Close

Original Blackwing 602 / Palomino Blackwing 602

Just out, California Cedar's new entry into the find the perfect pencil quest - a re-inventing of the Blackwing 602.

For those of you joining our program already in progress, Eberhard Faber's Blackwing 602 woodclinched pencil topped the list of the perfect pencil (for those who don't mind a pencil not being round.)

In my search to reconnect with Black Velvet pencils, I read so much about the Blackwing, I had to give them a try.

Enter eBay, and yes, I will pay more money than a sane person would for a pencil.

Guess what? In that rarest occurrence, the hype was right. The Blackwing 602 is different. Your hand will tell the difference. Woe though, they not be round, they became my perfect pencil.

Smooth. Like writing with ice on glass.

Which is like hearing about the Titanic and booking a ticket for the next trip.

Yeah, they don't make these anymore either. (But they still can be had - for a while anyway - on eBay and places like that.)

So, the search for the perfect pencil was fini, right?

Google pencil reviews and get back to me. I'll wait.

California Cedar produced a pencil called the Palomino Blackwing, which was a nice pencil - made a nice black line but was softer than the original. They received so much feedback, they decided to take a second swing at it. (Soft and Smooth are different qualities.)

 It's too bad the Palomino Blackwing 602 will always be compared to the original Blackwing 602, because the Palomino version is a very nice pencil in its own right.

Slightly larger around, makes a dark line, not too soft, lovely lacquer (gun metal gray), serviceable eraser that is also not too soft (doesn't bother me that it's black) and it is so close in the smoothness feel to the writing hand -- well, how close is close enough?

S.W.A.G.

 I did all the unscientific, in the wind testing. The Palomino version lays down a darker line than the Original, but the Original still feels smoother to my hand.

The real problem with the Original and both Remakes is that unique, problematic eraser assembly. It unbalances the pencil until the pencil is short enough to rest closer to the hand. (I've removed the eraser from a couple, replacing with the old school red pencil tops which takes care of that problem, but lessens the coolness factor by about a million.)

Does the quest continue?

I, for one, am ready to throw in the towel.

I'm just going to love them all.

 

6/15/11 Last night I took notes at a FEMA meeting with both. One thing Palomino has down pat is laying down a dark line. When the PBW602 first hit the paper, I thought, oh, this is smooth. The slightly larger circumference makes me not mind the hex. The point lasted longer than the Original, in this unscientific, fast scribbling notes at a meeting, test. Then I had to change to a Biro because I forgot my sharpener. oy.

So, there you have it. PBW602, a very nice pencil. The difference in the smoothest between it and the Original, while there, is negligible.

Oh, and I heard everything the FEMA guy said.  ; )