Retractable writing implement

A retractable writing instrument, comprising a pen point, a barrel, and a clip, the pen point being configured to be in a state of projecting from the barrel or a state of being retracted into the barrel by sliding the clip in a longitudinal direction of the barrel, wherein

• the clip comprises a clip body extending in the longitudinal direction of the barrel, a ball portion provided on a front side of the clip body and projecting in a direction of a surface of the barrel, and a clip base provided on a rear side of the clip body and is configured to produce a biasing force in a direction of a surface of the barrel,
• the surface of the barrel comprises a guide groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the barrel and provided with a pair of side surfaces to restrict lateral movement of the ball portion,
• the guide groove has a through groove capable of causing the ball portion to be in a noncontact state in a direction of the biasing force at least when the pen point is in the retracted state, and
• the through groove has a length in the longitudinal direction of the barrel to allow the ball portion to move rearward at least from just before the retracted state of the pen point to the retracted state of the pen point.