Abstract: An improved writing instrument and method for manufacture thereof wherein a coating of a varnish mixture including a hardening component is applied by spraying or dipping or being force fed through a lacquer pot and squeegee to coat the external housing of the writing instrument to provide it with a compressible polyurethane friction coating thereon which is soft to grasp to greatly facilitate grasping and holding thereof. The compressible friction coating is more compressible than the conventional plastic, wood or composite material normally used for the external housing of a writing instrument such as a pen or pencil and provides a high friction surface to facilitate grasping and aid in accurately writing or drawing as desired. The external housing can include one or two coatings of the compressible polyurethane friction coating such as to provide additional compressibility thereof.

Abstract: A marking pen design with a cap attached to the barrel of the pen wherein the cap is securable with respect to a reduced diameter end piece surrounding a marking tip and is removable therefrom while maintaining attachment with respect to the barrel to be detachable secured into a tubular bore extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the marking pen. The longitudinal bore is preferably tubular in shade and the cap is preferably of a tapered tubular shape to facilitate wedging interconnection therebetween. The attachment of the cap to the pen is by way or a flexibly resilient means preferably including a loop detachably secured in a peripheral slot defined about the outer circumference of the pen barrel. The pen cap further includes an inner and outer cap means with venting means therebetween wherein the inner cap means engages the reduced diameter flange for preventing drying of the marking tip.