Ursus Cursus

Need a pencil but not sure that you can really justify a whole twelve-pack of Blackwings? Here's a solution: follow the bear.

It sounds, and maybe even looks, a bit like something from a random Chinese factory some time in the 1980s, but actually this is another pencil from the same home as the reborn Blackwing, Californian Cedar - and it's definitely affordable rather than cheap, if you know what I mean.

It's a joy to sharpen - no, really - because of that aromatic cedar. It's also very long, so there's more bang for your buck, or at least more scribbles for your quid.

How does it write? Impressively smoothly, as it happens. #2 graphite roughly equates to HB on this side of the pond, but to be fair this is a bit darker and quite a lot smoother than the average HB. Take a punt and try one; you might like it!