After my last gathering of Pentel PD1135 and Pilot Young Cap, I managed to fish out a couple more adjacent designs. It’s fun to see that Kerry was not the first to attempt a capped fountain pen-esque mechanical pencil.
In fact, the Pel was also not the first technically, except that it was a knock-mechanism. The first MP in this shot is a Newman 0.9mm using the then conventional continuous twist mechanism. That it also happened to have a super compact form factor pioneered by various pocket FP designs was ingenious.
What I find interesting is that after the Kerry came out in 1971, Pilot stuck to the simpler cap-on-button implementation pioneered by the Pel. I think Pilot’s designers simply couldn’t overcome Pentel’s patents for the button-passthrough mechanism, or found that the simpler approach was more cost effective.
Once the caps are posted, these pencils took on a more balanced length and handling. In comparison, the PD1135 and Young Cap felt a bit longer, although still quite well balanced.
For myself, I am still on the lookout for a black Pel and maybe a Pilot Cap in cisele finish, if the price feels right. Do you have a favorite capped MP?
I will probably sound very clichéd, but for me it all boils down to three contenders: the Uni Kuru Toga Dive, the Pentel Kerry and the Tombow Zoom “SuperPen” (which is a pencil), also known as Tombow 505 MP — in that order.
Before the Dive, I used to oscillate between Pentel and Tombow, with a slight preference for the former. Also, I use all the mentioned pencils unposted, and while the Dive seems to me better in many technical ways, the sheer elegance of the Kerry is hard to beat.
[I wonder how that Newman in 0.9 feels in the hand, once the writing half is separated from the cap; it looks like a potential marvel, but also a terrible disappointment. It sure seems…different.]
Finally, two pencils which play each in a league of their own are the Tombow Variable (does it count as a capped pencil even though the cap has the most ingenius and “in-your-face” hole in all history of pencil caps?) and the Uchida Art Holder “Dessin”, a.k.a. one of the most interesting capped clutch pencils around.
I am sure I am forgetting a ridiculous amount of good stuff, but those were the first names on the tip of my tongue.
I didn’t know about the Rokkaku - thank you! I found your post about it and saw the photos - it’s definitely the same mechanism. I suppose when the Rokkaku ended production, the Muji version ended too. Probably the fountain pen is from another supplier.
I was so embedded in the “capped-model” feature, that I forgot those two. In my defence, I see those two MP’s as so beyond any of their specific features.
Besides, also the Mitsu-Bishi Hi-Uni 5-5050 FF-Matic UniCarbo (and all its relatives) is actually a capped pencil, in a sense — but then again, it goes completely beyond that aspect.
While all the ‘caps’ protect the tips, not all caps can be posted. I see this integral quality as something that the Hi-uni 20/30/5050 series lacks. But yes it’s a cap! Haha
Yes, indeed, that cap is a “service cap”, “utility cap”, or just “protection cap”. I totally agree on the different nature.
I was also wondering whether there are 2.00 mm leadholders which can be used in a posted-cap-position (none pops up in my mind right now); I know about some modified Pentel Kerrys, but I really mean an official leadholder.
Maybe some luxury model with gilt engravings, or some very old retractable-tip, pocket-size pencil, but I am afraid it is an even rarer use-case than that of capped knock MP’s.
Well, there are older lead holder designs that rely on a front mounted screw clutch instead of our familiar top mounted button. The one I know best is the Eagle Turquoise 3375. If you fit a cap on it and post it behind, it would still work.
Thanks for bringing this topic up. I simply love a capped pencil, for obvious reasons. It seems the Rotring 600 is the starter pencil of our era (might as well rename reddit/mechanicalpencils to R/Rotring 600) but as I’m sure you have noticed, it’s a terrible pencil to carry because of it’s long, delicate lead sleeve (intended for life on a drafting table) which is why I try and nudge recently-destroyed-tip-600-users toward the Kerry or another pencil more suitable for EDC. But I’ve always wondered: why is a capped mechanical pencil still so rare? The general line-up for a particular item of a luxury maker such as Lamy or Faber Castle or Mount Blanc or Otto Hutt is:
FPS (fountain pen)
RB (rollerball)
BP (ballpoint)
MP (mechanical pencil)
so it would seem that it’s not very difficult to outfit the RB design (nearly always capped) for a mechanical pencil internal, which is what they generally do to the BP to make the MP–but why the BP, which is never capped? In any case, I’d like to see more capped pencils, they are very useful and I’ve really enjoyed this discussion.
I think PMG and Variable had the right idea with MP caps. Hole in the end allows the regular push button to be used without the challenges of the Kerry button-on-button approach. No risk of ink spilling out and no problem if over-extended lead touches anything, so a hole in the end is fine.
Of the two, I think PMG’s approach is a bit better. The silly pocket clip on the Variable cap is an impractical hassle. PMG’s dedicated clip (removable!) and purpose-built cap get the job done.
