Blackwing 602: The Firm-Graphite Pencil Explained

Gunmetal grey Blackwing 602 pencil drawn to scale at 20.5 cm (8 in) long, with its flat ferrule and pink replaceable eraser; inset: the flat ferrule and eraser — The Blackwing 602 at its listed 20.5 cm, drawn to scale.

Product facts

Product: Blackwing 602 (firm graphite, set of 12)
Brand: Blackwing
Brand origin: United States
Made in: Japan^*
Material: Incense-cedar wood (California and Oregon), Japanese graphite core
Released: 2011^*
Price range: $under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)

Notes on these facts

Made by California Cedar Products Company (Cal Cedar), Stockton, California. Made in Japan: Blackwing's description of its 2026 factory film, quoted by Kottke, says the graphite is formulated in Kofu, Japan, the pencils are pressed and lacquered at a woodworking facility in Tokyo, and they are imprinted, fitted with the ferrule, checked and hand-packed at Blackwing's headquarters in Stockton, California. Blackwing's FAQ names California and Oregon incense-cedar and Japanese graphite; The Journal Shop's FAQ says the pencils are crafted in Japan. Blackwing's product page doesn't state a country of origin. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Year Cal Cedar launched the current 602; the Eberhard Faber original was made from 1934 to 1998 (Wikipedia).
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

The 602 is grade 3 of 4 on Blackwing's core scale: Matte (soft), Pearl (balanced), 602 (firm) and Natural (extra firm).
Eberhard Faber began making the original Blackwing 602 in 1934; it was discontinued in 1998 and brought back by Blackwing in 2011.
Retailers list the pencil at about 20.5 cm (8 in) long and 7.5 mm in diameter, sold in a 12-pack box that doubles as a pencil cup.
Replacement erasers come in packs of 10 and slide out of the flat ferrule in a metal clip.
Blackwing's official Japanese store rates the 602 as roughly a B and lists the 12-pack at ¥6,600 (about US$42); the US store lists it at US$34.

What is the Blackwing 602?

The Blackwing 602 is a full-length cedar pencil with a firm graphite core, sold by Blackwing, the pencil brand of California Cedar Products Company in Stockton, California. Blackwing describes the formula as firm and smooth, “crafted for speed, precision, and control”.

It is a revival of the Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602, a pencil Blackwing says was the choice of John Steinbeck and Chuck Jones before it was discontinued. “In 2011, we brought it back,” Blackwing’s product page says.

Blackwing 602 specs

Spec	Value
Brand	Blackwing (California Cedar Products Company, USA)
Graphite	Firm (Blackwing’s own scale); “roughly B” per Blackwing Japan
Finish	Gunmetal grey
Ferrule	Flat, rectangular (“square Blackwing ferrule”)
Eraser	Pink, replaceable
Length	About 20.5 cm (8 in), unsharpened
Diameter	7.5 mm (0.3 in)
Wood	Incense cedar from California and Oregon (Blackwing FAQ)
Barcode	820933110252 (12-pack, Blackwing US and Japan)
Pack	12 pencils in a box that doubles as a pencil cup
Safety	Conforms to ASTM D-4236 (per Blackwing)
Made in	Japan (graphite in Kofu, pencils in Tokyo); finished in Stockton, California (per Blackwing)

Finish, ferrule, eraser, pack and ASTM conformity come from Blackwing’s product page. Length and diameter come from retailer listings; Blackwing doesn’t publish them on the 602 page.

What does “Half the pressure, twice the speed” mean?

It is the slogan Eberhard Faber stamped on the side of the original 602, opposite the brand mark, from 1934. The promise was that a smooth, dark pencil needs less pressure and so lets you write faster.

Treat it as an advertising line, not a test result. Cal Cedar’s own blog, written while it revived the brand, says its authors never understood the slogan’s logic technically and doubt Eberhard Faber measured anything before coining it. Retail copy for today’s 602 still uses the phrase.

How firm is the 602 compared with other Blackwings?

The 602 is the firm grade, third of Blackwing’s four core pencils from soft to extra firm. Blackwing grades its graphite on its own scale rather than the HB system.

Model	Graphite (Blackwing’s grade)
Matte	Soft
Pearl	Balanced
602	Firm
Natural	Extra firm

Blackwing 602 drawn to scale at 20.5 cm long and 7.5 mm wide, and Blackwing's four core graphites ordered soft to extra firm: Matte, Pearl, 602, Natural — Firmer Blackwing graphite sits to the right; the 602 is one step from the firmest.

Blackwing’s official Japanese store gives the closest thing to an official equivalent: “Firm / やや硬い (B相当)”, slightly hard, roughly a B. Other retailers compare the 602 to 2B or HB. Retailers describe the Matte as the choice for rich, dark lines and the Natural as the one that holds its point longest, which leaves the 602 as the firmer, everyday writing grade of the middle two. Our Blackwing Matte guide covers the soft end of the scale.

If you want a plain, inexpensive No. 2 for school or exams, our Ticonderoga No. 2 guide covers that pencil.

Why does the Blackwing have a flat ferrule?

The flat ferrule holds a removable metal clip that carries the eraser, so the eraser can be extended or replaced. Unsharpen traces the design to a 1921 Eberhard Faber patent for an “eraser-holder” with this kind of ferrule and retention clip.

We haven’t found a source that explains why the ferrule is flat rather than round. Its history matters, though: Wikipedia and Unsharpen report that the machine that made the clip broke during the Sanford years, which helped end production of the original in 1998.

Can you replace the eraser?

Yes: the 602 comes with a pink eraser, and Blackwing sells replacement erasers in packs of 10. You slide the eraser and clip out of the ferrule, move the clip to a new eraser, and push it back in.

Colors vary by retailer and over time; listings include black, white and pink alongside brighter colors. Retailers say the replacements fit Blackwing’s full-length pencils, including the 602, Pearl and Natural.

How much does a Blackwing 602 cost?

The 602 sits in our lowest price band ($, under $5 a pencil). It is sold mostly in 12-packs: on October 20, 2026 Blackwing’s US store listed the 12-pack at US$34, about US$2.80 a pencil, and Blackwing Japan at ¥6,600 (about US$42). Blackwing’s FAQ says 2025 cost increases for cedar, Japanese graphite and aluminum forced price adjustments.

Where is the Blackwing 602 made?

Mostly in Japan, and finished in California. Blackwing’s description of its 2026 factory film, quoted by Kottke, says the graphite is formulated and cut in Kofu, Japan; the pencils are pressed and lacquered at a woodworking facility in Tokyo; and they are imprinted, fitted with the signature ferrule, quality-checked and hand-packed at Blackwing’s Stockton, California headquarters. Laughing Squid’s summary of the same film places imprinting in Tokyo instead.

Blackwing’s FAQ says the wood is incense-cedar from California and Oregon and the graphite is Japanese, and The Journal Shop’s FAQ sums it up as crafted in Japan. Check the box of the pack you buy.

How does the 602 fit with other gear?

At about 20.5 cm, the 602 is longer than many pencils, so check your case. Before buying a case such as the LIHIT LAB Teffa, compare its inside length with the pencil. For a mechanical alternative with a self-rotating lead, see our uni Kuru Toga guide.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Half the pressure, twice the speed" mean on the Blackwing 602?

It was the slogan Eberhard Faber stamped on the side of the original 602, opposite the brand name, promising a pencil that writes with less effort. It is a marketing line, not a measured result; Cal Cedar's own blog says it doubts the claim was ever tested.

Is the Blackwing 602 soft or hard?

Blackwing grades the 602 as firm, the second-firmest of its four core pencils. Only the Natural (extra firm) is firmer; the Pearl (balanced) and Matte (soft) are softer.

What HB grade is the Blackwing 602?

Blackwing's US site doesn't give one, but its official Japanese store describes the 602 as "Firm / やや硬い (B相当)", slightly hard and roughly equivalent to B. Other retailers compare it to 2B or HB, so treat any equivalent as a rough guide.

Can you replace the eraser on a Blackwing 602?

Yes. The eraser sits in a metal clip inside the flat ferrule; you slide the clip out, swap in a new eraser and push it back. Blackwing replacement erasers are sold in packs of 10 and fit the brand's full-length pencils.

How long is a Blackwing 602 pencil?

Retailers list it at about 20.5 cm (8 in) long and 7.5 mm in diameter, unsharpened and including the eraser. That makes it a little longer than a typical wood pencil.

Where are Blackwing 602 pencils made?

Mostly in Japan: Blackwing says the graphite is made in Kofu and the pencils are pressed and lacquered in Tokyo, from California and Oregon incense-cedar. Imprinting, ferrule assembly and packing happen at Blackwing's headquarters in Stockton, California.

Is the Blackwing 602 the same as the original Eberhard Faber pencil?

No. The original was made by Eberhard Faber from 1934 and discontinued in 1998; the current 602 is a revival that Cal Cedar launched in 2011 after acquiring the Blackwing trademark in 2010. Its design echoes the original, but the graphite and wood come from a different maker.

Sources (19)

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