This is the one.
Over the past decade, Blackwing has turned a pencil revival into a lifestyle, and I’m happy to say that they have played a large role in my newfound appreciation of wooden pencils.
The Blackwing 602 was my first love. It was built to represent the style of the original Blackwings from the mid-1900’s, with its metallic grey barrel, smooth, dark, and firm core, gold ferrule, and pink eraser. If they stopped there, I would have been a happy pencil fan. I’m glad they didn’t.
The introduction of the Blackwing Volumes series introduced me to different graphite core grades, and different barrel colors, designs, and features. Many of these individual editions usurped my love of the 602 - Volume 56 and 16.2 for starters - but it remained my most used Blackwing.
Then the extra-firm cores arrived.
Blackwing teased this core several times throughout the years in Volumes releases, finally making it a permanent part of the standard lineup in the Natural. While I appreciate it’s clean, raw look, I prefer painted barrels, and not even the superior-for-me core could tempt me.
That all changed with the release of the Blackwing Eras. Not only did the style intrigue me more than the classic 602, it uses the extra-firm core. This homage to the past is my version of the canonical Blackwing, taking that title away from the 602.
The dark grey barrel, gold stamping, grey ferrule, gold ferrule stripe, and red eraser were inspired by some of the earliest Blackwings. All of this, combined with the best Blackwing core, make it the one Blackwing I reach for over all of the rest. Even some of my favorite Volumes editions.
My one complaint - and using that word is a stretch - is that this is a limited edition. To me, the execution of this pencil, and the story behind it, are so good that if I were Blackwing, I would want to hang my hat on it as a regular offering for years to come. But then again, having it disappear into the pencil shavings bin of life gives them the opportunity to delight me again with a future release.
After writing a full page, left, vs. freshly sharpened.
Until then, I’ll be happily using my Eras down to the nub.
The Blackwing Eras are still available online at Vanness Pens for $29.95 per dozen. Expensive? Yes. But they do not disappoint in the slightest.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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