Pentel Graphgear 500 Drafting Pencil - 0.9 mm

I totally love this pencil. I definitely love the thicker lead size.

I have no use for this in real life, yet I always want to try and use it when I can!

I find graphing pencils to be lovely to look at and this one is no exception.

It has a great weight to it, I can use it for hours, and because of the wider lead I can't remember the last time the lead broke on me while in use.

Workhorse of a pencil. Gets the job done, never had any problems with it, good value. The knurled grip seems to have the right balance between grip-ability and comfort. I have pencils that cost twice as much that don't feel as sturdy as this guy.

I'm a math graduate student, so producing reams of paper covered in pictures and calculations is how I spend my days. This has been my favorite pencil for some time now. I'm afraid I can't compare with the other drafting pencils -- some look attractive but not their prices, but for a student on a budget these have worked well. My friends notice and covet my pencil (though they make fun of my "exacto-pencil" since it resembles the knife).

Why I like it: The slim barrel is comfortable for my small hands. I'm clumsy and easily distracted, so the grip usually keeps me from dropping the pencil, and yet I can attest it isn't damaged when I do. The .9mm lead is most practical since I write with a heavy hand.

For the money this pencil is a great deal. Light weight it feels great in your hand.

I purchased the Graphgear 500 to replace my previous daily use pencil, the Pentel P200 series, and because it had a knurled grip. After trying most of the 0.5mm drafting pencils that Jetpens has to offer, this series is my favorite.

Pros:
-Eraser cap stays in place
-Clip is removable (I do not like clips on my drafting pencils, as when I turn them they dig into my skin)
-Solid "click" sound
-Plastic body is strong enough to not bend under writing (in fact, this pencil and the more expensive Pentel Graphlet shar everything except the grips)
-The grip is the a comfortable knurling (the closest I have found to the Rotring 600's knurling)
-View of the lead is absolutely superb, yet the tip is still strong
-The balance is towards the tip, making it easier to guide the pencil as apposed to forcing it
-Very durable all around
-It's appealing to look at, and people notice the syringe-like look as an example of quality and precision

Cons:
-Not pocket safe (I make a little cap out of heat-shrink tubing to protect the tip and my pockets)
-Slightly awkward at first due to the difference in size of the grip to the shaft
-Sometimes the end cap/lead sleeve will annoyingly rattle, but it more often does not

I do recommend this pencil, for the price you get a knurled grip, very solid mechanism, perfect weight balance, and a very durable pencil. I own all of these pencils, and they all see use. The 0.5 is my personal favorite, however this pencil is excellent as far as .9 mm pencils go.