Fisher Turned Its Space Pen Into a Pocket Ruler and Emergency Tool

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A pen earns its place in a pocket. A separate ruler and glass breaker are harder to justify. Fisher’s Measure Twice combines all three in a bolt-action Space Pen.

Price: $62.10
Where to Buy: Amazon

The Measure Twice has 3.5-inch and 9cm rulers etched along its barrel. Its bolt-action mechanism deploys either the writing point or a concealed tungsten carbide glass-breaker tip. At $69, the question is whether those extra functions are useful enough to justify paying more than you would for a simpler Space Pen.

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The ruler may be the most useful addition

The measurement scales give you a short reference that is already clipped to your pocket. Neither replaces a tape measure, but either could help when checking a screw, sizing a small component, or making a quick measurement before reaching for a larger tool.

Fisher says the markings are laser etched rather than printed. That sounds well suited to regular pocket carry, though we have not tested how they hold up over time.

Bolt action controls both ends

Moving the bolt one way extends the ballpoint refill; moving it the other way exposes the glass breaker. The tip stays concealed during ordinary carry and can be exposed if needed.

Fisher says the pen has a machined 6061-aluminum body with an anodized finish. It measures 5.37 inches closed, 5.53 inches with the writing point deployed, and 5.54 inches with the glass breaker extended. At 0.39 inches in diameter, it is closer to a full-size pen than a compact pocket model.

A clip lets you carry it without a separate sheath or organizer. Fisher describes the body as resistant to impacts, scratches, and corrosion, but those are manufacturer claims, not findings from our own long-term use.

It is still a Space Pen

The extra hardware matters only if the Measure Twice works well as a pen. It comes with a black, medium-point Fisher PR4 pressurized refill and accepts other Fisher PR refills.

The sealed cartridge uses pressure to feed ink to the ball rather than relying primarily on gravity. Fisher says it can write upside down, underwater, and in zero gravity, with an operating temperature range of -30°F to 250°F. The company also rates the refill for up to 12,000 feet of writing, depending on the surface and how you write. We have not independently tested those performance claims.

For someone taking notes outdoors or writing in an awkward position, the refill may prove more useful than the pen’s tactical styling.

The glass breaker is a backup

The other end conceals a tungsten carbide tip that Fisher describes as an emergency glass breaker. We have not tested it against automotive glass, so its presence should not be taken as proof that it will work in every vehicle-escape situation.

If vehicle escape is a priority, a dedicated rescue tool kept within reach in the car is the more purposeful choice. The Measure Twice instead offers a backup feature built into a pen you might carry anyway.

Who is it for?

The Measure Twice makes the strongest case for someone who already carries a pen and regularly needs a short ruler. Makers, technicians, and EDC enthusiasts may appreciate having both functions in one pocket tool, with a concealed glass breaker as an additional backup.

Price: $62.10
Where to Buy: Amazon

Its $69 price is the obstacle. Simpler Fisher pens offer the same basic pressurized-refill advantage for less. If dependable writing is all you need, buy one of those instead. If you often reach for a ruler and want it attached to a refillable pen, the Measure Twice gives its extra hardware a practical reason to be there.

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