Sometimes it amazes me that I’m ~300+ unique pencils deep and I still haven’t found the one. Maybe that’s what keeps me on the treadmill of constantly buying these things.
If you could be king/queen for a day and have your dream pencil made, what would it look like?
Mine would be a:
Double knock
3-4mm lead sleeve
One of those lovely sandpapery knurled grips - think Rotring Rapid Pro, but a little larger in diameter.
Simple stepped nose cone (Rapid Pro again).
Simple plastic barrel to keep the weight tip-biased. Balance point about 1/3 of the way back from the tip.
Weight around 17-22g. Heavy enough to feel substantial but not tiring.
A loooong grip section. Think Pilot S10, Pentel OrenzNero, Pilot Automac - all have grips that come near or to the midpoint of the pencil. The grip’s the most fun, tactile part of the pencil - make it bigger!
Sprung lead cushioning would be nice. Not really for the lead protection, but just because its fun - and for the little bit of softness it adds to the feel.
My favorites are the 70’s Executive style. I love the design of the Excaliburs (beyond the first gen P1005/7), but they have too small a grip (8.24 to 6.0mm).
My favorite is the Scepter pencils, just enough etching to provide a bit of grip and the grip size goes from 9.2mm to 7.24mm, which is perfect for my grip style.
I can’t really wrap my head around the whole issue yet; one thing I would like to say at this stage is that I have felt more and more drawn towards “clutch point” (or double clutch) solutions lately, with a system allowing for the lead to be used up to its last bits.
I recently got a Penac Protti PRD-105 and, while it is moderately heavy, its everlasting tip is delightful to use, even if only for note-taking, and not for drafting.
Also, any of my ideal pencil is devoid of the pocket clip.
After years of collecting and testing, I have come to the conclusion that for me personally, a “simple” and light pencil in good shape is the best - such as is Pentel Graph, Graph II or PG series, Pentel 11, Mitsubishi M3-50, Mitsubishi M5-50 or AWFC 9555, Staedtler Micrograph F, Micro F, Micro or similar from other brands…
I have a whole theory about that: it is a thing I still struggle with, as I lack the proper wording to communicate my ideas as I formulate them, but in my daily practice, any of my EDC pencil set would work as follows:
• “The Runner”: writing pencil for soft lead, smooth as silk, light, agile
• “The Draughtsman”: drafting pencil, sharp as a tack, for slightly harder lead, reliable, masterful
• “The Artist”: drawing pencil (clutch, probably), freeflowing, ergonomic, inspiring
• “The Stub”: short pencil, maybe a bit fatter (4÷5.6mm), for quick blocking, fun to use
Optional additions:
• “The Rainbow”: pencil for coloured lead (multi-pencil?), probably 1.18mm
• “The Scalpel”: extra-slim pencil for details, maybe a 0.3/0.2
• “The Third Leg”: compass insert
• “The Oddjob”: pencil for unusual diameters (0.4, 0.6, 0.8…) or unusual lead (for film)
• “The Congressman”: executive pencil, imperial, fine materials, maybe from a FP set
• “The Cannon Fodder”: cheap, robust, no-nonsense, all plastic, expendable
• “The Fixer”: an eraser, but in MP form (Uchida Proeraser, or the alike)
