Faber-Castell Grip 2001: The Dotted Triangle Pencil
The Faber-Castell Grip 2001 is a triangular graphite pencil with a silvery barrel and a patented grip zone of raised black dots. Faber-Castell sells it in five grades, with a bonded lead it says resists breaking. Retailers list the HB (117000) at 175 mm (6.9 in) long and made in Germany.
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Product facts
- Product
- Faber-Castell Grip 2001 graphite pencil, HB, silver (117000)
- Brand
- Faber-Castell
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- FSC-certified wood, water-based lacquer, graphite lead bonded to the wood
- Price range
- $under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by Faber-Castell AG, Stein, Germany. Made in Germany: Galaxus lists Germany as the country of origin for the HB (117000), and a German tool retailer (ToolTeam) marks it Made in Germany. Faber-Castell's own product page doesn't state it, but says its water-based lacquer is used on almost all writing instruments made at its main plant in Stein. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Retailer listings give the Grip 2001 HB (117000, EAN 4005401170006) a length of 175 mm (6.9 in).
- Faber-Castell's German site says the Grip 2001 comes in 5 grades; its shop lists 2H, H, HB, B and 2B.
- A mirrored Amazon listing for the HB 6-pack shows 4.6 stars from about 5,742 reviews and #61 in Wooden Lead Pencils.
- Faber-Castell bonds the lead to the wood (its SV process) and paints the barrel with water-based lacquer.
- Galaxus and German retailers list Germany as the country of origin; Faber-Castell is based in Stein, near Nuremberg.
What is the Faber-Castell Grip 2001?
The Grip 2001 is a triangular graphite pencil with a silvery barrel and a patented grip zone of raised black dots. Faber-Castell’s German site calls it a world first in pencils, says the grip zone stops fingers slipping, and says the triangular shape lets you write without tiring.
It’s a steady US seller. A mirrored Amazon listing for the HB 6-pack shows 4.6 stars from about 5,742 reviews and #61 in Wooden Lead Pencils, and The Journal Shop says it has won six design awards.
Faber-Castell Grip 2001 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Faber-Castell (Stein, Germany) |
| Model | Grip 2001, HB 117000 |
| Shape | Triangular, with a grip zone of raised dots |
| Grades | 2H, H, HB, B, 2B (5 grades) |
| Length | 175 mm (6.9 in), per ToolTeam and Kaufland |
| Lead | 2 mm, per Galaxus and German eBay listings |
| Finish | Silver water-based lacquer (Faber-Castell) |
| Lead bonding | SV special bonding, glued along its length |
| Wood | FSC-certified |
| EAN (HB) | 4005401170006 |
| Made in | Germany (Galaxus, ToolTeam) |
Faber-Castell doesn’t publish the barrel width in the pages we read. The Pen Addict found it slightly narrower than a Blackwing 602.
What do the grip dots do?
Faber-Castell says the patented grip zone keeps your fingers from slipping. The dots sit on all three faces near the point, where you hold the pencil, so the grip works however you turn it.
Combined with the triangle, the dots give your fingers a fixed place to rest. We think that suits long writing sessions, but we haven’t tested it yet.
Which grade should you choose?
HB for everyday writing; B or 2B for darker, softer lines; H or 2H for light, crisp lines that smudge less. Faber-Castell sells all five as single pencils, and a set of four (H, HB, B and 2B, item 117198).
| Grade | Item | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 2H | Not published in our sources | Light construction lines |
| H | 117011 | Crisp notes that smudge less |
| HB | 117000 | Everyday writing |
| B | 117001 | Darker writing and sketching |
| 2B | 117002 | Soft sketching and shading |
There’s also a Grip 2001 with an eraser tip in HB, and Two Tone versions with colored barrels.
How does it compare with other pencils?
It’s the triangular, grip-zoned option; the Castell 9000 is Faber-Castell’s hexagonal drawing classic and the Ticonderoga #2 the yellow school pencil.
| Grip 2001 | Castell 9000 | Ticonderoga #2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Triangular, grip dots | Hexagonal | Hexagonal |
| Length | 175 mm | 173 mm | 190 mm |
| Eraser | Separate version | No | Yes |
| Grades | 5 (2H–2B) | 16 (8B–6H) | HB and others |
For a Japanese writing pencil with a long history, see the Tombow 8900.
How do you sharpen a triangular pencil?
Like a round or hexagonal one: the Grip 2001 fits ordinary hand and desk sharpeners. Faber-Castell’s German shop pairs it with its own Grip 2001 triple sharpener box, and an Amazon set adds a three-hole sharpener and two eraser caps.
Faber-Castell says the lead is fully glued to the wood with its SV bonding, so it should break less often when sharpened or dropped. The barrel’s silver finish is a water-based lacquer, a technology Faber-Castell says it introduced first among pencil makers.
Where is the Grip 2001 made?
In Germany, per Galaxus and German retailers. Faber-Castell’s page doesn’t state the country, but says its water-based lacquer is used on almost all writing instruments made at its main plant in Stein, near Nuremberg.
How much does it cost?
It falls in our lowest band, $ (under $5 per pencil), in the usual 6- and 12-packs. Sets with eraser caps and a sharpener cost more per pack but stay in the same band per pencil.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dots on the Faber-Castell Grip 2001?
They're Faber-Castell's patented grip zone: raised dots near the point that the maker says keep your fingers from slipping.
What grades does the Grip 2001 come in?
Five: 2H, H, HB, B and 2B, per Faber-Castell's German site and shop. HB is item 117000, H 117011, B 117001 and 2B 117002.
How long is a Faber-Castell Grip 2001 pencil?
175 mm (6.9 in) new, per German retailer listings for the HB. That's slightly longer than a Castell 9000 and 15 mm shorter than a Ticonderoga.
Does the Grip 2001 have an eraser?
The standard pencil doesn't. Faber-Castell sells a separate Grip 2001 with eraser tip in HB, and Amazon sets add eraser caps and a sharpener.
Is the Grip 2001 triangular or round?
Triangular. Faber-Castell says the ergonomic triangular shape lets you write without tiring.
Does the Grip 2001 lead break easily?
Faber-Castell says no: the lead is fully glued to the wood casing with its SV bonding, which makes it especially break-resistant. We haven't drop-tested it yet.
Where is the Faber-Castell Grip 2001 made?
In Germany, per Galaxus and German retailers. Faber-Castell is headquartered in Stein, near Nuremberg.
Sources
- Faber-Castell (Germany): Grip 2001 Bleistift, HB, silber, 117000 (read in German)
- Faber-Castell (international): Grip 2001 graphite pencil, HB, silver
- Faber-Castell: Grip 2001 graphite pencil set of 4, H, HB, B, 2B (117198)
- Galaxus: Faber-Castell Grip 2001, 2 mm, HB (country of origin Germany)
- ToolTeam: Faber-Castell Bleistift GRIP 2001 117000, HB (175 mm, GTIN, Made in Germany)
- Kaufland: Faber-Castell 117000 Bleistift GRIP 2001, HB, silbergrau (175 mm)
- The Journal Shop: Faber-Castell Grip 2001 Pencil (silvery pencil with black dots, 6 design awards)
- Desertcart (Amazon mirror): Faber-Castell Grip 2001 HB 6-pack (ratings, Best Sellers Rank)
- The Pen Addict: Faber-Castell Grip 2001 Pencil Review (2014)