In 2018 the Zebra F-xMD was released outside of the US. This is an entirely steel pen that was basically the same thing as a modded F-701 with a different ink refill. The refill was almost interchangeable with that of the original F-701 but with the change of some internal components the fit of the internals changed slightly as well. https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/f63c0o/made_a_5mm_zebra_m701_with_the_internals_from_an/ Post-release the pen was criticized for its use of plastic components — the grip section in particular which not only is made of plastic but has a plastic-y feel to it that F-701 fans disliked. People have also noted flaking paint on the coated steel body and the large amount of plastic used in the pen’s construction (both inside and out).

Ballpoint pens may not have the very rich ink pigments of rollerballs or the old-school feel of fountain pens. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a quality ballpoint that looks expensive and gives a steady flow of ink. (We are so tired of ballpoints that skip!) The new F-701 uses professional-grade stainless steel from its clip to the tip. It’s part of the Zebra Steel 7 series, which is their top-of-the-line ballpoint pens. The line also has a tactical ballpoint, mechanical pencil, permanent marker, and pen and pencil set.The ink is great and rarely blots, but it can’t write on all surfaces, and it may skip if you try writing on the wall or other unusual angles. If you want to be able to write on any kind of paper, surface, condition, and angle, we recommend you get a Fisher Space pen with pressurized ink. Zebra F-701 Pros and Cons Pros From a writing perspective, it performs along the same lines as other traditional ballpoints. The ink is a bit splotchy and light, and the 0.7mm size makes a very fine line. It never has issues starting or skipping, and I've never had any defective refills in my years of using this pen. Apart from the normal downsides of a ballpoint refill, this is a top notch example of a great performing refill.

https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/k0rxun/i_can_finally_enjoy_using_my_graphgear_1000s/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/g1sy8z/graphgear_500_zebra_f701f402_bodies_theres_a_good/ The stainless steel body isn’t just all style, other. From a practical perspective, it’s easier to sanitize than plastic, and it’s corrosion-resistant. Since I spray almost everything with alcohol now because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this is definitely a big and healthy plus.Other than that, the knurled metal grip might not be for everyone. If you want a softer knurled grip, I recommend getting some paper to wrap around the metal grip and just sand it with the paper to do a bit of a polish to make it feel a touch softer. (I set comfort at 3 stars because of people's personal preference of knurling.) https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/comments/j8jqv5/muji_hexagon_pencil_with_zebra_fm701_grip/ My only issue with this pen is that the clip will start rotating over time. This likely happens if you drop your pen on the table after you finish jotting something down. Then the drop will put force on the clip. The other issue is the ink itself. The refills are easy to get. Aside from the official Zebra refills, the pen is also compatible with Fisher Space Pen refills. What We Don’t Like About Zebra F-701