I’ve wanted the Pilot S20 Drafting Pencil for ages. I, for one, cannot resist the style of this pencil, or any of Pilot’s wooden writing instrument designs. The S20 is a prime example of a classic Pilot design that is as good today as when it was first launched.
When exactly was that? I honestly can’t say. I’ve tried to hunt that information down, but to no avail. Decades? I think so, but with frequent lineup changes it was difficult to sort out. Regardless of whether it launched last century or last week, it is a near-perfect design that any mechanical pencil owner should consider owning.
Most pencils with “Drafting” in the name take on a very technical exterior. Metal barrels, aggressive grips, all the bells and whistles that make for a good option for a technical pencil. Pilot strips all of that away in the S20, using a warm birch wood barrel with subtle curves and matte finish hardware. It looks just as home on a writing desk as it does a drafting table.
Those curves are what I love the most about the S20. Combined with the lightweight wooden barrel, the slightly concave grip section molds right into your grip. The barrel taper towards the top as well, allowing it to fit into the cusp or your hand comfortably. The design cues are subtle, but important of the overall feel of the pencil.
The barrel is made from “resin-infused birch wood” with a Mahogany color on my S20. Pilot is well-known for this range of “stains,” which also includes Brown, Dark Brown, Deep Red, and Black. Mahogany is in the mid-range of darkness, allowing the wood grain to be visible. The grain connects well between the hardware as well, for those who prefer everything to line up cleanly.
From a feel perspective, I cannot praise this pencil enough. It is lightweight, but has enough density to retain precision control. The wood grip warms to the touch, with added tackiness with continued use. Over time, I imagine there will be some wearing in in this area, so I’ll have to pay attention if it begins to smooth out. I doubt that will present any issue.
The Pilot S20 is $25. For a mechanical pencil, that falls into the premium price range. For me, it is well worth that price, and worth the difference in feel and quality over pencils that are $10-$15 cheaper. It is that good.
The real question, which I’ve successfully avoided up until now, is how it compares to the upgraded - and even more expensive - Pilot S30 Drafting Pencil. More on that one soon!
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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