GENERAL'S Semi-Hex Graphite #2 HB Pencils 12/Pkg

This is a great pencil to use for school or on standardized tests. The graphite core is centered, the pencil writes smoothly, the barrel is easy to hold, the pencil point lasts a while, and the eraser removes marks easily.The wood is a lovely incense cedar. When you sharpen the pencil, you get the classic pencil scent and a smooth surface on the newly-revealed wood.I think I got a box of factory seconds, though. The varnish and foil lettering on the barrels are uneven. The black stripe on the ferrules has some of the black layer flaked off, and there's some minor cracking near the bottoms of the ferrules.Something to note: these pencils do not come pre-sharpened.

I ordered these because I was sick and tired of buying low quality pencils from stores.I don't buy mechanical pencils because they are expensive and people like to steal them, people are less likely to steal an old fashioned wooden pencil. Most stores now sell brands that are made in China or Indonesia. The problem with most China made pencils is that the lead breaks in the pencil sharpener and that is because the leads are not centered correctly in the pencil. The other problem is that there will be clumps of graphite in the lead so when you write all of the sudden you feel a sharp rock scratching the paper and it takes more force to move the pencil across the paper.Aside from the cons of purchasing China made pencils I will describe why I like this product. I like this product because when I write, the pencil has a smooth lead and when I erase the eraser erases. The eraser on this pencil is the best pink eraser I have ever encountered, the eraser is just as good as the white polymer erasers from Pentel. The second reason why I like this pencil is that when I sharpened the pencil, the lead did not break and that made me very happy. By the way, I used the Staedtler pencil sharpener to sharpen this pencil. This pencil sharpens with no problems and again that makes me very happy, so, this brand of pencils will stay on my shopping list for now on.

It writes well and I really enjoy writing with this pencil. The eraser leaves something to be desired but I use hand erasers most of the time. It’s currently one of my favorite pencils and I write with Blackwings, Mitsubishi’s, Camel’s, Kitaboshi’s, Tombow’s, Staedtler’s, Faber-Castell’s and Musgrave’s. It’s a quality Made in USA product.

In my opinion, better than Ticonderoga. Quality cedar wood and eraser. My only criticism is the quality control by General. Some of the ferrules were dented or scratched.

I was hesitant to spend $6 for a dozen pencils. Honestly, it seemed like too much. However, I decided to read a bit and try out the different ones that other people recommend. These General Semi-Hex pencils are definitely among the best.The barrel of this pencil has the corners rounded off, which is nice. The ferule seems to be actual brass, rather than the dingy brass colored aluminum on current production Mirado pencils. The wood smells nice and pencilly when you sharpen it, and they sharpen easily. The lead is very smooth, yet it doesn't wear down as fast as some smooth pencils. It wears more like a Ticonderoga than a Tombow, yet glides on paper similarly to a Tombow. The paint job is decent, classic school bus yellow. The imprinting is metallic green; on one of my dozen pencils the imprinting had gaps in it, like it wasn't done properly (not a huge deal really). I really like the eraser and the way the ferule is made; it really feels like a tool from a former era when quality was paramount. Also, the retro style box they come in is a nice touch!When I write I tend to take a few pencils out of my big pencil jar and I always make sure one of these pencils is among them. I would rate the General's Semi-Hex as even with Tombow 2558, or my other favorite American made pencil, the Musgrave 100 Test Scoring pencil. I have already in a very short time run through half of my dozen, and will be ordering more soon. Certainly fifty cents each is a lot to pay for a pencil, but believe me these are worth it.

I only like Les, but sometimes I’m required to use pencil. In that case, I need a great pencil. These are great- super smooth, long lasting point, and the eraser works well. They feel like high quality and make writing in pencil much more enjoyable.

This is far and away the best value in pencils. I'm kind of a pencil snob (yes, we exist), and the General Semi Hex beats them all in terms of smoothness of writing, with the exception of the Palomino Blackwing 902. However, at 1/4 to 1/3 the price of the Blackwing, and the fact that it's a domestic product, the Semi Hex is a clear choice. General, like most pencil makers, has a proprietary blend of graphite for the lead and rubber for the eraser. Both winners. The shape (Semi Hex) is also a plus. It's a typical hexagonal pencil with rounded corners. Get these pencils and use a sharp sharpener, whether it's a fancy long point, vintage Ranger or el cheapo from the kids pencil box, just as long as it's still sharp.I've tried the Semi Hex against all the other American yellow pencils, the American companies that produce them in Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, Argentina and overseas, the German companies like Staedtler and Kum, and Japanese manufacturers like Palomino, Pentel and Tombow. I've even tried the cheapos that the kids bring home from birthday parties. Yuck. I have not tried vintage Blackwings or Caran d'Ache, although I would like to sooner or later.I've also tested sharpeners, but that's a story for another day.

These have been my favorite pencils for years, specifically because of their smooth, soft erasers. I have bought boxes and boxes of these pencils, and they always came in a green box. I was surprised when my most recent batch arrived in a black box, and absolutely dismayed when I opened it and realized the erasers have been changed. The erasers on these pencils feel cheap and dry to the touch, they no longer reflect the quality you'd expect when paying this price for pencils. Extremely disappointing.