Fisher AG7 vs CH4 Space Pen Comparison (Which is Best?)

Finally, it's my comparison of the Fisher AG7 ( amzn.to/2oX9YVV ) vs the CH4 ( amzn.to/2oX9YVV ).
Read the full article: unsharpen.com/fisher-ag7-vs-c...
That's the original AG7 Apollo 7 pen from 1968 (tested since 1966) vs the more affordable CH4. The CH4's history is not clear, but it uses most of the design elements from the AG7.
The most important difference between the two are that the CH4 is thinner and less tapered than the AG7's iconic design. The CH4 is about the same weight (a gram heavier in fact) and a bit longer. The CH4 has better balance then the AG7, if that's an issue for you.
Both use the Fisher Space PR4 ballpoint refill ( amzn.to/2x4tlR8 ).
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note: amazon links are affiliate link and I get commissions for purchases made through amazon links. Any other affiliations or agreements will be noted in this space, if they exist.

[@meboyotube]

I put a bigger spring in my CH4 so it really SNAPS when you push the button. I also made a sleeve so I could use gel inserts when I occasionally don't want to use the fisher inserts. I allows me to put in a Zebra G-310 refil. It required a little DIY but nothing that requires more than a Leatherman to accomplish. I wish they would sell a CH4 with the AG7 features: clicker, clip and smoother grip.

[@m3n9111]

Fun fact.. all manned space missions after the Apollo missions switched to the CH4.. just learned that today lol. Never used the AG7 but I have a B4 which is a CH4 but with a black grid pattern. I had this pen for probably over 10 years and used it a lot that I went through 3 or 4 refills since I got it.. it has seen more drops than I can remember on all kinds of floors and its still going strong.. the clip is still holding on firmly the same as the first day I got it and tbh I cant be happier with it. I also own 3 or 4 other fisher pens and I love them but the B4 is probably my favorite.

[@unsharpen]

Great note! This might be of interest: unsharpen.com/fisher-ag7-vs-ch4-space-pen-whats-the-difference/ And, also, love the B4. A classic.

[@m3n9111]

@@unsharpen oh wow! great article! and thanks for the comparison video.. I wish fisher would someday offer these pens in full titanium or SS..

[@BIZARR099]

Just got the AG7 today, there's such a massive fidget factor with it I love it! That said the weight balance thing does bother me a little, especially coming from a Jotter, where it weighs less and is much more evenly balanced. The polished barrel is so smooth that when I pick up the AG7, the heavier top end swings down and often it slips out of my grip. I guess I just have to get used to gripping it more firmly.

[@Orochi_001]

Are the grid-patterned pens exactly the same as a CH4? I wondered if the grip was any different. Thanks!

[@BuffaloNickel9]

Hey how is the sound of the click compared to the Parker jotter I really like that Bold click the Parker jotter has...

[@muchless]

Thank you for this as well. Didn't even know they were different. Almost bought the shuttle the other day thinking it was an AG7.

[@muchless]

Awesome detail and comparisons. Appreciate you staying organized and keeping the AG7 on the left intentionally.

[@muchless]

Lmao I'm definitely geeking out about these pens to that extent

[@muchless]

I'm just realizing now that the release balls are not centered in the space from the clip to where a mirror image of the clip would be. It looks closer to the clip. Is this just the camera? Do you feel this enhances ergonomics?

[@muchless]

@@unsharpen now that I think of it grabbing the pen to put it in a shirt pocket would leave your index right where they have it.

[@stormwulf117]

If it's a pen that can be trusted to help astronauts survive a trip to the Moon and back, then it's got to be AG7 every time.

[@user-ig6nu4oo5p]

Yeah the mechanism on mine broke after one month! I don't even know how just got stuck one day and you can't open it and do anything about it. Maybe I got a bad one but still a massive disappointment because those are not cheap.

[@pendulousphallus]

"You're missing out on a couple dots there..." That struck me as really funny. I like little buried jokes like that. Jokes that aren't really sold that hard.

[@BingCherry11]

?????????

[@vartikcsaba]

I have the CH4 , but I do not carry it, because it constantly open itself in my pocket and unscrew itself too.

[@beanacomputer]

The links in the description are both for the AG-7...

[@inekemateman273]

Use a rubber elastic band, wrap it around the lower part of the pen, tighten it and and hold it between your fingers and loosen it!

[@brucehanson9976]

Did you ever get that pin open without damaging it ?

[@mikenolan9172]

Thanks for the video. What do you mean by street price ? Is there a way to purchase these not directly through the Space Pen website ?

[@unsharpen]

Yes these are sold many places, for example amazon.com and pen/stationery stores

[@rlv05001]

I love these pens, but I don't prefer the refills: Take too much pressure to write. Do you know if there are any good refills that fit these pens that are closer to the schmidt easyflow 9000? As of now that is the only ballpoint I'll use, and I use it a lot.

[@rlv05001]

Yah, right now I basically use a combo of Fountain pens, Gelly Rolls, and easyflow9000's. I'm always looking for a good pen/refill combination, especially for an easyflow, while saving up for more fountain pens (L2K-M pretuned from nibs.com and Edison menlo-Ebonite on my list)... Will take some time to save for, but worth having pens perfected OOTB.

[@xSluggySlugworthx]

I haven't tried it but I believe a Zebra pen refill might work. It would definitely take some modifications (nothing permanent) but I really think you could make them work. The refills are approximately the same length and ballpoint tips are of similar circumference.

[@Ross-fo2vw]

I'm seeking a few pens from 15-90 USD. Any recommendations? Just got a promotion into the offices so looking for some great pens considering I will be writing all day and I love pens!

[@sovner]

Got my first AG7 in the mail a few days ago, wraped it in gift paper and opened it today. First impressions: it's slimmer then i thought it would be, and has a less solid feel then my tactile turn bolt action pen. That being said, i do find it more fun to play with, and really like the feel of the click on this one. And i'm guessing i might also like better writing with the AG7, cause i've always felt like my tactile turn pen could be a little slimmer, and releas less ink when i'm writing with it, which dosn't seem to be the case with the AG7. Anyways, thanks for making this video, really glad i watched it, cause now i'm happy i didn't purchas the CH4 instad, as i feel that anything slimmer then the AG7 would be too slim for me

[@unsharpen]

Thanks for the comment. Love to hear about people discovering products like this ag7

[@firefighter387]

Hi do you recommend the AG7 50th anniversary Apollo 11 edition

[@unsharpen]

Sorry don’t know anything about that one. I do recommend the ag7 though

[@firefighter387]

@@unsharpen thanks for your prompt response.

[@gregs.2679]

Fisher also makes a pen that's shaped exactly like the CH4 but is engraved with a Parker 75 Cisele-style crosshatch finish that dresses it up quite a bit and makes it much less of a fingerprint magnet than the mirror-polished CH4. I like both pens, but another difference is that the engraved version is covered with a clear lacquer that unfortunately is peeling away from the barrel in one small area of the one that I own. I have no doubt that Fisher's excellent customer service department will replace the barrel if it becomes really unsightly. I'm keeping it for now, though.

[@unsharpen]

Yes that’s the B4. It’s quite nice! Too bad about the lacquer - I’ve not seen that problem before.

[@kylethedalek]

I know the AG7 stands for Anti Gravity (what does the 7 stand for?) So what does CH4 stand for? I’m starting to get into hear pens and I will end up getting both these pens, but is there really any advantages one has over the other? Apart from the slight size difference. There is very few people who actually have he CH4. Do you think they just made the CH4 to create more of a market? Do NASA still issue both these pens or just one? And will fisher ever make a 100% correct replica of what the astronauts are issued? (or were issued.)

[@spekerz875]

Methane (chemical formula CH4) is one of the simplest hydrocarbons, which literally means “containing hydrogen and carbon.” and i dont know about the 7

[@milavshah1982]

AG7 means anti-gravity 7. The 7 stands for the apollo 7 mission in which the pens were first used

[@Tom-uj4uf]

AG7 is actually the pen that the astronauts used and still use. It's the exact same one

[@Messerschmitt_BF_109G_10]

7 is meant for apollo 7 in which the astronauts used this pen

[@davidpeterzell789]

I thought it was CH for Chrome, model 4. There's also the Gold Grid G4 (G for gold) and the Black Grid B4 (B for black) pens, both recently discontinued. I bought my first B4 in 1970, long before they called this design the "shuttle space pen." Still have it, and have bought a bunch of G4 and B4 models.

[@ipechman]

Any news in how to open the CH4?

[@ipechman]

Sal ok I will try this

[@ipechman]

Sal thank you

[@ipechman]

Sal didn’t work... any other suggestions?

[@ipechman]

I got it I manage to open

[@fouadaoude9645]

use a chainsaw

[@turnbasedtoddy7664]

Not any more with those prices. These things are like $75 now. Just crazy

[@unsharpen]

Insane inflation on these

[@deendan1]

AG stands for anti gravity. What does CH stand for??

[@spekerz875]

Methane (chemical formula CH4) is one of the simplest hydrocarbons, which literally means “containing hydrogen and carbon.”

[@恙恙]

Anti 4ch(comment honorable 4)😂

[@HawksGoalie33]

You really should go back and either correct this video or update the article. There are a number of things you mix up between the two (eg in the video you say the CH4 is heavier whereas in the article you list the AG7 as being heavier). Also, your article states that the CH4 has been issued as the pen for space flight since the Apollo program. Fisher's site itself, along with a number of other references, all show the AG7 as being the only one of these two to be issued to astronauts. Just a number of inconsistencies that are misleading.

[@HawksGoalie33]

According to Fisher, "The CH4 Shuttle Pen was used by individuals involved in the Space Shuttle Program and has been up on 5 Shuttle Missions from 1981-2011, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis & Endeavour. The AG7 has been/and still is used on all Manned Apollo Space Missions from 1968 to date and has been chosen by a few Space Shuttle Orbiters as well."

[@spaceman51974]

So, you are saying the original space pen, that made it to the moon, is not as good as the knock off ch4?? Interesting.

[@robhowell4424]

I really liked the AG7 but I could never carry it around in my pants pocket or blazer pockets because the click button is too weak and would always open in my pocket I just wish the ag7 clicker button would have a stronger retention like the parker jotter

[@Messerschmitt_BF_109G_10]

Keep it in the case it comes with then

[@adrianotero7963]

I use their cartridge in a Parker pen.....I can do everything with the Parker that an AG7 can do.....it is not as heavy and has an exceptional clicker......not knocking the AG7.....it is a beautiful pen...just a little too high priced for what it is.

[@unsharpen]

Yes prices have risen wildly over the years. Still a great pen though

[@simona6576]

nice!

[@davidpeterzell789]

Well done

[@unsharpen]

Thank you

[@collecter3456]

I think 30 to 40 dollars is way too much for a brass pen. Fisher just wants to make more money, because there are pens out there that have better value.

[@mariopellegrino7661]

They're also not that high in quality.

[@Olumin37]

What kind of logic is that? There are 4000 dollar pens out there made of plastic.

[@collecter3456]

Olumin And they aren’t worth it. Pens write. If it writes good and is durable, it’s a good pen. I assume you are referring to celluloid pens. In which case, STILL IS NOT WORTH IT. Celluloid isn’t that hard to make.

[@squintygreeneyes]

@@collecter3456 your logic makes my brain hurt. by your logic, just buy a fisher cartridge and forget the pen all together. writes good and its durable.

[@collecter3456]

@@squintygreeneyes I didn't say anything close to that. Lol. Do you know how cheap brass is? $30 is too much. There are solid casted brass fountain pens, not stamped for way less than this. Chrome isn't expensive either. Look at zippos, they are cheap and they are stamped brass and chrome just like these pens.

[@BingCherry11]

If the CH4 comes with a factory defect ... that is a real "deal breaker"!!!! Why should one pay good money for a pen that does not work right from the "get go"????? I am going to check the reviews on this pen to see if other people report this same issue.

[@drdrew3]

Lifetime Warranty

[@trimounixavier9148]

Beautifull pens, but the problem is that one day both will crack or break for no reason...Same for the bullet.

[@t0dd000]

Lifetime warranty

[@Mike-kc8rl]

I had an AG7 gifted to me some years ago it was purchased on one of those US space tours, from a friend who went to the States on a holiday.I live in the UK and these pens are insanely expensive and i can't think why? After all its just brass and chrome? The pen is used but i wouldn't want to write an with it for long as i find my fingers slide round the rings! This pen cost a million dollars to design, so ive read! It is also supposed to have saved a space craft for return to earth? But i think its just way over priced as are all the range now! They are about £70 in the UK and not that good either?

[@恙恙]

Clutch could be grubbed by space suit’s gloves(;°∀°)

[@acmramon]

fisher should be good pen company but to can t open a pen that is really bad quality. u should write to them about it , or maybe lower the price to 5-6$ lol. nice review

[@anthonyb2990]

Do you know what grammar is? I literally cannot read what you wrote.

[@Sob3r777]

@@anthonyb2990 I will.. after 7 months translate it. He said: blablabla, blabla and bla. No thanks.

[@MrSwosh89]

One thing I have realized is that the AG7 although far superior to my Jotter in quality and build, has a far less durable clip and sadly broke off within the first 2 weeks of use. I usually carry my pen clipped inside my front right jeans pocket, that leaves the clip exposed to banging on stuff, while my Jotter has taken some heavy hits without even noticing or bending in any way, the AG7 clip got bent a couple times and then simply snapped off where the clip meets the ring. The annoying part is that there is no way of changing the clip, which is why I am trying to find an all metal (possibly brass) clicky alternative to my Jotter. Right now I am considering the Zebra F701/401 hack combo, I personally like some weight on my pen and I believe the hacked one should be a little more hefty than the full steel updated version 👍😁

[@ottohonkala6861]

you make a video yet you don't even open a pen for the review? come on man. - get it open - or don't review it! ridiculous.

[@unsharpen]

I’ve done full reviews on both pens. This is just the comparison. The differences are on the outside. The internal mechanism is the same and you can’t see it anyway.