KOKUYOMechanical Pencil, Enpitsu Sharp Type Mx Metal Grip, 0.7mm (PS-P502B-1P), Blue

As a math teacher/geek, I do a lot of pencil pushing and have tried most of the high end models. The Enpitsu Mx is one of the few to satisfy my two must-haves: 1) substantial weight, especially towards the tip, and 2) a twisty eraser for corrections. It's amazing how many otherwise excellent mechanical pencils have horrible tiny erasers, assuming you'll always have a block eraser at hand. My favorite pencil for decades has been Faber-Castell's TK Vario in either 0.5mm or 0.7mm. The Enpitsu Mx is comparable in quality but differs in many details.Pros: The metal grip adds excellent weight to the Enpitsu - it really feels nice in the hand. I find myself preferring the Vario's narrower metal grip but I suspect I'd be in the minority here based on comments I've read. The eraser is "full width" like a wood pencil and not skinny like the Vario and most mechanicals. The price is reasonable. Replacement erasers are available and inexpensive from specialty sites, while the Vario erasers are silly expensive. The lead sleeve retracts, which lessens the chance of bending it and might help it fit into pockets, though I've never had a problem with a fixed lead sleeve myself. The Enpitsu is available in sizes up to 1.3mm, which is rare for good mechanicals and could be great for someone more interested in note-taking and writing instead of precise mathematical work.Cons: The clip arcs outward from the pencil more than it needs to, probably just for aesthetic reasons? This sounds trivial, but I find it annoying because I subconsciously rotate the pencil to keep a sharp edge and the bulging clip is noticeably uncomfortable when rotated towards my hand. The eraser clutch feels soft - after erasing anything substantial, I seem to have pushed the eraser back into the body quite a bit. And the dial for extending it is narrow and a little fussy to rotate. The Enpitsu is not available in a size smaller than 0.7mm. The lead feels a touch less stable than in my Varios, though it's possible I'm imagining that.My verdict: I'll stick with the Vario - I simply find it a bit more comfortable and I like having a 0.5mm option when I'm doing precise work. But the Enpitsu Mx is well worth trying out for any pencil enthusiast. I suspect many people would prefer its grip even if I don't myself. It's very well-built and thoughtfully designed for the price - easily one of the top mechanical pencils available.

I had some must-have features and this pencil ticks off all, if not most of the boxes.Big eraser, retractable tip, metal body. The grip i believe is metal, the body it plastic unfortunately.So far is holding up well and feels great in hand. I'd actually prefer something with a little more weight, but this thing is significantly heavier than your average bic mechanical pencil. Here it is next to my G-750 zebra pen

The pencil appeared to be a quality product; however, grip is everything. Instead of having a raspy grip, which helps in writing, it had a smooth--very smooth--grip. If you change the grip, you have a five star product.

My new favorite. Feels more expensive than it is .

Great balance and firm grip to this pencil. Great writing utensil!!!!