In looking at a product like the Faber-Castell Grip 2001 Pencil I can understand why there is so much love for this oldest of writing instruments. Something about graphite on paper fires off those often under used creative brain cells.

I know the Grip 2001 comes highly recommended by many pencil addicts so I wanted to give them a try. I was not disappointed. The package I chose from JetPens contained three different lead grades: 2B, B, and HB. As an admitted pencil newbie, I always have to double-check the hardness chart to see where these grades fall in the scale. All three are right in the middle, with 2B being the softest and darkest, and HB being the hardest and lightest. It is relative though, as all three are neighbors.

The 2B did a wonderful job in the written review but I found that I much prefered the firmer HB for regular use. In fact, I have picked it up and used it several times over the past week and it was great. I loved how clean and sharp my lines were.

On the design side, the Faber-Castell 2001 is famous for those little black bumps on the barrel known as the Soft-Grip-Zone. They make for a non-slip grip and a comfortable writing experience. The barrel shape is triangular, and my only gripe with the pencil as a whole is that the overall diameter is slightly smaller than other pencils I have reviewed like the Blackwing 602. It's a minor complaint and I didn't notice until I picked up other pencils after using the 2001.

I'm not at the level yet where I can deep dive on all the reasons why you should or shouldn't use one pencil over the other but I will say I prefer my Blackwings over the 2001. That said, I just ordered several more pencils to get a better feel for different brands. The hook has been set folks.

For more reading on the Faber-Castell 2001 check out these great reviews:

Pencil Revolution

Pencil Talk

The Well-Appointed Desk

The Pencilcase Blog

Stationery Traffic

(JetPens is an advertiser on The Pen Addict and I received this product at no charge.)

Faber-Castell 2001

Faber-Castell Close

Faber-Castell Grade

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Pencil Reviews, Faber-Castell.

Fisher Space Pen Bullet Review

The list of pens that I've owned for over a decade is extremely small, but the Fisher Space Pen Bullet is one of them. At some point in high school, I picked up a matte black version of the Bullet with a medium point. I only recently replaced that refill with a fine point, which I prefer. For me, this pen is all about the aesthetic and form factor over the writing quality.

People have different opinions about the writing characteristics of the Fisher refills. I find them extremely useful and utilitarian, but they aren't particularly enjoyable to write with. That's not a problem with the Bullet, however. This pen is my go-anywhere-anytime-no-matter-the-risk pen. If it's not bullet-proof, it's pretty darn close. It's never failed me in its many years of use.

The line that the Fisher refill is like any normal ballpoint refill. It's smooth and easy, but the line is a bit varied and sometimes skips a little. I've had better experiences with the fine refill over the medium. This isn't a major concern for me since I usually carry this pen as a tool instead of a writing instrument that I enjoy using. Different tools for different jobs, right?

This was a favorite pen of mine before I became a Registered Pen Addict (RPA). Of the dozens of pens I own now, I think it might be the one that holds the most sentimental value -- I mean, look at all the character on this pen! If I bought a new one, it would never be the same pen. This pen has a history that can't be repeated.

The Bullet is a solid pen that I really encourage you to try if you haven't. I personally like the clip, though some might worry about the security risk it poses since it is removable. In normal use, it's quite strong. It also serves as a sleek anti-rolling device, too. Personally, I think black is the right color, but there's plenty of other colors to choose from.