Pentel R.S.V.P.: Fine vs Medium, Refills & Grip

The R.S.V.P. Fine (BK90), drawn to scale from JetPens' 156 mm capped length.

Product facts

Product: Pentel R.S.V.P. Ballpoint Pen (BK90 0.7 mm Fine / BK91 1.0 mm Medium)
Brand: Pentel
Brand origin: Japan
Made in: Mexico^*
Material: Clear plastic barrel, latex-free rubberized grip, stainless steel tip
Price range: $under $5 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)

Notes on these facts

Made by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand. Made in Mexico: Pentel of America's 2022 product catalog gives the origin of the R.S.V.P. BK90 and BK91 (and the Stylus and Mini versions) as Mexico. GoBizzy (Canada) and OnTimeSupplies (US) also list Mexico for individual colors. Pentel's Japanese site doesn't sell the R.S.V.P. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.

Key takeaways

Two capped models: BK90 with a 0.7 mm Fine point and BK91 with a 1.0 mm Medium point; the RT (BK93) and Super RT (BX480) are retractable.
JetPens lists the BK90 at 15.6 cm capped, 14.6 cm uncapped and 17.3 cm posted, with a 9.5 mm grip and 11 g weight.
Refills are Pentel BKL7 (0.7 mm) and BKL10 (1.0 mm).
Amazon mirrors show the black 5-pack with about 11,800 ratings at 4.8 stars, ranked No. 5 to No. 9 in Ballpoint Pens.
Pentel of America's catalog gives Mexico as the origin of both the BK90 and BK91, and Canadian and US retailers agree.

What is the Pentel R.S.V.P.?

The Pentel R.S.V.P. is a capped, refillable ballpoint with a clear barrel, a latex-free rubberized grip and a stainless steel tip. Pentel is a Japanese brand; its company changed its legal name to ASTRUM Corporation on April 1, 2026 but kept Pentel as the brand. The R.S.V.P. appears to be an export model: Pentel’s Japanese site doesn’t list it in our searches, so there is no Japanese list price or model code. Pentel of America’s catalog credits its “sturdy, well-balanced barrel” and says the long barrel makes it easy to use whatever your grip.

It’s one of the most-rated ballpoints on Amazon in the US. Amazon mirror listings show the black 0.7 mm 5-pack with about 11,800 ratings averaging 4.8 stars, ranked No. 5 to No. 9 in Ballpoint Pens, and an Amazon search tool lists it as the most-clicked product for “pentel pens”.

Pentel R.S.V.P. specs

Spec	Value
Maker	Pentel brand of ASTRUM Corporation (Japan)
Type	Capped, refillable ballpoint
Models	BK90 (0.7 mm Fine) · BK91 (1.0 mm Medium)
Length	15.6 cm (6.1 in) capped · 14.6 cm uncapped · 17.3 cm posted, per JetPens
Diameter	9.5 mm at the grip, 11.8 mm at most, per JetPens
Weight	11 g with ink, per JetPens
Body	Clear barrel, latex-free rubberized “Comfort Zone” grip, stainless steel tip
Refills	BKL7 (0.7 mm) · BKL10 (1.0 mm)
Warranty	Limited lifetime, per retailer listings
Made in	Mexico (Pentel of America catalog)

The size figures are JetPens’ for the BK90 5-color set; Pentel doesn’t publish dimensions in the sources we found.

To-scale drawing of the Pentel R.S.V.P. Fine 0.7 mm in three states: 156 mm (6.1 in) capped, 146 mm (5.7 in) uncapped and 173 mm (6.8 in) with the cap posted — Posting the cap adds 27 mm, making a 173 mm pen for large hands.

Should you get the 0.7 mm Fine or 1.0 mm Medium?

Pick the BK90 Fine (0.7 mm) for small handwriting and forms, and the BK91 Medium (1.0 mm) for a darker, bolder line. The Fine is the one in most single-color packs and in JetPens’ 5-color set. The Medium comes in assorted packs, with colors such as green and violet.

The ink is a conventional ballpoint ink, so it needs more pressure than a gel pen or a hybrid ink like the Pilot Acroball. If you want an effortless line, a gel pen such as the Pentel EnerGel is the smoother choice.

What refills does the R.S.V.P. use?

The capped R.S.V.P. takes Pentel BKL7 refills (0.7 mm) or BKL10 refills (1.0 mm). Pentel of America lists both, and the BKL7 also comes in colors such as sky blue. That makes the R.S.V.P. one of the few cheap capped stick pens you can refill rather than throw away.

Is there a retractable R.S.V.P.?

Yes: the R.S.V.P. RT (BK93) and the R.S.V.P. Super RT (BX480), both 1.0 mm. Staples sells the RT in assorted 8-packs and the Super RT with a translucent barrel. If you’d rather click than cap, these keep the R.S.V.P. name and grip.

How does the R.S.V.P. compare to other cheap ballpoints?

It sits between the disposable BIC Cristal and the steel-barreled Zebra F-301: a plastic pen, but refillable and with a soft grip.

	Pentel R.S.V.P.	BIC Cristal	Zebra F-301
Format	Capped (RT versions retract)	Capped	Retractable
Points	0.7 · 1.0 mm	0.8 · 1.0 mm	0.7 · 1.0 · 1.6 mm
Body	Clear barrel, rubber grip	Clear hexagonal barrel	Steel barrel, plastic grip
Refillable	Yes (BKL7, BKL10)	No	Yes (F-Refill)
Made in	Mexico (Pentel of America)	Mexico (US packs)	Not stated

If you’d rather have a slim all-metal pen that lasts for decades, see the Cross Classic Century or the Swiss-made Caran d’Ache 849.

Where is the Pentel R.S.V.P. made?

In Mexico: Pentel of America’s 2022 catalog gives Mexico as the origin of both the BK90 Fine and the BK91 Medium. GoBizzy (Canada) lists Mexico for the pink and red BK90, and OnTimeSupplies (US) for the green BK91.

How much does the Pentel R.S.V.P. cost?

It falls in our lowest band, $ (under $5 per pen). Multi-packs at US retailers work out to well under $5 a pen.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Pentel R.S.V.P. BK90 and BK91?

Only the point size. The BK90 has a 0.7 mm Fine point and the BK91 a 1.0 mm Medium point; both are capped pens with a clear barrel and rubberized grip.

What refill does the Pentel R.S.V.P. use?

Pentel BKL7 for the 0.7 mm Fine and BKL10 for the 1.0 mm Medium. Retailers list both for the capped R.S.V.P., and BKL7 refills also come in colors such as sky blue.

Is the Pentel R.S.V.P. refillable?

Yes. Retailers describe the capped R.S.V.P. as refillable with Pentel BKL7 (0.7 mm) or BKL10 (1.0 mm) refills, so you can keep the barrel and replace only the ink.

How big is the Pentel R.S.V.P.?

JetPens lists the 0.7 mm Fine at 15.6 cm (6.1 in) capped, 14.6 cm (5.7 in) uncapped and 17.3 cm (6.8 in) posted, with a 9.5 mm grip and 11.8 mm at its widest. It weighs 11 g with ink.

Is there a retractable Pentel R.S.V.P.?

Yes. The R.S.V.P. RT (BK93) and R.S.V.P. Super RT (BX480) are retractable 1.0 mm versions sold in the US, alongside the capped BK90 and BK91.

Where is the Pentel R.S.V.P. made?

In Mexico. Pentel of America's catalog gives Mexico as the origin of the BK90 and BK91, and retailers list Mexico for colors such as the pink and red BK90 and the green BK91.

What does R.S.V.P. stand for on this pen?

Pentel doesn't explain the name in the sources we found. Pentel of America's catalog calls its sturdy, well-balanced barrel what makes it a favorite pen.

Sources (16)

Plain-text version for AI agents: pentel-rsvp.md · Spotted an error? See how we check facts.