Autopoint Twinpoint Mechanical Pencil - 0.9 mm - Black Body - Black & Red Lead

Built like a tank. American made. My boss still use one he got issued in 1960's. :)

The Good: A solid, durable, mechanical pencil with both black and red leads in 0.9 mm, which means the lead won't break (if you break these leads, stop using mechanical pencils and use a ballpoint instead) and you can quickly switch between lead colors faster than with any other writing instrument(s).

The Bad: Some are not going to like the "old school" twist advance mechanism, and there is no retraction mechanism - you have to turn the nose counterclockwise and then press the lead against a hard surface to retract it - it's not really a problem for me though. Once you're used to it, it's second nature. The other issue is that the pocket clip is a joke, even worse than the one on Fisher Bullet Pens. The smooth stainless steel slips right off the smooth plastic with very little pressure. Again, though, for me it's not that big a deal but I'm sure it will be for some.

Summary: All things considered, this is a unique and useful instrument for those that have a use for its particular properties. I really like mine.

These pencils are terrific. My father, a mechanical-engineer, used them throughout his career from the early 50s to the mid-80s. And I've used them as an editor, relying on the blue/red leads to make my points.

I rate this more as a 3.5 than a 4 but having two lead colors in one is the extra bonus worthy of a higher rating. The twisting meachanism to push and retract the lead reminds me of my first lead pencil some 30 years ago when that was the standard type. The lead doesnt fully withdrawl or retract as easily as the push pin current standard. Explaining this to a nine year old who never used a mechanical pencil like this turned her off instantly. For me is works as i expect it but i wouldnt rate it at the top of my favorite list. The price is about right and flipping the pencil to get a red line is still quiker than my other fancier multi color lead pencils.