Blackwing Matte: The Soft, Dark Blackwing Pencil
The Blackwing Matte is the softest of Blackwing's four core cedar pencils: a matte black hexagonal pencil with a flat gold-colored ferrule and a replaceable black eraser. It launched the 2010 Blackwing revival. Blackwing's Japanese store equates it to about 3B. Retailers list it at 20.5 cm by 7.5 mm, sold in 12-packs, and made in Japan.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Blackwing Matte (soft graphite, set of 12)
- Brand
- Blackwing
- Brand origin
- United States
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- Genuine incense-cedar from California and Oregon, Japanese graphite core
- Released
- October 2010*
- 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 own FAQ says its pencils use genuine incense-cedar from California and Oregon and premium Japanese graphite, but doesn't name the factory country. Tacto Studio and Boston General Store list the Matte as made in Japan, and The Journal Shop's Blackwing FAQ says the pencils are crafted in Japan. One retailer (Jenni Bick) says "Made in U.S.A.", which may refer to the final imprinting and packing that coverage of Blackwing's factory film places in Stockton, California. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Cal Cedar's September 26, 2011 post marks October 1 as the first anniversary of the Palomino Blackwing. Blackwing's blog of February 3, 2020 gave the black pencil the Matte name and dropped Palomino from all pencils.
- 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
- Blackwing ranks its four core pencils Matte (soft), Pearl (balanced), 602 (firm) and Natural (extra firm), so the Matte is the softest and darkest.
- Blackwing's US site gives no HB grade, but its official Japanese store lists the Matte as equivalent to 3B (retailers say 3B to 4B).
- Retailers list it at about 20.5 cm (8 in) long and 7.5 mm in diameter, sold in boxes of 12.
- Cal Cedar launched it as the Palomino Blackwing on October 1, 2010; Blackwing named it the Matte and dropped the Palomino name on February 3, 2020.
- Blackwing lists the set of 12 in matte black, green or red; per pencil it sits in our $ band (under $5).
What is the Blackwing Matte?
The Blackwing Matte is Blackwing’s softest core pencil: matte black cedar with a flat gold-colored ferrule and a black replaceable eraser. Blackwing says its soft graphite suits sketching and music notation, where you want a rich, dark line with little pressure.
It is also the pencil that restarted the brand. Cal Cedar launched it as the Palomino Blackwing in October 2010; the firm-graphite Blackwing 602 followed in June 2011. Blackwing’s blog says the black pencil only got the Matte name on February 3, 2020.
Blackwing Matte specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | California Cedar Products Company (Cal Cedar), Stockton, California |
| Graphite | Soft, the softest of Blackwing’s four core grades |
| HB equivalent | 3B, per Blackwing’s Japanese store (retailers say 3B–4B) |
| Finish | Matte black (also green and red) |
| Ferrule | Square, gold-colored |
| Eraser | Black, replaceable |
| Length | About 20.5 cm (8 in), unsharpened, with eraser |
| Diameter | About 7.5 mm |
| Wood | Incense-cedar from California and Oregon |
| Pack | 12 pencils; the box doubles as a pencil cup |
| UPC (black, 12) | 820933110245 |
| Made in | Japan (per retailers) |
Size comes from Tacto Studio, and Jenni Bick and Boston General Store list 8 in; finish, wood, ferrule, eraser and UPC come from Blackwing. Blackwing’s official Japanese store sells the 12-pack for ¥6,600 (about US$42) and single pencils for ¥550 (about US$3.50).
How soft is the Blackwing Matte?
It is the softest of Blackwing’s four core pencils, one step softer than the Pearl. Blackwing’s US site grades on its own scale, but its official Japanese store labels the Matte “3B相当” (3B equivalent). Retailers vary: The Journal Shop says about 3B, Tacto Studio about 4B.
Soft graphite means a darker line but faster wear and more smudging. If you sharpen often or write on both sides of thin paper, a firmer pencil may suit you better.
Blackwing Matte vs Pearl vs 602: which should you choose?
Choose the Matte for drawing and dark writing, the Pearl as the all-rounder, and the 602 for a point that lasts.
| Matte | Pearl | 602 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphite | Soft | Balanced | Firm |
| Best for | Sketching, music, dark writing | All-round use | Writing, long-lasting point |
| Length | About 20.5 cm | About 20.5 cm | About 20.5 cm |
| Price band | $ | $ | $ |
The Journal Shop’s guide calls the Pearl the most versatile, and The Pen Addict found the Pearl softer and slightly darker than the 602. If you want graded drawing pencils sold one grade at a time, compare the Staedtler Mars Lumograph.
Can you replace the Blackwing Matte eraser?
Yes. The square black eraser sits in a metal clip inside the gold ferrule, and it slides out to be replaced or extended. Cal Cedar says customers asked for the ferrule assembly of the original Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602, which is why the revival has it.
Blackwing sells replacement erasers in sets of 10, in ten colors, as our Blackwing 602 guide also covers. Blackwing’s steps: slide the eraser and clip out of the ferrule, move the clip to the new eraser (or push the old one forward), and slide it back in.
Who is the Blackwing Matte for?
People who want a dark line with very little pressure: sketchers, musicians writing notation, woodworkers and fast note-takers. Museum-shop listings describe it as aimed at musicians, woodworkers and anyone who prefers a soft, dark line.
It is less suited to tiny handwriting or ruled-paper notes you want to keep crisp, because a soft point widens quickly. For those, a firmer grade such as the 602 or Natural keeps a finer line for longer.
Is the Blackwing Matte popular?
Yes. It is one of the best-known premium pencils in the US. An ASINsight report for August 2026 estimates about 800 Amazon sales a month for the 12-count Matte, up 33.3% on the month before.
For an everyday No. 2 pencil with an eraser at a fraction of the price, the Ticonderoga is the usual comparison.
Where is the Blackwing Matte made?
Retailers such as Tacto Studio and Boston General Store list it as made in Japan. Blackwing’s own FAQ says it uses California and Oregon incense-cedar and Japanese graphite without naming the factory country; The Journal Shop’s FAQ says the pencils are crafted in Japan.
One retailer lists “Made in U.S.A.” instead, which may refer to the imprinting, ferrule fitting and packing that coverage of Blackwing’s factory film places in Stockton, California.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Blackwing Matte soft or hard?
It is Blackwing's softest core graphite. It lays down a darker line than the Pearl, 602 or Natural, and wears down faster.
What HB grade is the Blackwing Matte?
Blackwing's official Japanese store lists it as equivalent to 3B. The US site uses only its own Soft label, and retailers compare it to roughly 3B to 4B.
Is the Blackwing Matte the original Palomino Blackwing?
Yes. Cal Cedar launched it as the Palomino Blackwing in October 2010, and Blackwing says the Matte uses the same soft graphite. It got the Matte name, and lost the Palomino name, on February 3, 2020.
Blackwing Matte or 602: which should I buy?
Buy the Matte for sketching, music notation and dark, quick writing; buy the 602 if you want a firmer point that lasts longer between sharpenings. The Pearl sits between them.
Can you replace the eraser on a Blackwing Matte?
Yes. Like other full-length Blackwings, the square eraser sits in a clip inside the ferrule and slides out. Blackwing sells replacement erasers in sets of 10 in ten colors.
Does the Blackwing Matte smudge?
Soft graphite smudges more than firm graphite, so expect more transfer on the facing page than with a 602. We haven't measured it yet.
Where are Blackwing Matte pencils made?
Retailers list them as made in Japan. Blackwing itself says it uses California and Oregon incense-cedar and Japanese graphite; the brand, owned by Cal Cedar, is based in Stockton, California.
Sources
- Blackwing: Blackwing Matte, set of 12 (soft graphite; matte black, green or red; same graphite as the Palomino Blackwing)
- Blackwing: FAQ & shipping guide (California and Oregon incense-cedar, Japanese graphite)
- Blackwing Japan: マット 12本入(箱付) 【Soft / 最も軟らかい 3B相当】 (Matte, 12 with box; softest, 3B equivalent; ¥6,600)
- Blackwing: Replacement erasers (sets of 10)
- Blackwing: Core pencils (Matte, Pearl, 602, Natural)
- Blackwing blog: Say hello to our new look (Matte name and Palomino name dropped, February 3, 2020)
- Cal Cedar: Reviving the Blackwing, one year in (September 26, 2011; first anniversary October 1)
- Tacto Studio: Blackwing Matte graphite pencils (20.5 cm, 0.75 cm, about 4B, made in Japan)
- Boston General Store: Blackwing Matte pencils (8 in, made in Japan)
- The Journal Shop: Blackwing pencils complete guide (Matte about 3B)
- The Journal Shop: Blackwing pencils (FAQ: crafted in Japan from California and Oregon cedar)
- The Morgan Library & Museum shop: Blackwing Matte pencils, set of 12 (softest core, black eraser)
- The Pen Addict: Palomino Blackwing Pearl review (compared with the 602)
- ASINsight: Best-selling Blackwing 602 report (Blackwing Matte 12-count, about 800 units a month)
- Jenni Bick: The original Blackwing pencil, set of 12 (8 in; listed as made in U.S.A.)