I have had several subscribers request a video on the GraphGear pencils. I’m trying to make my channel stand out from the others by only reviewing discontinued models or those with very long lineages. However, I don’t want to ignore what my subscribers are asking for, so I thought to keep things simple I would just cover the entire GraphGear family (GG 300, 500, 800 & 1000). Since the 800 is discontinued I guess that’s somewhat still fits my model.
I do have some questions though:
PG31x GraphGear 300: Do these have date codes? Were there any limited or special editions?
PG31x PG-Metal 350: Do these have date codes? Were there any limited or special editions aside from the “Captures” series? (4 models that have special times of the day).
PG31xS GraphGear 300 Sliding Sleeve: Do these have date codes? Were there any limited or special editions?
PG51x GraphGear 500: Were there any limited or special editions? I see the CDT Item 16 appears to be a GG500?
PG52x GraphGear 500: Were there any limited or special editions? Why do you think Pentel release two versions of the GG500 (with and w/o lead hardness indicator) when they are both marketed as “drafting pencils”?
PG80x GraphGear 800: Do these have date codes? Were there any limited or special editions? I see this is similar to the P36x (US and Brazil)
PG101x GraphGear 1000: I have seen a red limited or special edition. Were there others, and do you know when they were sold?
Does anyone have pictures of the old (pre 2009) model with the old style pocket clip?
P365: Including this because it’s the same as GG800. I see there are US and Brazil models- aside from the P365 (US) only coming in 0.5mm, are there any differences between that and the Brazilian model? For example if you have a P365 in hand, how can you tell if it’s a US or Brazilian model?
I see that in 2016 Brazil released a blue and white model (with different tips) in 2016. Were there any others?
Lastly, is there anything else that you think I should share?
I will try to answer some of these questions now. Others I will have to answer when I can look at the pencils.
PG31x GraphGear 300: I will have to check Date Codes when I am around the pencils. AFAIK, there were no limited editions.
PG31x PG-Metal 350: Japan Only. I will have to check Date Codes when I am around the pencils. AFAIK, aside from the “Capture” series, there were no other limited editions.
PG31xS GraphGear 300 Sliding Sleeve: Brazil Only. I will have to check Date Codes when I am around the pencils. AFAIK, there were no limited editions.
Each of the 3 above series had their own colorways with very few overlaps.
PG51x GraphGear 500: Available in 0.3/0.4/0.5/0.7/0.9mm. Limited Editions: CDT Item 16, Muji Balanced (0.3mm & 0.5mm) in White, Black, Red, Blue & Green
Apparently Pentel of America didn’t want the lead hardness indicator, nor 0.4mm, so a new series was created based on the PG51x series and numbered PG52x.
PG101x GraphGear 1000: Limited Editions - Lots of them, starting back in the early 2010’s. I don’t have a list of these.
Does anyone have pictures of the old (pre 2009) model with the old style pocket clip?
If you need a better picture, or a side-by-side picture, I have PG1014 in both styles. There were also 2 ballpoints available in this series.
PG80x GraphGear 800: US Primarily. Again, I will have to check Date Codes at home. No Limited Editions. Available in 1 color in each of the 4 primary sizes.
P365 Worldwide: Not sold in US. Same as the GG800, except only available in 0.5mm. Cataloged with 5 colors, plus 2 addition Limited Colors (Orange and Sky Blue).
P365 Brazil: Only available in Brazil. These have a different tip (smooth vs step). Available in 4 primary sizes in 6 colors each. For the 2016 Brazil Olympics there were a Blue and White version released with the Brazil flag on them.
GG500, besides the CDT variant from 2005 there are also the various MUJI editions. From around 2015 a white version with a no-branding clip was introduced in 0.3 and 0.5. In 2024 black was added along with blue, orange and red, also in 0.3 and 0.5.
GG1000, don’t forget the ballpoints from 2006, OOP 2012.
BK1015-A BP, 0.5mm
BK1017-A BP, 0.7mm
Some of the limited colors:
2017 Western Japan, all-red, all-blue, all-black. Limited to 1000 pieces each.
2018 Metallic colors edition, Sky Blue, Gold, Pink…
2019 Amazon Japan limited blue, orange
2019 Tokyu Hands limited brown
@nimrodd pictures of the old (pre 2009) model with the old style pocket clip?
Yes please - side by side picture or anything you think that would demonstrate the differences.
I have the all white Muji in 0.5, and at least one of all the other models I listed above, with exception of the Brazilian and limited ones. I plan to just use pictures for the ones I do not have.
