PLATINUM PRO-USE 241 Review

PRO-USE 241 is the latest addition to PLATINUM's PRO-USE family, a long line of drafting mechanical pencils "made for professionals".

Early Models

The earlier PRO-USE models were much like other drafting mechanical pencils, featuring long lead sleeves, grippy grips, lead grade indicators, and multiple lead sizes. The lineups range from MSD-300, MSD-500, MSD-1000, MSD-1500, and MSDB-1500 (originally MSD-1300, a color variant of MSD-1000), where the numbers are also their prices in Yen.

The obvious oddity in this bunch is the MSD-1500, nicknamed ツチノコ after the mystic creature for its stubby proportion, and it's probably going to be as hard to find as the ツチノコ in a decade or two. I hope to write a full review of it some day, for now I'll just say this: get it while you still can, get a spare too, if you can afford it.

A New Beginning

In 2017, PLATINUM released the MSDA-1500, or PRO-USE 171, which is quite different from its predecessors, in both appearance and features.

PRO-USE 171 has a knurled grip that's separated from the barrel. It resembles more to the likes of STAEDTLER 925 85 or OHTO PROMECHA 1000P, and is no less gimmicky.

The knurled grip, and an actuator near the cone, act as switches (named as one "Snork Mechanism") that provide adjustability and flexibility for those who also want the option to use the drafting pencil for more general purposes such as writing.

We now know it as the progenitor of a new generation of PRO-USE mechanical pencils, but for the longest time I thought the odd numbering 171 was just a one-off thing. It's not until the release of PRO-USE 231 (MSDC-1500) and PRO-USE 241 (MSDD-2500) 7 years later that a new branch in the PRO-USE family tree starts to take shape.

Numbering System

*For simplicity I'll omit the prefix PRO-USE and just refer to the new family members by their numbers.

Prior to the release of 231 and 241, it wasn't clear to us average consumers why the PRO-USE series has such a messed up numbering system, where most models only have the prefix MSD while 171 and the black variant of MSD-1000 have a four-letter prefix MSDA and MSDB, yet the limited variants of 171 still carry the prefix MSDA.

Now it's more apparent that each new model (excluding color variants) after 171 advances the 4th letter by one alphabet. And it's also announced officially that "The first two digits of the three-digit number in the product name indicate the year of release, and the last digit is counted up each time a derivative model is released."

So say if they released a second PRO-USE in 2024 priced ¥3,000, it would be named PRO-USE 242 and be given the model number MSDE-3000.

It would be easier to visualize with a table:

PRO-USE 231

Compared to 171, which was advertized as a drafting pencil that can also be used for writing, 231, considering the timing, the apparent delay, and the limited nature, seems more like an experimental run to bring in the mechanisms from their other mechanical pencil line—OLEeNU, a series of pencils focused on protecting the lead against breakage.

So far, I counted roughly 7 different mechanisms spreading across the OLEeNU family, such as OLEeNU Shield, OLEeNU Guard, or ZeroShin. The ones implemented on the 231 are the OLEeNU Guard mechanism, which protects the lead within the cone, and the Pipe Slide mechanism, which allows the sleeve to slide out in use and be stowed away when not.

Not too impressive when compared to its predecessors. The same can be said about its form. The lanky pencil features a stepped cone and a rubber grip. More reasons to suspect it as a pilot run or testing stone for the real deal—PRO-USE 241, which PLATINUM announced as "a further enhanced model of PRO-USE 171", thus declaring 241 as the true heir but also confirming 231 as a partially enhaced model of 171.

PRO-USE 241

Form

Announced only a few months after the release of 231, 241 shares a striking resemblance to 171, to the point where one might mistake one for the other. A bit disappointing, but not entirely a bad thing since 171 is quite a good looking pencil. I, for one, appreciate it when good design traits are passed to the next generation. In that regard, the elongated 231 was a failed mutation, looking more like a chimera of PRO-USE and OLEeNU.

Like 171, 241 has a knurled grip, a conical cone, and an actuator ring in between that adjusts the sleeve (more on that later). The main difference being that, instead of one uninterrupted surface, the knurling is broken up into 9 segments by thin grooves. The actuator ring has the same knurling instead of the grooves on 171, and now looks more like an additional segment of the grip. Personally, I find the whole chromed surface a bit too dazzling, and despite the toothy look I find them not as grippy as I prefer my knurled pencils to be. The traction they provide is comparable to OHTO SUPER PROMECHA's knurled grip.

The upper halves of 171, 231, and 241 are almost identical, made up of the same old plastic barrel, a chromed metallic clip, and a grooved end cap with a lead grade indicator. The end caps look very similar but are not fully interchangeable.

The PRO-USE logo and the iconic cushion switch guide remain unchanged, but the lead size (only available in 0.5) is now more prominently printed, keeping to the design first seen on the limited Matte Black 171.

I say cushion switch "guide" because the label doesn't indicate the state of the switch. There's no way to tell whether the cushion is on or off without actually testing it or trying the switch, or we just have to remember how we set it last time. I was hoping PLATINUM would add some sort of indicator to make this more user-friendly. Other pencils with this type of switch (such as ZEBRA Tect 2way or uni α-gel SWITCH) usually have an indicator for users to immediately read off the position.

The guide itself is also not immediately clear whether we should turn the barrel or the grip. You should hold the grip in place and turn the barrel right (counterclockwise) to activate cushioning.

Another trait inherited from the limited editions is the metallic lead reservoir, a major upgrade over the original 171 which still uses plastic tubes. 

The position and length of the clip also remain unchanged, unfortunately. A design flaw in my opinion, as the upraised tail of the clip would constantly brush over or dig into my skin while I rotate the pencil to keep the tip sharp.

Function and Feel

Now comes the fun stuff. 

All the functional upgrades in 241 seem to lie within the first 2 cm of the pencil. These include the OLEeNU Guard parts, a sliding sleeve, and the new knurled actuator to lock or release the sleeve.

Basically, PLATINUM kept the cushion switch on 171 and replaced the gimmicky sleeve-covering feature with a lockable sliding sleeve. Mixing sleeve-sliding with lead-cushioning creates some interesting effects, and with 2 independent on/off switches, we get a total of 4 different modes, advertised on PLATINUM's special page for 241 as:

I've simplified it down to:

The idea is great, but how is the execution? I went through each of the four modes writing this review on a wooden table. The pencil is quite heavy, weighing close to 26 g, but balances well with a low center of gravity. The writing feel is different in each mode. Let's go over each mode in detail, starting from the bottom up.

Tech Drawings (OFF/OFF)

By turning both cusion and sliding off, we get the most stable writing experience, and the feedback from the tip was very satisfying. I don't do technical drawings, but from my experience it writes at least as well as some of the better drafting pencils, including early models in the PRO-USE series. When the mechanisms are turned off, the parts are truly locked in place. There was no tip wobbles whatsoever despite all the moving parts involved.

I wish I could say the same about the other end of the pencil. The lead tube and the end cap rattle against the barrel as I write, ruining the solid writing experience. This has been a problem since 171 and I'm surprised PLATINUM still has not addressed this issue after 7 years.

Sketches (OFF/ON)

In their table, PLATINUM listed this mode as equivalent to their PRESS MAN, the 0.9 mm mechanical pencil made for journalists who write in a rush with a heavy hand.

Supposedly, the cushion sacrifices some precision for the protection against inadvertent lead breakage. However, turning the cushion on didn't change the experience for me personally, because I never write with a lot of force. Even when I deliberately write harder or faster, the cushion mechanism rarely activated.

So maybe it's a good idea for those like me to just leave the cushion turned on at all times as a sort of "air bag" for the lead.

Quick Notes (ON/OFF)

Rotating the sliding switch raises or lowers the front piece, which includes the cone and the sleeve. When it raises to the top, the sleeve is locked in place, and when it lowers to the bottom, the sleeve is released and can slide back, allowing the user to continue writing after the exposed lead is used up, with the sleeve retreating as more lead is worn away.

One slight inconvenience is that the lead does not move with the front piece. So when you lower the front piece to release the lead sleeve, the lead is mostly likely still in the "raised" position. Another knock is required either before or after turning the switch on, otherwise the sleeve will just slide back in. Also, 241's sleeve is designed not to retract all the way in, so we only get about 2 mm of extra lead with each knock.

One of the smoothest sliding sleeve mechanism is without a doubt the one on a Pentel orenz. We're not even supposed to write with the lead exposed, because the sliding sleeve is also there to protect the lead so it never breaks. The tip of the sleeve is rounded off so it doesn't feel scratchy. No such luck with 241 though. I could immediately feel the scratchiness when the sleeve "touches down" on paper. Hopefully over time it will be rounded off with use.

Taking all these into account, I guess this mode is really only suitable for those who can't pause their writing for even the briefest of an instant to advance the lead. In such case I think a ballpoint pen might be a better option.

Long Essays (ON/ON)

Lastly, we turn both switches on.

This is what I've been looking forward to testing ever since I saw the press release and the keyword "Hayaai" in there.

A bit of background: Hayaai is a series of discontinued pencil from the '80s—also made by PLATINUM—that featured the POINT PUSH-MATIC mechanism. It is not an automatic mechanical pencil as the name may suggest, but has a convenient way to get more lead exposed by pushing the tip (or point) down on the paper or the desk.

The cushioning and sliding mechanisms on these pencils allow the lead and sleeve to be pushed up. The lead would return to its original position when lifted while the sleeve remains at the pushed-in position, thus exposing more lead to write with. This can be repeated 5 times per knock, until the sleeve is completely submerged.

A few other pencils also have this feature. In fact, I believe all mechanical pencils with a sliding sleeve and cushioning can achieve this feat. Still, I was excited to see a discontinued feature make a return to PLATINUM's dwindling line up of mechanical pencils.

The result on 241 is... mixed. I wrote the second half of this review entirely in this mode, and I think this is the most useful and comfortable mode to write with. The hidden POINT PUSH-MATIC feature does work, but because the sleeve does not go all the way in, there's only about 1.5 pushes' worth of extra lead to play with. The writing experience is excellent, at least while it lasted, but then it does last longer than any average pencils, for most users that should be more than plenty for one writing session.

I said "hidden" because there's no mention of this hybrid feature explicitly on PLATINUM's press release or the special page for 241 (no, as of November 2024 there's still no dedicated product page for this pencil, or 231 for that matter). I wonder why that is. Clearly they do want us to make the connection by naming the mechanism "Hayaai", but for some reason doesn't seem to want to attract too much attention to it.

Summary

Despite the design flaws and half measures: a slippery grip, a missing indicator, a scratchy tip, a sliding sleeve that doesn't fully retract, and an inner tube that rattles, PRO-USE 241 is still a substantial improvement over its predecessor PRO-USE 171.

In my opinion, two of the four modes are actually useable. I would keep both switches turned ON for writing, and both turned OFF for drafting. This achieves what PRO-USE 171 claimed but didn't fully achieve seven years ago. If only they could fix some of the long-overdue issues, this would have been a powerful 4-in-1 tool pencil.

Imagine having a STAEDTLER 925 35, a PLATINUM PRESS MAN, a Pentel orenz, and a rOtring rapid PRO in one pencil!

My overall rating for 241 is 4.1 (and 3.2 for 231). The pencil had great potentials, and performs well in some modes, but had too many unaddressed issues that lowered the score.

As usual, I've made an infographic card to sum up the specs.

   

STAEDTLER HEXAGONAL (Version-0) Review

In November 2022, STAEDTLER Japan released an interesting mechanical pencil named HEXAGONAL.

A mechanical pencil

earnestly crafted

by a pencil maker

The ultimate one piece

dedicated to "writing"

It is a mechanical pencil that looks distinctly pencil-like, with a straight, hexagonal body.

There were three variants on initial release: Clean Black, Silky Silver, and version-0.

The limited version-0, in a striking combination of blue, black, and white, resembles none other than STAEDTLER's iconic Mars Lumograph pencils, likely designed as an homage to its heritage and a tribute to the company's origin as a pencil maker.

On closer inspection though, it's obvious that despite the resemblance to Mars Lumograph, HEXAGONAL is not intended to be a wooden pencil lookalike.

First Impression

When picking colors, I usually go with black (preferably full black), white, or transparent. So it was a relief to see the Clean Black variant in HEXAGONAL's press release, but when I saw version-0, the relief was replaced by a craving. It was a love-at-first-sight kind of experience.

The pencil had an “instinctive” appeal that makes me want to reach out and pick it up (and I did, at a premium price...) I was curious why this particular variant had such a strong appeal.

At first I thought: "Well, it's simply beautiful, and it's limited," but that seemed too shallow. So I reflected some more on what I actually felt, and here are my observations:

• The Mars Lumograph color scheme, complete with the silver logo and letters, brought back memories of sketching with wooden pencils, and seemed to have resurrected a primal impulse to... wield sticks.
• The proportion, when compared to a Mars Lumograph pencil, appears shorter and wider, and my brain registers this subconsciously as being balanced and easy to grip.
• The different shades of blue on the hexagonal barrel provided visual cues to the quality of the material, with the matte surface showing a fine texture, the crisp shadows indicating a rigid material underneath, and the round edges suggesting a comfortable grip.
• Being the only black part of the pencil, it's hard not to look at the bulky push button that sits atop the strip of white "collar" at the end of the barrel. The color, position, and shape all made it look very pressable.
• The shiny clip suits up the pencil right under the white collar, giving HEXAGONAL a more professional and mechanical look. The cone and sleeve in matching silver completes an image of a sword waiting to be drawn.

These observations make promises of how good the mechanical pencil could be, but if it turned out to be mediocre or worse, they will become good excuses for the premium price I paid. Fortunately, there's more to HEXAGONAL than meets the eye. The actual pencil exceeded my expectations in many aspects.

Hands-on Experience

Even though I knew beforehand that HEXAGONAL has a metallic body, when I first picked it up I was still caught off guard by the cool rigid weight under the soft rubbery exterior. I was equally surprised by how velvety smooth the thin layer of matte rubber topcoat felt. It feels very much like the silicone phone cases instead of the usual rubber grips.

On the product page, they described the texture to feel like it "affixes to your hand", and I think it’s not too much of an exaggeration. I couldn't help but, for lack of a better word, caress the pencil each time I take it in my hand.

One downside is that the rubber topcoat wears off quite easily, especially if the pencil is carried around daily with other objects. I would recommend keeping it in a separate pen sleeve when not in use.

The hexagonal barrel feels natural in my tripod grip, and the slightly-below-midpoint center of gravity provides a good balance. The pencil rests nicely with a light grip when I'm not writing, and feels like part of my hand when I do.

When I write with the pencil, it feels almost like an extension of my fingers, with the tip acting as a continuation of my fingertip. I could control the strokes intuitively and even feel the paper's surface with the lead. I believe this is thanks to the hexagonal shape making good contact points with my hand, the rubbery topcoat providing a firm grip, and the sturdy metallic build being a good conductor of tactile feedback.

The fact that I tested HEXAGONAL on a loose leaf on a wooden table also helped. Every stroke of lead on paper (and the wood underneath) made a loud reverberating sound that amplified the tactile feedback.

There's even a term in Japanese describing this quality—コツコツ感, an onomatopoeia of the sound. And these pencils are often described as having a high 剛性, or rigidity. To my knowledge, these usages are relatively new, potentially indicating a rising trend in user preference for 書き味 (feel) over function. Of course, this is not to say that pencils in the past didn't have this quality, but rather, a new generation of stationery lovers are starting to realize how amazing it feels to write with something that gets straight to the point.

That's exactly what I felt when writing with HEXAGONAL. Don't get me wrong—I still love the convenience and mechanisms of my orenznero and KURU TOGA pencils, but HEXAGONAL reminded me of the simple joy of picking up a pencil and transforming ideas and thoughts in my head into words and sketches on paper.

Of course, with the simplicity comes the inevitable distraction when the extended lead is used up, which brings me back to the bulky black push button at the top of the pencil.

Probably made of ABS plastic, the surface of the hexagonal button felt rough but not uncomfortable to press. There's a lead grade window on one of the six sides, which is uncommon for a non-drafting mechanical pencil, but considering the design of the Mars Lumograph wooden pencils, it is only fitting to have it there. The pencils come preset to grade B, and can go from 2H to 3B. Pulling it off reveals a pink eraser that brings a smile to my face.

The lead grade indicator can only be adjusted when the button is taken off. But presumably we only need to adjust the indicator after filling the pencil with a different grade of lead. So before putting the button back on, grab the "neck" in one hand and the "head" in the other, and twist until the correct grade is shown.

Rotating the pieces doesn't take too much effort, but there'e also enough friction that the indicator does not rotate freely on its own. The button is very well made, it's almost impossible to see where the two parts separate. There's also a rubber o-ring installed at the base of the neck that prevents the button from rattling and assists the grip when adjusting the indicator. Just don't lose it, because the push button is not sold separately.

Conclusion

I want to finish off with the three selling points on the package:

• Stable Balance – the internal parts in the barrel are adjusted to achieve a stable balance for writing
• Luxurious Finish – the barrel has a rubber topcoat that fits in your hand and provides a comfortable hold
• Trustworthy Shape – the shape is modeled after STAEDTLER's iconic wooden pencils, with the corners rounded

My overall rating of STAEDTLER HEXAGONAL is 4.3 out of 5. And here is an infographic card with my 3F ratings.

   

The Infinite OHTO Saga

For the first few years after I started collecting mechanical pencils, the only OHTOs I owned were the more common variants of PROMECHA (OP-1005) and SUPER PROMECHA (PM-1505). They formed my initial impression of the brand—that they make gimmicky mechanical pencils of subpar quality, which prevented me from taking further interest in the brand for many years.

My First OHTOs

During those years, I did add to my OHTO collection a no-noc, a budget auto-advance pencil. I bought it out of curiosity, to see how it compares to the orenznero. The mechanism was OK, but I never quite liked the hour-glass shape and the glossy finish (I did acquire a matte black version much later, but did not keep it because it wasn't black enough for me).

My view of the maker changed slightly after acquiring an MS01 and a CR01 in late 2022. They appeared to be remakes of SUPER PROMECHA and CELSUS, respectively. What got me interested were the matte black finish on the MS01 and the black camouflage pattern on the CR01. They looked and felt much finer than their predecessors. I thought, "Hmm... so they CAN make products at this level of completion. Maybe I shouldn't have brushed them aside."

New Categories

Being a nerd for names, I naturally went to their site to find out more about their new naming system. Apparently, they released a "New Category Series" in early 2021. This includes five categories: GS (Grand Standard), CR (Ceramic Rollerball), TL (Thin & Light), WN (Warm & Natural), and MS (Mechanical Specialty). And there was an earlier release that started off the naming system—GS01, a remake of their Horizon ballpoint pen. But I didn't get one then because I found the dome-shaped cone comical.

New Encounters

The real perspective shift came after my trip to Nagoya in 2023. I was very lucky to chance upon this remote pen shop while taking a bus out of Hida Takayama. My wife spotted a huge banner on a river bank that said "Pens Sold Here" as the bus crossed the bridge. We were catching a train bound for Nagoya, but there were still about two hours before the train departs, so we rushed back to the pen shop after getting off at the bus terminal.

There was a nice stationery store on the first floor, we entered the store thinking it was the pen shop, and was slightly disappointed. But I was elated when the owner told us the pen shop was on the second floor and can be accessed from the stairs outside. We thanked the owner, paid for what we selected, went up to the balcony and pushed open the door.

I think I've never been this awestruck entering a store in my life. It was an enchanting, almost magical shop dedicated to pens. The name is Pen Shop IMAI. Remembering the moment still gives me goosebumps.

The warmly-lit walls, shelves, and counters were filled from floor to ceiling with a plethora of pens and pen-related stationeries, but not in an overwhelming way. I knew right away we needed more time, so I immediately changed our tickets to a later train, and started shopping.

Time really flies when you're having fun. We had to will ourselves to stop browsing and went to the cashier to check out. Even with restraint, my basket was filled with the latest releases, popular models, limited editions, vintage pens, and discontinued items. Realizing we may be late for our train, my heart raced as the lady meticulously packed and wrapped each of my item with care, but I kept my composure. The moment we were back on the street, we started running like Tom Cruise in his movies, and kept running, for 800 meters. Luckily we made it onto the train with seconds left, and slept the whole way to Nagoya.

Needle-Point Rabbit Hole

Among what I bought that day were two OHTO pens: a 4-in-1 MULTI, and a discontinued ballpoint pen NBP-507R. Both happened to use needle-point refills. I tested them after I got home, and boy were they smooth! Although labeled as 0.7s, they write more like a 0.4, and have an oily quality that seems to assist with ink flow.

I became so interested in this particular refill I started tracing its lineage. The hunt led me to multiple families of NBP pens:

• NBP-507SH (silver hex.) and NBP-507C (Color hex.) which look like "hex nuts"
• NBP-1007G (rubber grip) and NBP-1007M (knurled grip) which are the "big brothers" of the NBP-500 variants
• The Horizon series I mentioned earlier
• The Horizon-turned GS01
• The elusive FLAT-C with the unique flat clip and its retraction mechanism

Most of these pens, and, unfortunately, some of the refills, have gone out of production. While the needle-tip refills write very smoothly, they tend to dry out after a few years. I was very lucky some of the pens I acquired still had a working refill inside.

While researching these ballpoint pens, I came across many of their close cousins—identical-looking mechanical pencils:

• The "hex nuts" SP-505C (SHARP-PENCIL Color hex.)
• The "big brothers" OP-1000 (black rubber grip) and OP-1000M (knurled grip) which are in fact early PROMECHA models
• The Horizon Sharp, a double-knock auto-advance pencil
• The even more elusive MUJI flat clip mechanical pencil, which I am still on the lookout for

Back to PROMECHA

Each of these opened new pathways to explore, but what got me started was, ironically, a PROMECHA 1004M—the predecessor to the OP-1005P which I deemed as gimmicky and subpar. Functionally they are the same pencil, but the striped knurling on 1000M's grip greatly enhanced the appeal of the otherwise monotonous body. And thus, a new hunt began.

To my knowledge, there are seven PROMECHA models, plus two similar-looking predecessors labeled "FOR DRAWING", which can be roughly divided into three classes:

• Entry Class (SP-500): These are basic drafting mechanical pencils without additional gimmicks
• Pro Class (OP-1000): These are more sophisticated drafting mechanical pencils with a grip that rotates to cover or reveal the lead sleeve
• Geek Class (PM-1000/1500): These are super gimmicky models featuring gears that can adjust how much lead is dispensed, remove the clip, and, on early models, limit how much the lead sleeve can be revealed

The hunt from here on gets particularly grindful because OHTO produced their vintage drafting mechanical pencils in five lead sizes: 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 mm, making this a whopping 45-member family.

The experience is like solving a jigsaw puzzle that keeps on expanding. Each new piece I find reveals more adjacent pieces I didn't even know existed. But the fact that I'm seeing it as a jigsaw puzzle means it's already too late. Now I can't help but want to fill in all the pieces.

Other Finds

I also came across a few other oddities during the wild ride, such as the PISTON SHARP mechanical pencils that retract the lead on deep knocks, the Knock Roller [O] rollerball that doesn't need a cap, or the Tasche mechanical pencil with a cap, just to name a few.

The journey so far has been exciting (and expensive), and I've learned a lot about the brand. I now see it as a 100-year-old pen manufacturer that takes pride in its innovations, but suffers from a lack of vigorous testing and a low marketing budget.

New Step

In late 2023, OHTO took another step in their new categorization system with the introduction of GS02 and CR02. These are no longer just renewals of existing products, but actual new releases.

GS02 is a needle-point gel pen, and it reversed GS01's hex-to-round barrel to a round-to-hex barrel, making the pen much easier to grip. It looks way better, too.

CR02 is a capped ceramic roller pen, just like CR01. It's basically a slim version of CR01, with a metal grip replacing the rubber grip.

I'm really looking forward to what OHTO will bring us next. Will it be an MS02 with new mechanisms? Or the revival of a discontinued product? I hope it's not just another remake of something like the minimo into a TL01 or the Conception into an MS02.

Afterword (2024/11/19)

Well I jinxed it. OHTO recently released the first pencils in the Warm & Natural category: WN01, WN02, and WN03. Unfortunately these are again just rebranding of their wooden mechanical pencils SHARP PENCIL, SHARP PENCIL mini, and SHARP PENCIL 2.0.

   

KURU TOGA Metal Review

MITSUBISHI uni has teased and pleased us in recent years with some major upgrades to their KURU TOGA series that took the stationery world by storm since 2008.

Prelude

It all started with a KURU TOGA variant in 2021: α-gel SWITCH. It wasn't the first time an α-gel was equipped with a KURU TOGA engine, but this one looks distinctly different from previous models of either product line. It has a leaner, more sporty exterior, with no markings to show for its KURU TOGA lineage except for the small pill-shaped window on its barrel. The tip had no resemblance with KURU TOGA's conical sliding sleeve first seen on the Standard Pipe Slide model, instead opting for a cylindrical fixed tip.

In hindsight, it is clear that this marked the beginning of a new generation of KURU TOGA pencils. Later models all share the cylindrical fixed tip and the pill-shaped window on the barrel, indicative of the smaller, raised KURU TOGA engine.

Gear Up

Moving the engine from the grip section up to the barrel section opened opportunities to engineer innovations and improvements into the pencil without further widening the grip.

Here are the four models, including SWITCH:

• α-gel SWITCH (2021): other than the obvious addition of the α-gel grip, SWITCH introduced a twist clip that probably locks up the inner tube, preventing the vertical motion that drives the KURU TOGA engine, allowing for a more stable writing experience when needed.
• KURU TOGA DIVE (2022): DIVE took advantage of the vertical motion and transferred the momentum to another gear that advances the lead automatically every 440 strokes, without the sleeve ever having to touch the paper. It also features a magnetic cap that "pulls" the loaded lead out when uncapped, eliminating even the initial knock necessary in most other automatic pencils.
• KURU TOGA KS (2023): KS, the new standard, looks a lot like a stripped down version of α-gel SWITCH, and it probably is. By removing the α-gel grip and the switching mechanism, uni was able to standardize the new KURU TOGA engine and fit it into a simple, plain, cost-effective form.
• KURU TOGA Metal (2024): coming one year after the release of the new standard, Metal is, as its name suggests, a metallic KURU TOGA, built on the inner core of KS, and the pencil I'm reviewing today.

Live or Dive

The demand for a metallic KURU TOGA has been on the rise in the last few years, especially since the release of the highly-coveted-but-very-limited KURU TOGA DIVE. DIVE is mainly made of plastic, and to some it's not worth the initial MSRP of ¥5000 or US$40, and certainly not worth the adjusted US$99 price tag. Apparently increasing the price was uni's strategy to deter "scalpers". I don't want to digress further, but clearly it didn't work.

Personally, marketing strategy aside, I think ¥5000 is fair, considering how much engineering must have gone into creating the auto-advancing mechanism. After all, the essence of mechanical pencils comes more from the mechanics than from the materials. But I can understand where some of these frustrations are coming from. There are those that were disappointed by not being able to acquire one at a decent price, and there are those who think a masterpiece like this deserves better materials. I agree, 100%. Let's hope we get a metallic DIVE one day.

Metal: First Impression

Now back to KURU TOGA Metal. I was excited when I saw the news leak that a metallic KURU TOGA is coming out this year. But when I saw the pictures posted on X, I was a bit skeptical because the slim-line, uniform, tube-like design looked a bit boring, and the "mild edge" grip looked too mild to provide enough traction.

But at the same time, I was so happy that a full-black version is among the three initial non-limited colors: Silent Blue, Nocturn Black, and Phantom Grey. This was a big thing, at least to me because I have a thing for fully black pencils, but the color motif of the KURU TOGA series has always been blue. If we look back at all the KURU TOGAs ever released, it's kind of obvious they've been avoiding full-black variants until recent years. I can only think of two models with full-black options: the ADVANCE UPGRADE and the KS, and in both cases full-blacks were not readily available in all lead sizes in the beginning. I suspect this change of direction may be a direct result from their sales figure. I hope this becomes the standard for all future KURU TOGA releases, and again, here's hoping there comes a Pitch Black DIVE in the not-too-far future.

Metal: Actual Review

Fully Grooved

That was all just speculation on my part. When I got my hands on the actual thing, I was pleasantly surprised. The apparent smooth barrel is actually textured all the way with horizontal micro ridges, reminding me of the fully-knurled PLOTTER pens. These micro ridges already provide enough "grippage", but the wider grooves on the grip section added even more traction to the grip, and some variation to the uniformly cylindrical body.

Disassembly

I noticed a few nice little details while disassembling the pencil (it's a ritual to admire the internal structures), which I think are worth mentioning. The pencil can be easily separated into four main sections: the cone, the grip, the barrel (along with the inner parts), and the end cap. The first three sections are screwed on, while the end cap can be pulled off to reveal the eraser.

The Cap

While I don't recommend doing this too often, there's a certain satisfaction in putting the end cap back on. It's almost as if there's a suction force assisting with the repositioning of the cap. There's a little groove on the side of the cap, a common way to prevent the cap from flying off. But usually it feels more like opening a door to a doorstop. My guess is that the diameter of the lead reservoir varies near the opening, providing the illusory suction force from the sudden decrease in friction when inserting the cap. The friction increases again as the cap is pushed all the way in, locking the cap in while also preventing rattling.

The Grip

The grip section is basically a metallic tube that screws onto the cone at one end and the barrel at the other. A rubber o-ring is attached just inside the opening at each end to secure the connection as the metal parts screw shut.

Interestingly, the threads are identical on both ends of the grip, meaning the grip can be installed either way. It’s a convenient feature because it’s impossible to tell from the outside which way is up. Although, come to think of it, an asymmetrical pattern would have been interesting too, giving users two orientations to play with.

(Note: upon closer inspection, the micro ridges are in fact spiral threads instead of parallel rings. So, strictly speaking, the grip is not symmetrical.)

Feel

Lastly and most importantly, how does KURU TOGA Metal write? I left this till the end because I'm writing the review of what I'm writing the review with. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Distraction vs Discomfort

KURU TOGA was a revolutionary product (all pun intended). It rotates the lead as we write to keep the line width consistent, and eliminates the need for us to rotate the pencil manually. This has been talked about so often that I almost forgot what the actual distraction was. Yes, we do want our writing to look neat and sharp, but what really drives us to shift the grip as the tip gets blunt is the unpleasant dullness that pulls our attention from our dive into the content back to the surface of the paper.

In essence, KURU TOGA replaced a major distraction in writing with a minor discomfort—the wobbling of the tip. And we've seen uni making progress in reducing the wobbling over the years. They may have nailed it this time with KURU TOGA Metal.

Nib Damper

I filled three A5 pages writing the draft of this review, and I was very satisfied with how the pencil writes. There was no apparent wobbling whatsoever. The tip felt more stable than some drafting mechanical pencils with a retractable tip. The lead, of course, still sinks a little at the beginning of each stroke, necessary to drive the KURU TOGA engine, but the motion is imperceptible in normal writing. It's only when I deliberately slow down the stroke and concentrate on my fingertip when the sinking becomes noticeable. This is thanks to the new Nib Damper, a ring between the tip and the cone acting as a sort of cushion. I think it works really well because it mimics the sensation of how the tip of a normal pencil would dig into the paper.

Final Verdict

This has a compounding effect on the writing experience. With a consistently sharp tip that doesn't wobble, I was truly able to focus on the content, at least until it's time for another knock—probably the final distraction to eliminate.

They say KURU TOGA Metal's clip shares the same material and design with that of the KURU TOGA DIVE. I hope it's a sign that they are already working on either a metallic DIVE with the damper, or an automatic Metal with a miniaturized version of the auto-feed mechanism. I dream of them as KURU TOGA DEEP DIVE and KURU TOGA Full Metal, respectively.

My overall rating of KURU TOGA Metal is 4.3 out of 5.

Here is an infographic card I made, with my 3F ratings.

   

My First Mechanical Pencils

The first mechanical pencil I remember using was a black Pentel P205. I’m not sure if my brother gave it to me or if I bought it myself, but I do remember carrying it daily as a college student.

The P200 series is lightweight, sturdy, comfortable to hold, and easy to wield. It fits my hand really well. I remember using it extensively to jot down notes, plot diagrams, and sketch drawings.
Sometimes I get lost in my sketching sessions, which could last for hours (how I wish I have that luxury again), but it never left me with aching fingers that I can recall.

I didn’t take particular care of my pencils back then and carried the P205 with many pointy objects in my pencil case. Despite the abuse, it survived the years without a scratch, which says a lot about its durability. Unfortunately it did not survive my forgetfulness.

I've since replaced it, with a few additional variations, but I rarely use them nowadays. 

The second mechanical pencil I used extensively was a Pentel PG1015, or GraphGear 1000. I considered buying it on many visits to the stationery store on campus when it came out in 2002. The 'pro' look caught my eye, but the many 'eyes' on its composite grip also put me off a bit.

Of course, eventually, I bought it (which became a recurring theme with me and my hobby). I was drawn back to it time and time again by the sleek alien form, the hefty metallic build, and the double-knock mechanism.

Double-knock mechanical pencils refer to those that require two knocks, or two pushes of the button to advance the lead: one full knock to push the tip out, secondary knocks to advance the lead, and another full knock to retract the tip back for storage and protection.

On GraphGear 1000, the mechanicsm relies on a spring-loaded clip acting as both the lock and the release trigger on the inner tube, which is constantly being pushed up by a powerful spring. The force exerted by the spring makes the first knock slow and deliberate as the tip clicks into place, and creates a satisfying pop when the lock is trigger-released.

The price tag was quite a bit higher than what I had expected for a mechanical pencil, partly because I was down under in New Zealand, but it was well worth the investment, as it survived even heavier use during my university and graduate school years, with only the fading letters to show for its age.

Only until much later did I learn through blogs, videos, and community sites that these two models are both regarded highly among enthusiasts and professionals alike, and are still often picked by many as one of their favorite or recommended mechanical pencils, which also explains why they are still in production to this day.

In the years since then, I’ve probably used no fewer than 500 different mechanical pencils, but none came close to these two in terms of mileage.

This is, of course, partly due to the increasing number of pens and pencils I own, which divides up my usage, which itself has dropped significantly with most writings being done nowadays on keyboard.

Still, I try my best to put them to good use. I test write each new purchase while writing down my thoughts and observations, which I hope to type out and publish somewhere, and found this platform after some search. The blog is probably going to be in English only, as I enjoy writing English the most.

Interestingly, what truly sparked my passion for collecting mechanical pencils was another Pentel, released in 2017: the new flagship orenznero, which I look forward to write about some other day.