Pentel Sharp Mechanical Pencil - Metallic Blue Body Review

Anyone who has been a pen and pencil fan for more than a few years has certainly seen or used a Pentel Sharp Drafting Pencil. This all-time classic has been around for decades. I remember using them in the 1980’s when I would liberate them from my dad’s office, and to this day the design hasn’t changed one bit. That is, until the introduction of the Metallic Body Series.

George from My Supply Room first alerted me to this update several months ago, and I had seen them floating around on ebay as well, so I knew JetPens would come through before too long. I picked up the Blue Metallic based on looks and tradition - my first P205 was the blue one after all. They also come in Pink and Purple, and all are 0.5 mm.

What you need to know about the Metallic Pentel Sharp is that it is metallic in color only. This is not a metal barrel pencil. While that would be nice, it does stick with the traditional plastic construction. It extraordinarily lightweight and makes for a great portable pencil.

From a performance standpoint it is exactly like the original P205. The long, sleek body is comfortable to hold, and the shape of the tip and lead pipe give you plenty of sight clearance. If you have enjoyed the Pentel Sharp in the past then you will find these updated colors to your liking.

And if you haven’t, then what are you waiting for?

Midori Brass Bullet Pencil Holder Review

Have you ever lusted after a product that you know good and well you are not going to use to its fullest capacity? The Midori Brass Bullet Pencil Holder is that item for me. My friend Patrick Ng at Scription has made them look so glamorous over the years I knew I had to have one no matter how little action it might see in my arsenal.

What makes the Brass Bullet so cool in my book is the way the barrel ages over time. It starts out as a bright gold and with only moderate use it transforms into a uniquely styled vintage writing instrument. Age and wear is a huge positive for this pencil holder. Remind me to take another set of photos a year from now.

From a practicality standpoint, it gives wood case pencil fans the option of portability. That doesn’t come without scarifies though. Not all pencil stubs fit in the holder (some do, and Midori does sell their own refills), and the eraser is poor at best. But wow, this is one cool pencil holder!

The sacrifices are worth it to me, but you will have to make that call for yourself. I also wonder what TSA would think if you tried to board a plane with one? Regardless, the Midori Brass Bullet is worth checking out if you are looking for something outside the ordinary.

Tombow Olno Body Knock Pencil Review

You have to hand it to Japanese designers. The Uni-ball Kuru Toga was a game changing pencil design with its auto lead rotation mechanism. Decades of uneven pencil leads were whisked away in one fell swoop! The Tomobow Olno Body Knock isn’t going to change the pencil game as much as the Kuru Toga did, but with novel pencil design a rarity these days this is an interesting option.

The word Olno is a play on the Japanese word “oru” which means to fold or bend. The Olno Body Knock has a unique design mechanism that allows you to extend the lead by simply bending the body of the pencil. Admittedly, just reading those words it doesn’t seem that great or interesting. In practice though it works flawlessly and will change the way you want to advance lead.

No matter which orientation you hold the pencil at you can advance the lead with a bump of your hand. You don’t even have to move your fingers from the writing position. The small bit of leverage you can create from your grip against the cusp of your hand is all you need.

For traditionalists, there is still a top knock button to push if you prefer. The eraser is found underneath the knock, and is the one weak point of the pencil. It has to be removed from the barrel to be used, but is so small it is difficult to handle. You will want a stand alone eraser handy if you are using the Olno regularly.

It is difficult for a pencil to leave a lasting impression on me, but the Tombow Olno Body Knock is a fun and functional choice. Be sure to check out Brian’s review at Office Supply Geek for another look at this great pencil.