Abstract: The present invention is a marking device which is hand-held and which a user uses to mark in order to count each of a plurality of items in a set and to automatically record the count. As the hand-held marking device counts each of the items, it simultaneously displays the number of the items counted. The hand-held marking device includes a cartridge and a transducer both of which are mechanically coupled to a casing. The cartridge is replaceable and has a marking tip for marking off items at one end and a plunger at the other end. The transducer has a contact-trigger. The cartridge is slideably coupled within the casing so that when its marking tip contacts any surface, its plunger engages the contact-trigger of the transducer thereby producing an input pulse. The hand-held marking device also includes a counting and displaying system, a reset switch and a display.