The benchmade 1100 pen has a removeable clip and ink cartridges manufactured by fisher. They are of the excellent fisher space pen cartride type. The quality pen has a heavy feel when writing and is very high tech looking. The pen should be used on a daily basis to give it the respect it deserves. If one is caught in a bad situation like trapped in a car or in a confontation it is good to have something in your hand to get you out. I have read reports of the pens passing through security, but I would not recomend leaving it up to a TSA person to make that judgement. At the office and everywhere else you should be fine with the benchmade 1100 pen. You will never break or hurt this pen if you sit on it or slam it in a car door like I have done with so many other pens.