Machine Era
Machine Era is a small EDC company based out Richmond, Virginia with a small catalog of unique pens and wallets, and other accessories. Machine Era was created in 2013 by two men who’s goal was to create high quality everyday carry gear. Everything is fabricated using manual and CNC machines and Swiss-type turning techniques to produce a unique and reliable product.
The Wallet
I have been carrying their black DLC (diamond-like carbon) wallet for over five years, and their black DLC pen on and off for about the same amount of time (more about that later). I really enjoy the simplicity and slim profile of the wallet which is the number reason why this had been my go to wallet for so long. The wallet is constructed out of stainless steel with a diamond like carbon coating, making it very durable and RFID blocking. Weighing in at about 1.2 oz without any cards it is heavy enough you know it is in your pockets while being light enough it is not bothersome. I can comfortably keep my wallet in the front pocket of my Faherty all day shorts without feeling weighed down by a heavy metal wallet.
The coating has really held up well over time especially since it lives in the same pocket as my pen and knife. There are only a few scratches, and slight fading on the edges of the wallet. There is a thumb hole in on the back of the wallet that doubles as a bottle opener. The DLC on the inside of the wallet has not scratched at all from using the bottle opener. It is handy to have when friends are in need and since I don’t carry keys to have a keychain bottle opener.
I typically carry around six to eight cards, and occasionally some cash. I have found it best to fold the bill twice to keep the width similar to that of the cards. Folding your cash this way you can hid single larger bills between cards if you don’t want to flash all your cash when paying for a candy bar. The cards are held in place with an elastic retention band, and I have found this too hold up surprisingly well over time. I only had to replace the retention band once because the stitching holding it together caught on something and started to unravel. Otherwise the elasticity of the band holds up well to daily use and the fluctuation of cards and cash I carry. I honestly like this wallet so much I bought it a second one in titanium for a flashier wallet for dressier events, but I prefer the DLC black for day to day use. Currently these wallets are priced at $65 each, which is right on par with their leather counterparts.
Recently Machine Era has launched a new version of their wallet for 2023. Currently available for pre order on kickstarter in black aluminum ($65), brass ($85), and titanium ($95). The wallets are 3D machined from solid blocks of material and designed with the user experience in mind. I am looking forward to receiving the new design of my favorite wallet, as I expect it will be my new favorite.
The Pen
Similar to the wallet, the pen is machined out of solid stainless steel and has a diamond-like carbon coating making it extremely tough. Over the years some of the coating has worn away, but this has really added to the “EDC patina”. The pen is machined into three parts; the cap, barrel and grip. All of which screw together with an extremely precise fit. Having had dropped the pen on more than one occasion, the threading on the back of the pen has been slightly dented and damaged, but the cap is still able to screw on without any issue.
The cap screws onto the pen with very fine threading, and even though there is no o-ring the cap still is able to have a secure tight fit. On two rare occasion I had my pilot G2 cartridge leak and it never made it out of the pen to stain my pants. An o-ring would probably make for a more secure fit, but then it becomes a part that can wear out and require replacing.
I really like that are you are able to screw the cap onto the end of pen so you don’t have to worry about losing the cap while writing. In addition it increases the overall length from 4.3 inches to 4.6 inches, making it feel more substantial when writing rather then just a compact EDC pen. The one downside with this pen is that it can roll away on uneven surfaces since there is no clip, but since it is usually live in my pocket or in use this is not a big deal for me. Machine Era makes a very similar design, called the Markup, that has a clip if this is something that you would prefer. The pen weighs 1.4 oz which makes it have a good in hand feel and balance when writing. The slim design takes up very little space in you pocket, but because of the weight it can slip horizontally if there is nothing else in your pocket.
Overall this pen and wallet are both well made and will last a long time. I use both of them everyday, and I don’t see them being replaced by a substitute anytime soon. This EDC duo would be a great affordable staple for anyone’s everyday carry.