Firepower Pens launches

COEUR d'ALENE - Two young entrepreneurs have announced the online launch of their business, FirepowerPens.com.

Owners David Pinkerton, 16, and Samuel Pinkerton, 14, will celebrate that launch at the Spokane Gun Show today in Spokane.

The two brothers design and manufacture the pens themselves at their family shop at Rockford Bay Ranch near Coeur d'Alene.

"We build original and irresistibly fun pens centered around the theme of various popular guns," said David Pinkerton, the company's president.

Products include a .30 caliber bolt-action pen, a .50 caliber machine gun pen (using an actual spent shell casing), and a Magnum pen. The 24kt gold-plated Over & Under Shotgun Pen is inspired by the combination rifle/shotgun. Many of the pens use the exotic wood Cocobolo, a popular choice for rifle stocks and pistol grips.

"We follow a 16-step manufacturing process for 'bulletproof' quality, and the best-looking, smoothest-writing pens in the marketplace," said Samuel Pinkerton, vice president.

This is a true family business. Brothers David and Samuel, who are homeschooled by their parents Dan and Kathryn Pinkerton of Coeur d'Alene, learned to make pens on a lathe from their grandmother, Carol Pinkerton. After taking lessons and mastering the trade, they funded their startup enterprise with half of their own money, and half invested from their older brother, Daniel Pinkerton II.

Firepower Pens sells its gun-themed pens for $29-$79, and private collection pens made of rhodium and 22kt gold for $199.

The Pinkerton brothers will display their product line today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Spokane Gun Show at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

Information: www.FirepowerPens.com