OHTO MS02 3in1 Review: A Multi-Pen That Writes Better Than It Should

Introduction

OHTO’s MS02 3in1 is a new multifunction pen that packs a 0.7mm black ballpoint, a 0.7mm red ballpoint, and a 0.5mm mechanical pencil into a single brass barrel. Priced at 3,850 yen including tax, it borrows its distinctive shape from the GS02, OHTO’s needle-tip gel pen that made waves for its unusual refill. The question is whether a multi-pen can live up to the writing feel of the pen it’s based on. In this case, the answer is surprisingly close to yes.

First Impressions and Design

The MS02 arrives in a simple paperboard box with a new, more elegant design, the kind of presentation box you could imagine a necktie arriving in. Available in black and silver, the review unit is the black version.

The barrel is brass, transitioning from a smooth cylindrical upper section into a hexagonal lower shaft that runs down to the pen tip. Anyone familiar with OHTO’s lineup will recognize this immediately: it’s the same silhouette as the GS02, whose grip is wider than the shaft and very comfortable to hold. The main difference is practical rather than visual. The GS02 was seamless from end to end, but the MS02 separates near the grip because the multi-pen mechanism requires it. It’s a small compromise, and an understandable one.

Details are handled tastefully. The product and maker names are printed in a slim, restrained font, and the ink color markings are minimal and unobtrusive, so they don’t detract from the design. The barrel also resists fingerprints well, and the visible pen tip makes it easy to see what you’re writing.

The Pendulum Knock: Quieter Than Expected

The MS02 uses a free-knock system: point the ink color label on the cap upward, knock, and that tip extends. The release button sits on the clip.

Pendulum-style mechanisms have a well-known weakness: the internal weight rattles as the pen moves. Most rattling disappears when a tip is extended, but the release button itself often continues to click audibly. OHTO has addressed this on the MS02, and the result is impressive. The rattle is almost entirely gone. It’s the kind of quiet refinement you only notice when you’ve been annoyed by it elsewhere.

Clip and Physical Specs

The clip is made from SK steel, a special alloy, and feels slightly firm. Because the release button takes up part of its length, the clippable range is narrow, so it doesn’t slide far onto a pocket or notebook cover and can come loose more easily.

The knock cap is a little longer than usual due to the free-knock mechanism, and an eraser is included under it. Balance sits near the center of the pen. Total length is 144mm, weight is 21g, and the barrel measures up to 10mm at its widest point.

Writing Performance

This is where the MS02 genuinely surprised. The black ballpoint refill is exceptionally smooth, with excellent ink flow, so much so that keeping the stock refill rather than swapping it is a completely reasonable choice. The needle-tip style is unusual for a multi-pen, though it’s a familiar signature for OHTO.

The bigger story is the mechanical pencil. Multi-pen pencil mechanisms are often where these pens fall apart, with lead wobble that betrays the format. On this unit, there is none. The writing feel is so good that it’s hard to believe you’re using a multi-pen at all.

One caveat worth knowing: the MS02 was originally scheduled for release in mid-March, but the launch was delayed after an initial defect was discovered. It went on sale only after the issue was addressed. In use, no problems appeared, so the fix appears to have held.

Buying Advice

The strengths are easy to list: excellent writing feel, well-balanced weight, a comfortable grip, quality ink, a fingerprint-resistant barrel, and a fine tip that keeps your writing visible. The list of gripes is, honestly, nearly empty.

If you’re choosing between this and OHTO’s earlier multi-pens, the differences come down mostly to design. The lineup has always been distinctive, and the MS02 adds its own personality to it. Personal taste also says OHTO multi-pens tend to outshine the brand’s ballpoints and pencils as standalone products, which speaks well of the format.

One honest reservation: after so many pendulum-knock models, a non-pendulum knock mechanism would be welcome someday. That’s a wish rather than a complaint. The MS02 is a polished, complete product, and it earns its place.

Conclusion

The OHTO MS02 3in1 takes a beloved barrel design and backs it with a genuinely good writing experience, including a pencil mechanism that doesn’t wobble. With the earlier defect apparently resolved and almost nothing to criticize in daily use, it’s an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a multi-pen that doesn’t feel like a compromise.