General’s Pencils

I purchased another US-made batch from CW Pencils, this time with a focus on General Pencil Co. I got a box of Cedar Pointe #1s and Semi-Hex #1s, which seem to share the same fair-quality soft lead. It’s quite a smooth write and the Cedar Pointes are very attractive with their black ferrule and eraser, and feel great in the hand for an unvarnished wood. I also got a pack of Kimberly Bs, which feel a little softer than the latter two, but lack the “premium graphite” feel boasted by the brand.

The “Extra Black” Layout 555 line are definitely softer, almost waxy, but I don’t find them to be very dark (they are more like a black coloured pencil). Finally, I grabbed a dozen Carbo Weld Softa 935s from CW’s vintage stash, which feel pretty good, with nice feedback and lightweight round wood, which I like.