Charles,
I've just made contact with a local(to me in MD) Trophy Shop/custom engraver. He has two Universals. I took pens to him the other day for a test run. He spent an hour with me and wouldn't take a dime, chalking it up to R & D. He's done alot of stock pens, but never any "nice ones".
I'm making him a pen this week and will give it to him with a wooden box. It's for him to engrave with his logo to use to sell his product (maybe my pens).
So, unless you want to go into the business of engraving instead of pen making, why not just pay $4-5 whenever the need arises.
Joe in MD
Pens made of walnut from my friend's farm in NJ. I saved it from his scrap pile...