Compiled from 11 sources; we haven't tested this product ourselves yet. How we research
Quick answer
The uni-ball &knot (SX-AK-05) is a capped Jetstream ballpoint from Mitsubishi Pencil that hangs from a large ring carabiner. Launched in Japan on June 17, 2026, it writes a 0.5 mm black line, closes with a magnetic cap, is 97 mm long uncapped per JetPens, and takes the SXR-80-05 multi-pen refill.
On this page11 sections
The &knot in Lantern Orange, drawn to scale from JetPens' 97 mm uncapped length; cap and carabiner proportioned from Mitsubishi Pencil's photos.
Product facts
Product
uni-ball &knot Carabiner Ballpoint with Jetstream Ink (0.5 mm; SX-AK-05)
Plastic body and cap (matte soft-touch finish), fabric tag, ring carabiner
Released
June 2026*
Price range
$$$$20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Colors
Lantern OrangeOrange in the US
Ink
black, 0.5 mm Jetstream, the only ink sold in it
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Notes on these facts
Made by Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.. Made in Japan: Simple Paper (US) and Hunter Paper Co. (UK) both list it as made in Japan. Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese product page and press release don't state the pen's country of origin; the SXR-80-05 refill package pictured on its &knot site is printed MADE IN JAPAN. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Japanese launch date from Mitsubishi Pencil's June 3, 2026 press release. uni's US store lists it as uniball &knot with JETSTREAM SXR-80-05 Ink; we found no separate US launch date.
Colors: names per Mitsubishi Pencil Japan, checked October 24, 2026. Four body colors, all with black 0.5 mm Jetstream ink, per Mitsubishi Pencil's Japanese page (names romanized from its katakana). uni's US store sells the same four as Orange, Yellow, White and Dense Green. Tints were sampled from Mitsubishi Pencil's product photos. Tints are representative, not measured. Shops stock different colors.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
Mitsubishi Pencil launched the &knot in Japan on June 17, 2026, at ¥3,630 (about US$23) including tax, as the first product of a new lifestyle brand.
JetPens lists it at 9.7 cm (3.8 in) uncapped, 15.0 cm capped and 33 g, of which the cap and carabiner weigh 23 g.
It ships with the SXR-80-05 refill, the 87.7 mm Jetstream multi-pen refill also used in the Jetstream 4&1.
Mitsubishi Pencil's refill chart lists 10 other refills that fit, from 0.28 mm point tips to the 1.0 mm SXR-80-10 and ZENTO ink.
Four colors: Lantern Orange, Ginger Yellow, Steam White and Cedar Green, all with black ink.
What is the uni-ball &knot?
It’s a short, capped Jetstream ballpoint that you wear: the cap hangs from a large ring carabiner, and the pen snaps into it with a magnet. Mitsubishi Pencil launched it in Japan on June 17, 2026, as the first product of &knot (pronounced “and knot”), a new lifestyle brand with the slogan “Write it, wear it”.
Its Japanese name translates as “&knot carabiner ballpoint, Jetstream Inside”. Mitsubishi Pencil’s press release says the name means a knot that ties people to their tools, and that the carabiner was chosen to stand for that tie. The maker pictures it clipped to bags, backpacks and belt loops, for jotting a note the moment an idea comes.
In the US, uni sells it as the uniball &knot with JETSTREAM SXR-80-05 Ink.
¥3,630 (about US$23) including tax; ¥3,300 (about US$21) before tax
Launched
June 17, 2026 (Japan)
Made in
Japan (retailer listings)
Mitsubishi Pencil doesn’t publish the length or weight, so those come from JetPens; an Amazon US listing also gives 97 mm. JetPens doesn’t say whether its 150 mm capped length includes the carabiner.
Color
Order code
JAN
Lantern Orange
SXAK05.4
4902778353073
Ginger Yellow
SXAK05.3
4902778353035
Steam White
SXAK05.46
4902778353011
Cedar Green
SXAK05.7
4902778353028
uni’s US store sells the same four colors as Orange, Yellow, White and Dense Green.
Will the pen fall out of the magnetic cap?
Mitsubishi Pencil says walking won’t knock it loose, but swinging the pen or a strong jolt can. The magnet in the cap is the only thing holding the pen. The maker adds that the carabiner is decorative, not a safety device, and that too much pull on the fabric tag can break it or drop the pen.
Owners report both sides. On October 21, 2026, uni’s US store showed 14 reviews averaging 3.07 out of 5: some praised the magnetic click, one reviewer lost the pen when it slipped out of the cap on a backpack, and another said the cap doesn’t sit securely on the back of the pen.
What refill does the &knot use?
It takes the SXR-80-05, the 0.5 mm Jetstream refill made for Mitsubishi Pencil’s multi-color pens. Mitsubishi Pencil lists it at ¥110 (about US$0.70) in Japan, and its refill chart gives the SXR-80 a length of 87.7 mm (3.5 in).
The &knot site says you can also fit 0.38, 0.7 and 1.0 mm SXR-80 refills, and red, blue or green ink instead of black (1.0 mm comes only in black, red and blue). The chart lists these as compatible too:
SXR-L80-05: Jetstream Lite touch ink, which the maker says writes more lightly.
SXR-ML-05 and SXR-ML-07: longer-lasting refills.
SXR-203-28 and SXR-203-38: fine point tips.
UBR-ZML-38 and UBR-ZML-05: water-based ZENTO ink.
The SXR-80 is the shortest of the three main Jetstream refills, which is how the &knot stays under 10 cm.
Which other pens take the SXR-80 refill?
Mostly Jetstream multi pens: the Jetstream 4&1, the 3&1 and the 2-, 3- and 4-color Jetstream ballpoints. A spare bought for one fits the others, so an &knot owner can borrow colors from a multi pen’s refill packs.
Single Jetstream pens use different refills that don’t fit:
Our pen refills explained guide compares these with Zebra, Pilot and Parker-style refills.
How much does the &knot cost in the US?
It sits in our $$$ band ($20–75 per pen). On October 21, 2026, uni’s own US store listed it at US$34.99, and JetPens and Amazon sellers listed it in the same band.
That’s about 50% more than the ¥3,630 (about US$23) Japanese price, because most US stock is imported. The SXR-80-05 refill is cheap by comparison, so running costs stay low.
Is the &knot worth it over a regular Jetstream?
Buy it if you want a pen that lives on your bag; buy a Jetstream RT if you only want the ink. Both write with Jetstream ink, but the RT is a full-size click pen in our $ band. The &knot writes as a 97 mm pen, about 4 cm shorter than the RT’s 141.4 mm, and costs several times as much because you’re paying for the carabiner and the design.
US and UK retailers list it as made in Japan. Simple Paper and Hunter Paper Co. both say made in Japan. Mitsubishi Pencil’s own pages don’t name the pen’s country of origin, though the SXR-80-05 refill package on its &knot site is printed MADE IN JAPAN.
Frequently asked questions
Is the &knot a gel pen?
No. It's an oil-based ballpoint with Jetstream ink, which Mitsubishi Pencil describes as having low writing friction and a smooth feel. uni's US store calls the ink smooth and quick-drying.
Can I put a 0.7 mm or blue refill in the &knot?
Yes. Mitsubishi Pencil says the &knot also takes 0.38, 0.7 and 1.0 mm refills and red, blue and green ink as well as black; the 1.0 mm comes only in black, red and blue. Ask for SXR-80 in the size and color you want.
Does a Jetstream RT refill fit the &knot?
No. The RT's SXR-7 is 111.5 mm long and the &knot's SXR-80 is 87.7 mm, per Mitsubishi Pencil's refill chart. Use SXR-80 or one of the multi-pen refills the chart lists as compatible.
Can the &knot carabiner hold keys or be used for climbing?
It isn't a safety device. Mitsubishi Pencil says the carabiner is decorative and must not be used as safety equipment, and warns that too much load on the fabric tag can break it or let the pen drop.
How much does the &knot weigh?
JetPens lists 33 g for the whole pen with ink: 23 g for the cap with its carabiner and 10 g for the pen itself. Mitsubishi Pencil doesn't publish a weight.
Is the &knot made in the USA?
No. Simple Paper and Hunter Paper Co. list it as made in Japan. Mitsubishi Pencil, based in Tokyo, sells it in the US under the uni-ball name.
Is the magnet in the &knot safe with a pacemaker?
Mitsubishi Pencil warns that the magnet in the cap may affect medical devices, and asks users of one to check with their doctor or the device maker first.
What does the name &knot mean?
Mitsubishi Pencil says knot (結び目, musubime) stands for a tie between people and their tools. The brand's slogan is "Write it, wear it", and the carabiner is meant to symbolize that link.
