Zebra M-402 Mechanical Pencil-Mechanical Pencil, Refillable, 0.5 mm, Black/Silver

My grandson sneakily ordered this on my Amazon account (kids nowadays are smarter than their grandmother's who know little or nothing about telephones and computer technology). I meant to return it as I felt no 12 year old needs a pencil that cost 12 dollars be wise they are just going to lose it or have it swiped at school. Forgot about it so began using it myself. It has become an integral part of my day. Love the thin sightlines p is it just feels good in one's hand. So, rather than it become a list\stolen waste, it now has become "Grannies Mothers Day present" from herself.

When they discontinued the M-402 I bought a 12 pack of them in 2012 after they were no longer available as singles like this listing. This truly is one of the best mechanical pencils I've ever used. The grip is soft and comfortable, in contrast to the newer Zebras that have an uncomfortable hard plastic grip. They aren't too skinny of a pencil but they don't feel bloated in the hand either. It feels balanced and offers nice control. The only real flaw to this pencil is the tip - if you drop it and the tip bends or breaks it's pretty much ruined. Other than that this is the perfect mech pencil and it is a tragedy they don't make them anymore. The only other mech pencils I've been this fond of, and recommend if you can't find a Zebra M-402, is the Pentel Graph Gear (Listing name for 0.3mm option that I own: Pentel 5-piece Set, Pg1013e, 0.3mm Graph Gear 1000 Automatic Pencil). They offer various lead sized (3, 5, and 7 mm, as is standard), and they have a nice grip style. The Pentel is superior to the Zebra M-402 in one important way: the entire metal tip retracts into the barrel so if you drop it the tip is protected. I sketch and draw as a hobby and have a degree in Arts and Visual Graphics. My Zebra M-402 pencils have been with me since high school, all through college, through a job in the graphic arts field, and now into 2021. I just sent two of my dozen to my little sister after she lost the only one she had (and had used since she was in 2nd grade!). She now has two new, never used M-402 pencils to keep her company as she continues her college education.