Pen Review: Penco "Drafting Writer" Pen and Pencil

March 16, 2023

As a workhorse pen and everyday carry enthusiast, I have a soft spot for pocket pens. I own dozens of them. I usually have one or more with me, whether literally in my pocket, clipped to my shirt, or stuck in the pen slot on my notebook or planner. Most of these, by default, are ballpoints, namely needle-tip or extra-fine point options with low-viscosity refills, which come in a wide variety of formats (though maybe not colors).

The Penco Drafting Writer .5mm Mechanical Pencil (left) compared against a full-size Rotring 600 Mechanical Pencil.

Since I also love woodcase pencils, I definitely look for opportunities to pick up hexagonal pens or mechanical pencils that mimic that same feel. While pens like the Rotring 600/800 series and the TWSBI Precision are great options, they aren’t exactly pocketable. That’s why Penco’s version of the classic drafting pen/pencil is so refreshing.

The Penco Drafting Writer sits just long enough in the hand to make it functional. (Ballpoint shown here.)

Honestly, other than the size, there’s nothing groundbreaking about the design of the Penco Drafting Writer, which will be familiar to most who have used these pens before. The hexagonal aluminum barrel is paired with a traditional knurled section and a matte black or silver finish. I’d characterize this particular knurling as more “rough” than “sharp” - some knurled metal grips have a tendency to bite into your fingers, which isn’t the case here, but it’s still textured enough to prevent any slippage.

The refill is where the ballpoint pen shines. Penco ships the Drafting Writer with a needle-tip D1 refill that’s quite similar to the refill in the Traveler’s Company Brass Ballpoint. For those who love a .5mm needle-tip ballpoint, it simply doesn’t get much better than either of these two pens. Ballpoint refills - even in the D1 size - tend to last for a VERY long time, and I personally think the aesthetic of the needle tip matches the style of the “technical pen” quite well. The mechanical pencil version takes standard .5mm leads, and if I had one quibble, it would be that I’d like to see a retractable pipe version. As it currently stands, I’d really only characterize the Drafting Writer ballpoint as a true “pocket pen” since I would be concerned about damaging the tip on the pencil by sticking it in my pocket with keys, a knife, etc. (That said, if your goal is to carry the pencil in a shirt pocket, you’ll probably be fine.)

Both Penco Drafting Writers with a short writing sample, as well as a close-up shot of the knurling on the grip section.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Penco continues to surprise me with their well-made and versatile line of pocket pens. The pocket pen segment is one of those categories where you might think that everything that could possibly be done, has been done, but that’s not necessarily the case. Who would’ve ever thought of shrinking the classic “Hex Pen” to a pocket-sized writing instrument? Not me, but here we are.

The two Penco Drafting Writers (center) compared against, from left, the TWSBI Precision .5mm Mechanical Pencil, TWSBI Precision Ballpoint, Penco “Perfection” Bullet Pen in a chrome finish, Rotring 800 mechanical pencil, and Rotring 600 mechanical pencil.

We’re pleased to be able to offer the Penco Drafting Pen and Pencil directly in our shop, in both matte black and silver finishes. These were the surprise hit at this past week’s Baltimore Pen Show, and I only felt it was fair to highlight them a bit online. The Drafting Pen is priced at $36 and the Drafting Pencil at $34. I will be bringing some stock with me to Little Rock for the Arkansas Pen Show, and also leaving a few in the shop so that they’re available for online purchase. The same goes for the Penco Perfection and Penco Perfection Light Bullet Pens (and yes, I’m bringing the display so you will be able to see all the colors). While we sell the needle-tip D1 refill in the shop as well, I will note that for those of you who do NOT like this style, the ballpoint will take any D1-sized cartridge, including the excellent standard conical cartridge included with the Perfection Pens.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. We are authorized retailers of all brands sold directly, including the Penco pens featured here.

Technical Pens and Pencils: The TWSBI Precision Ballpoint and Mechanical Pencil

January 18, 2023

So-called “drafting” pens and pencils are sometimes considered a category unto themselves, or as a subset of the slightly broader “technical” pen and pencil category. Long-dominated by the beloved (and excellent) Rotring 600 and 800, many companies have shied away from introducing their own version of this classic piece of stationery kit, despite it’s enduring popularity. Not TWSBI, who over the years has introduced four different mechanical pencils, two ballpoint pens, and a technical-style fountain pen through their “Precision” line of products. Today I’ll take a look at the Precision mechanical pencil and ballpoint.

TWSBI Precision Mechanical Pencil Black Fixed and Retractable — The Precision Mechanical Pencil comes in both fixed and retractable-pipe versions.

So What Distinguishes the TWSBI Precision Line of Pens?

If you (like me) already own multiple Rotring 600 and Rotring 800 pens and mechanical pencils, what differentiates the TWSBI Precision to the point that you might want to give this particular pen and/or pencil a shot? Here are my main points to consider:

Different Knurling on the Grip. The primary difference I would highlight is the knurling (or grip texture), because this aspect will likely affect your everyday writing the most. Rotring uses a rougher, almost sandpaper-like texture that people either love or dislike depending on whether it hurts their fingers. Personally, I’m a big fan of the Rotring grip, which I think gives the pen a tactile writing experience that’s not duplicated elsewhere, but I also enjoy TWSBI’s approach. The Precision grip appears to be molded into the barrel as opposed to machined, so the knurling is slightly more raised and can have a softer feel. It all comes down to personal preference.
Slightly Softer Edges on the Hexagonal Barrel. I’ve never noticed it until this direct comparison, but the edges on the Rotring pens are pretty sharp. The TWSBI Precision is more rounded, akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, though I would place the Precision “in the middle” between the other two.
Different Aesthetics. Rotring famously adheres to a black/silver + red color scheme, and though they’ve moved away from that in recent years with a few new base colors, the overall aesthetic remains consistent. I would characterize the finish on the TWSBI Precision as more “satin” as opposed to Rotring’s true “matte”, and the TWSBI’s chrome clip, knock, and tip look nice on either the black or silver pen/pencil.
Different Mechanism on the Retractable Pipe Mechanical Pencil. I previously reviewed the Rotring 800, and I love how that pen features a twist mechanism on the knock that allows you to retract the sleeve / “pipe” for pocket carry. The TWSBI Precision has a similar feature, though you need to depress the knock and press down gently to get the pipe to retract. It’s less convenient, but it’s also a less expensive pencil.

The knurling on the TWSBI Precision (top) and the Rotring 600 (bottom) is very different. One is not better than the other - they just have a completely different feel. Note that the tip on the TWSBI Precision ballpoint extends slightly farther than on the Rotring 600. Personally, I like this because I enjoy more needle-tip pens that feel as though they provide more control over my writing. Others prefer how the Rotring looks.
See the gallery below for a comparison between the Rotring 800 retractable mechanical pencil and the TWSBI precision mechanical pencil, both retracted (right) and extended (left).

General Functionality and Writing Experience

Overall, the Precision provides a very nice writing experience for the price point. The Precision pens and pencils are approximately the same weight and length as the Rotring 600, and slightly shorter/slimmer than the Rotring 800. Due to the different texture, the feel in the hand is more akin to the Caran d’Ache 849, and those who appreciate the 849 line of writing instruments but find themselves wanting a more textured grip section and slightly longer barrel should consider the TWSBI Precision.

While the pens discussed here all share certain design elements, they have their own unique feel in hand and will appeal to different users in terms of both aesthetics and functionality.

Though not a game changer, I wanted to point out that TWSBI adds value by including a pack of leads and replacement erasers with the Precision mechanical pencil, and a second Parker-style ballpoint cartridge with the ballpoint pen. The erasers are a cool touch - they’re super long, do their job well, and should last you for a while. The TWSBI-branded ballpoint refill is quite nice, but if you prefer something else it’s Parker-style so you can swap in your choice of the endless Parker-style ballpoint/gel/capless roller refills out there.

I love the long eraser on the TWSBI Precision. Plus you get three of them, likely enough to last you years unless you really enjoy your mechanical pencil erasers.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

To be perfectly honest, now that I’ve been using my own Precision ballpoint and Precision .5mm retractable mechanical pencil for a couple of months now, I’m kicking myself for having waited this long. In my opinion, TWSBI doesn’t do a great job of promoting their non-fountain pen product line, and even though many people have commented about how nice their mechanical pencils are, it’s one of those products that I put off trying and reviewing for years. I’m now wondering whether it’s time to pick up a Precision fountain pen.

Three different pens/pencils, three great options: the Rotring 600 (top), the TWSBI Precision (center), and the Caran d’Ache 849.

We recently added the TWSBI Precision line to the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and currently stock both the Precision Ballpoint and Precision Mechanical Pencil in all colors and subtypes. As noted above, the mechanical pencil is available with both .5mm and .7mm lead sizes, with a fixed or retractable pipe. Both Precision Ballpoint Pens and Mechanical Pencils are priced at $25, which I personally consider a very fair value.

Disclaimer: The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of TWSBI products, including the Precision pens featured in this review. This post does not contain third-party advertising and affiliate links, and we are supported entirely by shop purchases and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Another Modern Classic: The Rotring 600 Pencil

October 15, 2015

Sometimes you run across a product that makes you wonder why it took you so long to discover it. The Rotring 600 mechanical pencil, what I'd consider another classic of modern industrial design on par with the Lamy 2000, is the latest. For around $30, it's an excellent buy if you're looking for a high quality mechanical/drafting pencil to add to your kit.

I've had a hard time finding a good mechanical pencil that makes me want to use it every day. When I was in school, I used them pretty frequently (especially in classrooms that didn't have decent pencil sharpeners), and they are always handy when you want to make really, really small notes. They attract a lot of snark in this community from both fountain pen users ("It's not a pen!") and pencil enthusiasts ("It's not woodcase!"), but mechanical pencils are useful tools that have their place.

Ok, NOW I get what the fuss is about. Thanks @penchalet!

A photo posted by Joe C. (@gentlemanstationer) on Oct 5, 2015 at 8:41am PDT

The design of the Rotring 600 is, well, Rotring-esque. Rotring basically defined the modern drafting pencil with hefty metal construction, a knurled grip, and a mechanism at the end of the pencil that you can turn to reflect the hardness of the lead you are using. The pencil itself is slender, and while heavy, is well-balanced for medium-length writing sessions. (Mechanical pencils in general, and especially this type of drafting pencil, aren't intended for novel writing, but rather sketching, calculations, and jotting notes.) I've been using my pencil with the Rotring stock HB lead, which is pretty nice, though my typical preference is 2B Ain Stein lead.

Rotring packaging is minimalistic, consistent with Rotring products.  I was surprised that the pencil came in a simple triangular cardboard sleeve (without much protection).  I don't dwell much on packaging, so whatever. — Rotring packaging is minimalistic, consistent with Rotring products. I was surprised that the pencil came in a simple triangular cardboard sleeve (without much protection). I don't dwell much on packaging, so whatever.

The Rotring 600 fountain pens are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and in some cases can go for as much as $250-300 in eBay auctions. At $29 from PenChalet, the Rotring 600 mechanical pencil is an economical way to scratch that itch, but beware, the fountain pen starts to look pretty good after a while....

Take note: the 600 model is not a "retractable pipe" drafting pencil, in which you can depress the nock or another button on the pencil and retract/extend the metal sleeve that holds the lead. If you're looking for that feature in a Rotring pen, you will need to opt for the Rotring RapidPro (slightly more expensive at $35), or the Rotring 800 (nearly twice as expensive at $60). There's also a Rotring 800+ model that comes with a stylus tip, but I'm not sure that justifies increasing the price even further to $72.

If you don't feel like spending $30 on a mechanical pencil, but like the "blackout" looks and the knurled grip of the Rotring, the Uni Kuru Toga Roulette is probably my second favorite all purpose mechanical pencil. The Kuru Toga Roulette is round, lighter, and has a slightly larger diameter than the Rotring, so if you use your mechanical pencil for long writing sessions this may be the option for you.

The Uni Kuru Toga Roulette next to the Rotring 600 Mechanical Pencil.  The Roulette is slightly larger in both length and diameter, but features some plastic construction. — The Uni Kuru Toga Roulette next to the Rotring 600 Mechanical Pencil. The Roulette is slightly larger in both length and diameter, but features some plastic construction.

DISCLAIMER: I was provided the product by PenChalet at no charge, for review purposes. This post contains affiliate links. All Amazon pricing and availability is subject to change, and is only current as of the time of publication of this review.