I just got around to trying out the Palomino Blackwing 602 pencil, which is a recreation of the Eberhard Blackwing 602 first manufactured in the 1930s and discontinued in 1998. They were a favorite of John Steinbeck and Chuck Jones, and originals are an object of desire for pencil aficionados the world over. Got $50? You might be able to buy one on Ebay.

I’m not an expert in pencils by any stretch of the imagination, but I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Plus…I love office supplies :) I’ve posted my impressions of the Palomino Blackwing 602 over on my secret Gear sub-blog.