In the Shop: M+R Brass Sharpener Restock (Including Replacement Blades)

Our top selling products over the past two years have included the brass pencil sharpeners from M+R (Mobius & Ruppert), ranging from the simple brass bullet sharpener to brass lead pointer to the fancier long-point Castor and Pollux. As we re-envisioned how we wanted the shop to look going forward, we considered reducing pencils and pencil accessories, but so many of you were vocal about needing a retail outlet specializing in pencils (especially these sharpeners and their specialty replacement blades) that we decided to keep them on, and potentially expand the segment moving forward!

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In addition to M+R Sharpeners, we carry high-quality erasers from Tombow, and a range of woodcase pencils, mechanical pencils, and leadholders from brands such as Caran d’Ache, Tombow, Midori, and Uni-Mitsubishi. We have focused primarily on high-quality Japanese and Swiss graphite to date, since I have found that it works best with the longer-point sharpeners and also tends to offer the smoothest writing experience.

Both the Tombow Mono 100 and Mitsubishi Hi-Uni are stocked and available in a range of graphite hardnesses. All pencils are sold individually and by the dozen.

If there are specific pencil and pencil accessory brands that you feel are not adequately reflected at retail, and you would like us to stock, please reach out and let us know. That said, we can only continue to stock them if you spread the word among other enthusiasts and let us gain visibility (pencils are a very niche market, as you all know), so we greatly appreciate anyone spreading the word in forums, Facebook groups, on social media, etc.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold.

Join the Dark Side: Grades of Pencil Graphite from HB to 4B

Over the years you tend to settle into those stationery products that really work for you in your day-to-day life, especially with consumable items like pencils. I go through a fair number of pencils regularly, and as I’ve been cleaning up TGS HQ in preparation for some renovation work, I’ve been taking stock of what I’m using most as measured by what’s on my desk and, with regard to pencils, what’s clearly been sharpened dozens of times. On the pencil front, I definitely have a strong preference for darker graphite.

Understanding the Graphite Scale

Here in the United States, we’re accustomed to seeing pencils designated in grades numbered “1-4”, starting with the No. 1 pencil as the softest option available and the “No. 2” as the standard writing or office pencil. (No. 3 and No. 4 pencils feature much harder cores and lighter lines, and are actually fairly difficult to find in the wild.) Once you break into the world of specialized pencils, however, you realize that the subtle variations are endless.

Outside of the United States (and increasingly inside the U.S.), graphite pencils are graded on a more detailed “HB”oriented scale, which measures the ratio of graphite and clay in the core. For example, an “HB” pencil is balanced between clay and graphite, and typically serves as your No. 2 equivalent. From there, pencils are graded as “B” through “10B” for softer, darker pencils that contain more graphite, and H through 10H for harder, lighter pencils that contain more clay. (Of course, there’s also the outlier “F” pencil, which is the equivalent of the rare “2.5” pencil and sits somewhere between HB and H.) For the uninitiated, this grading system can be quite confusing, especially if all you’re looking for is a writing pencil that’s slightly harder or slightly darker than a standard No. 2/HB.

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While you can definitely see the progression in darkness as you move up the “B” scale, there are slight variations between brands. For example, the Camel 2B is slightly lighter than the dark Mitsubishi Hi-Uni 2B.

Which Pencils Do I Use for Actual Writing? F through 4B

For the best balance of smoothness and legibility, I prefer pencils that fall on the darker side of the “HB” designation, typically a 2B pencil. (You may recall that I stocked up on a bulk order of 2B pencils back in November.) As long as I use paper with a bit of texture, which tends to hold graphite better, I don’t necessarily have issues with smearing, especially if I’m using a higher quality pencil from Tombow, Uni-Mitsubishi, or Caran D’Ache. That said, I’m willing to live with a touch of smeariness in exchange for a darker line, hence why I will even use 3B/4B pencils that many people find too soft for everyday writing. I also find sharpening pencils to be relaxing and a good “focus point” if I need to take a break at work, so the need to sharpen softer pencils more frequently doesn’t bother me.

On the harder side of the scale, I find “H” and up too light and scratchy for everyday writing. In addition to legibility problems, the feel of harder graphite doesn’t appeal to me. I will occasionally use an “F” grade pencil if I know that I want to be writing somewhere without ready access to a sharpener.

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You can tell which pencils see the most use by the length and the “teethmarks” from my Carl Angel 5 sharpener.

Favorite Soft Graphite Pencils

In addition to the Camel 2B, which I wrote about late last year, favorite soft-graphite pencils include the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni 2B, the Staedtler Noris 2B, the Tombow 2558 in B, and the Caran D’Ache Edelweiss in 3B. While I can’t actually peg the grade (since Blackwing doesn’t disclose it), the “Soft” original Blackwing is said to be around a 4B, and I regularly use that pencil for writing. Though it still requires a fair bit of sharpening, it has remarkable point retention and a lack of smeariness for graphite that soft.

Further Reading

For a comprehensive overview of graphite grades and the history behind the “grading system,” as well as years of back content full of pencil knowledge, check out this post from C.W. Pencil Enterprise back in 2018. Their archived site is generally an excellent source of information, even if the store itself is no longer open.

This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links. Though some of the pencils here are available among the selection of pencils featured in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, others are linked to manufacturers and retailers who have not paid any compensation for being featured here. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Shop Update: Grades of Graphite, from 6B to F

Headed into 2022, one stationery niche I wanted to be sure continued to thrive was graphite, and that pencil lovers continued to have an outlet to purchase pencils in all grades of graphite, both individually and by the dozen or in a set. We recently filled out our selection of pencils on offer in The Curated Shop, and now feature a range of high-end pencils from multiple brands in hardnesses ranging anywhere from 6B to F.

On the darker end of the scale, we offer pencils in the 6B to 3B range, including a pencil set from Midori MD that features five different pencils in 6B, 4B, 2B, B, and HB hardnesses, along with pencil caps and a sharpener. Fans of softer graphite may also want to check out the Tombow Mono and Mitsubishi Hi-Uni, both of which are available in the dark-but-still-usable 2B and B grades, as well as the 3B Caran d’Ache Edelweiss. We’ve recently added the Tombow 2558 in “B”, so there’s now a darker option to this everyday workhorse.

A little behind-the-scenes look at our pencil shelf!

As mentioned above, nearly all of our pencils are available individually or by the dozen, in addition to a handful of pencil sampler or gift sets from Midori and Caran d’Ache and, of course, erasers and sharpeners. Visit the T.G.S. Curated Shop to check out the full range, along with our curated selection of pens, paper, and desk and reading accessories.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by reader contributions and purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more! The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI and all other brands stocked.

Presidents' Day Pencil Promotion!

To celebrate Presidents’ Day, in addition to our recent launch of several new brands of pencils and pencil accessories, we’re offering a free gift with the purchase of any dozen pencils from the T.G.S. Curated Shop! No coupon code is necessary to take advantage of this promotion - for every dozen pencils purchased, you’ll receive a unique vintage American pencil, an uncommon limited edition, or a high-quality Japanese pencil from the T.G.S. Archives! Offer applies to both a “mixed dozen” (any dozen pencils purchased individually) as well as pencils sold by the box. Promotion ends today (2/21) at 11:59pm Central U.S. Time.

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The Tombow 2558 is a solid choice for a yellow office pencil, available in both HB and B grades.

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Tombow MONO Erasers!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop stocks a wide variety of woodcase and mechanical pencils, as well as quality sharpeners and erasers, in addition to a heavily curated selection of paper and notebooks, desk and reading accessories, and fun stuff like pins and washi tape. We appreciate your support!

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands we stock. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!