You are asking the right question, of course. I have read of this Veryfine - Pilot connection, but don’t know how verifiable it is. This may be the closest design link I can find between Pilot’s pencils and the Veryfine: First Pilot Drafting Pencil? - #5 by pearsonified
https://www.reddit.com/r/mechanicalpencils/s/I8q6dCnnzD
Regarding Blei Machine lookalikes, the Pilot H-100 may be the place to start.
