What is your favorite one and two piece pen kit that is larger than a Slimline but smaller than cigar what is still a quality kit that comes in around $5?
"Around" $5 is quite limiting. The PSI Vertex is hard to beat IMHO - but it's more in the $7 range. The chrome version of the PSI Slimlime Pro is there, but I'm not a fan of the black clip (I save clips from their seam ripper kits and trade out).
The only non-slimline kit I can think of in that price range would be the Executive. The only one that's actually $5 is the chrome version. The photos are of a gunmetal kit.
Streamline pen kits are about the same price as slimlines ans allow for a bit more 'meat' at the centreband, or adapt the slimline centreband to do the same job.
I also like the PSI trimline kits. At $25 (ish) for a dozen, it's hard to go wrong.
The executive is a better writing experience with a gel cartridge and I've been kicking around the idea of trying to modify them to accept a pilot g2 rollerball refill.