A “mere” mechanical pencil flesh wound, or time for a capped pencil?

So you’ve been stabbed too many times by your mechanical pencil. Don’t worry – the pencil isn’t your frenemy – you just need a capped pencil. I have a couple of them to look at- the Pentel Sharp Kerry p1035, and the Muji pocket (a rebranded Ohto Tasche).

Here’s a quick look at how they write:

The Pentel Kerry has been around since the early 1970’s, so they’ve had a lot of time to get it right. And Pentel has – it’s a metal pencil that balances evenly in the hand. The cap clicks into place when it’s open and closed. Writing with the Kerry isn’t particularly sharp (the thick barrel makes it somewhat cumbersome to turn in the hand), but it nonetheless feels smooth and elegant.

The Muji Pocket pencil is longer and thinner than the Pentel Kerry and is more back weighted in the hand. The cap clicks when it’s closed, but not when it’s open – the Muji clicks out some lead when the cap is completely on. The Muji’s cap feels less secure than the Pentel’s because it doesn’t lock, and the cap can turn when you write. I found the Muji to write sharper than the Kerry, and was easier to turn in the hand.

Both of these pencils have erasers, but you gotta find them! The Pentel Kerry’s is in the cap, and the Muji’s is on the barrel-and you have to literally unscrew the end of the barrel to get to it..

So, there are your pocket friendly pencils. Build quality goes to the Pentel Kerry, writing sharp goes to the Muji Pocket (aka the Ohto Tasche).

Here’s a pick of all of my pocket pencils (some discontinued):

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