked questions

What refill does the Parker Jotter use?

The Parker Quinkflow ballpoint refill. Quill lists medium black as 1950369, medium blue as 1950371 and fine blue as 1950368; Bruneau says the same refill fits the Sonnet and IM.

How long is a Parker Jotter?

About 128 mm (5.0 in), per Hobonichi; G. Edward lists 129 mm. The Jotter XL is 12 mm longer at 140 mm.

What is the difference between the Jotter and the Jotter XL?

Size. Hobonichi lists the Jotter at 128 mm long and 9.6 mm across and the XL at 140 mm and 11 mm, and unsharpen also gives the XL as 140 mm. Both use the arrow clip and Quinkflow refill.

When did the Parker Jotter come out?

Parker says it launched the Jotter in January 1954, after nine years of development; Newell Brands Japan's copy says ten years. The first barrels were grooved nylon; the T-Ball refill followed in 1957.

Where is the Parker Jotter made?

In France: Parker moved Jotter production from Newhaven, England, to Nantes after closing its English factory in 2010, and retailers list France for item 1953170. Parker itself started in Janesville, Wisconsin.

How many Parker Jotters have been sold?

More than 750 million since 1954, according to figures repeated on Wikipedia and by retailers. Parker hasn't published an audited number in our sources.

Is the Parker Jotter a good gift pen?

It's one of the most common ones: it's metal, refillable and sold in a gift box. At about 15 g it's light for a metal pen, so it suits long writing more than a heavy executive pen.

Sources (18)

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