STEEL M-301 Mechanical Pencils, 0.5mm Fine Point, Refillable Lead, Stainless Steel Barrel, Built-in Eraser, Durable Clip, Lightweight Precision Pencil for School, Office, 2-Pack (54012)

Like most people who have used mechanical pencils for a long time, I settled into my favorite couple pencils, bought a number of them and used them for years. For me it was the Y&C Double Knock and the Alvin Draftmatic dating back to the mid-90's. But then I started using "luxury" pen and pencil sets from Cross, Parker, Pelican and Waterman and lost touch with the "functional" mechanical pencil market. But both between a realization that these "luxury" brands aren't actually interested in making a good pencil as much as something good looking (don't get me wrong, they're good, but writing quality of their pencils is not what drives them) and my kids getting to the age where they could use a good mechanical pencil, I decided to dig back in and re-learn the current offerings. I decided to give my older kids (as stocking stuffers for Christmas) one of each of the viable contenders and then borrow them on occasion to see what I thought. It's now been a couple months and I'm reviewing them all: Best overall: Pentel GraphGear 500 (full review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2V3OHBEJN60WZ) Best value: Zebra M301 (this review) Best retractable tip: Pentel GraphGear 1000 (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1WGL8ZCB03SQK) Best rubber grip: Staedtler 925-05 (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1ZX77U5OV8OS6) Also rans (in order of preference): Alvin Draftmatic (http://www.amazon.com/review/R1VQY95VWPF0YI) Uni Kuru Tora (http://www.amazon.com/review/R2JV48N3D6KXH3) Pentel P205 (http://www.amazon.com/review/R3C11TD28G7BUT) Click on the links above for my detailed review of each. And now for the actual review for THIS pencil, the Zebra M301: This is the only low priced ($1-$5) pencil that I bought. The others I looked into were obviously junk. In fact, it was my wife buying a few different very cheap mechanical pencils from Bic and others that put me up to this endeavor. They were all junk and my kids deserve better, even if they lose them too often for comfort (which is why she was reasonably buying such inexpensive ones). Nevertheless, the stainless steel barrel of the M301 intrigued me thinking that these guys may actually care about quality and at that price it was worth taking a flyer on it. Boy was I impressed! If you're looking for a pencil for your lower elementary school kids, THIS is the pencil. Between the price and the quality, it's the unquestioned victor for your throw away pencil. I've decided that these are the pencils I keep in the woodshop and if the kids ever lose all their stocking stuffers, this is what they'll be getting to replace them. The stainless steel barrel isn't overwhelmingly good, but it is surprisingly good quality for such an inexpensive pencil. It's very dirt and grime resistant, something nice for when the kids come back from the school cafeteria with sticky fingers. It cleans easily too. The other surprising part is the grip. For those who read all of my pencil reviews, you'll see that I'm generally not a fan of the plastic grip. They tend to absorb finger grease over time and get a slick feel to them. And then oddly, perhaps because the maker is trying to over-compensate, the ribs in the plastic tend to dig in too much. The result is a slippery grip that is still hard on your fingers. The worst of both worlds! However, the plastic on this pencil is not ribbed in one direction ("horizontally" around the barrel) like most plastic grip pencils including the classic Pentel P205. Instead it has both horizontal and vertical ribs that make a nice pattern that gives a good grip. I still prefer a metal grip, but I must admit, for a plastic one, this is pretty good. Finally in the positive category is the clip. It is tight enough to clip on thin materials, but since it is wide and made of a thicker gauge material than most of it's competitors, it slides over the material easily. While I haven't stressed it frequently, it just has the feel of a clip that will last a long time. All of those positives aside, don't get me wrong, this is not a high end pencil. It has more give in the tip than the best of the crop. If it was a medium cost pencil it would have just been one amongst many. The eraser is pitifully small (although just as big as all the others I guess and of a good quality polymer material). The clicking mechanism is OK, but not high end either. Nevertheless, this pencil is a great value and is one of only two I give a 5-star rating to. Buy a bunch of them and spread them around so that there's one where ever you need one. You won't regret it.

Ah, the Zebra M-301 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencils, 0.5 mm, Pack Of 2. These little beauties have been my trusty companions for years in the field, faithfully recording my notes in Rite in the Rain field books. And let me tell you, the action on these pencils is just delightful. It feels smooth and satisfying, like a perfectly executed dance move. Now, I must admit, I've put these pencils through their paces. I've used them with all sorts of lead, from the standard graphite to the more adventurous color pencil lead. And you know what? These pencils handle it all with grace and ease. The lead stays firmly in place, never faltering, and with just a simple click of the cap, you get just the right amount of lead every time. It's like magic. But here's the thing - these pencils do have one weakness. Their erasers. Oh boy, I've gone through more erasers than I can count. It's like they have a secret pact with the paper, conspiring to make me buy eraser refills on a regular basis. But hey, at least the eraser under the cap is the perfect size for those smaller areas that need erasing. And when it starts to run low, you can just slide it up like a pro. Now, let's talk about the lead size. The 0.5 mm lead is a dream come true for field notes and sketches. It writes on paper with such clean and crisp precision, it's like a symphony of words and lines. And let's not forget about the stainless barrel. It's sturdy, reliable, and has been my everyday carry for several years now. All I've ever had to do was add more lead and occasionally replace the eraser with one of those handy refills. So there you have it, my take on the Zebra M-301 Stainless Steel Mechanical Pencils. They're great companions for any fieldwork or drafting adventures you may embark on. Just be prepared to stock up on eraser refills, because these pencils are so good, they'll make you want to erase everything and start over, just for the fun of it.

Great products. The value, design, and grip were exactly what I was looking for.

Buy these pencils if you want ones that will last years and years. They are durable and great quality and fit in a briefcase or pocket easily. Not too heavy and make for an easy writing experience.

My son loves these pencils . He’s tried several and these are his favorite.

I give it a 4 because my issue with it is a personal preference. It does perform well. I just struggle with using super light, super thin, and super tiny erasered mechanical pencils..... it feels like I am going to snap it in half almost because of how light weight it is. This may be a hugely important and loved feature by someone else. I don't want a super heavy pencil, I just like somthing that's a bit more heavy duty. Somthing I know will last for many many years. This is good for a "disposable" mechanical pencil. Maybe last a year of daily regular use. The grip isn't the greatest. Again these are my personal issues. Anyone who needs a smaller, lightweight and efficient mechanical pencil will love this. Just make sure to buy back up erasers if you have to erase a lot. The eraser on this thing is tiny. But I can't complain for spending less than 1.50$ on each pencil. I think I bought these 2 pencils for like 3 bucks after tax..... you get what you pay for. If you need a more durable pencil, you'll need to pay more than a couple bucks for it.

Works fine for the pencil it's designed to work with. Not meant for heavy use, mostly just there to keep the lead from falling out

My favorite brand for writing instruments! Comfortable to use, rare lead breakage, and a smooth fine line writing result. My fave throughout college, nursing school, and professionally. Well made, and last forever!

Es raro ya que normalmente los productos Zebra son de buena calidad, pero estas gomas, al principio manchan, debes de pasar la goma por el error varias veces para quitar la mancha que deja al principio.

Its the best ever.

Le consiglio perchè costruite bene

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These mechanical pencils are a staple in my stationery collection! The stainless steel body feels sturdy and professional, while still being lightweight enough for everyday writing or sketching. The 0.5mm lead writes smoothly and precisely, perfect for neat notes or detailed work. I love the comfortable grip. It doesn't slip during long sessions and the eraser under the cap is handy for quick fixes. They are also very reliable. no lead breakage issues and the mechanism advances smoothly every time. Plus, the two pack is great value for the quality you're getting!