What makes this pen special?
The Third Draft is a handmade office ballpoint made around a resin blank that I cast myself in my Worcestershire workshop.
And getting this particular colour wasn't easy.
It took three attempts to get the purple where I wanted it. The first two simply weren't right. The third finally produced the combination I was looking for: a deep, rich purple with flashes of gold suspended through the resin.
Once the blank was right, I turned it by hand and paired it with substantial gold-tone hardware with textured detailing. The result is a pen that looks at home on a desk, but is a long way removed from an ordinary mass-produced office pen.
The name The Third Draft is a little bit of a joke — because just like an important piece of office work, this pen needed three attempts before it was ready for the final version.
And unlike a manufactured pen, there will never be another one made from exactly this piece of resin.
Who is this pen for?
The Third Draft is made for someone who wants a proper everyday writing pen with personality.
It's particularly suited to:
Office professionals and people who spend their days writing
Managers, executives and business owners
Anyone who appreciates handmade craftsmanship
Lovers of purple and unusual resin
Someone looking for a distinctive but practical gift
Anyone who would rather have something individual than another identical pen from a stationery shop
It's substantial enough to feel like a quality instrument in the hand, while remaining practical enough for everyday use.
Features / Specifications
Pen type: Ballpoint
Design: Office ballpoint
Material: Hand-cast resin
Colour: Deep purple with gold highlights
Hardware: Gold-tone metal with textured detailing
Finish: Highly polished
Blank: Original blank cast by The Pen Guy
Manufacturing: Individually turned and finished by hand
Refill: Replaceable ballpoint refill
Use: Everyday writing, office use and gifting
Uniqueness: One-of-a-kind handmade resin blank
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the exact pen I will receive?
Yes. This is a one-off handmade pen made from the actual resin blank shown in the photographs. The colour, gold movement and pattern are unique to this piece.
What type of refill does it use?
The pen uses a replaceable ballpoint refill, so when the ink eventually runs out, the pen can continue working for years with a replacement refill.
Can I use bottled ink with this pen?
No. The Third Draft is a ballpoint pen, not a fountain pen or refillable rollerball. It uses a replaceable ballpoint cartridge.
Is this suitable as a gift?
Absolutely. Its combination of unusual handmade resin, substantial metalwork and practical everyday use makes it particularly suitable as a gift for an office worker, professional, manager, colleague or someone who simply appreciates beautifully made writing instruments.
And because this is a one-off piece, you're giving someone something they aren't going to find in every other desk drawer.
Maker's Story
I made The Third Draft because I wanted to create a purple resin that had more going on than simply being purple.
I cast the blank myself, experimenting with the colour and the way the gold moved through the resin. It took three attempts before I was happy with it.
That's actually one of the things I enjoy most about making pens.
I don't start with a factory-made piece of material where every pen will come out exactly the same. I make the material myself, turn it on the lathe and discover what is hiding inside it as I work.
Sometimes it works first time.
Sometimes it doesn't.
And sometimes, like this one, the third attempt is the one worth keeping.
That's why I called it The Third Draft.
Because this isn't just a pen assembled from someone else's components. I made the material, I made the blank, and I made the pen.