Some of the world’s most legendary Grammy, Emmy, Pulitzer and Academy Award winners have created with Blackwing pencils. The list of known users includes John Steinbeck, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Chuck Jones, who proudly used Blackwings to create Bugs Bunny and countless other Looney Tunes characters.
Its roots go back to the 1930’s when it was first introduced by Eberhard Faber. In 1998, after several corporate acquisitions, it was discontinued, but not forgotten. In fact, fans began paying as much as $40 on eBay for a single Blackwing pencil.
Artists from across the world soon noticed that Palomino’s range of premium pencils provided a comparable performance to the Blackwing and asked them to consider reviving the iconic brand. Palomino founder and CEO Charles Berolzheimer, whose family’s roots in the pencil industry date back to the mid 19th century, used his unique supply relationships to re-introduce the Blackwing pencil, both in its original form (the “602”) for devotees, writers and everyday users, as well as a modified version with a slightly softer lead for artists
602
The iconic Blackwing 602 was the pencil of choice for John Steinbeck, Chuck Jones, and countless others before it was discontinued. In 2011, we brought it back. The Blackwing 602 features a firm and smooth graphite core that helps it deliver on its promise of “Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed,” a gunmetal grey finish and iconic square Blackwing ferrule with a pink eraser.
Ideal for musicians, woodworkers and anyone who prefer a soft, dark line, the Blackwing Matte is the softest of the four core Blackwing models. Each pencil features a timeless matte black finish, iconic square Blackwing ferrule and black eraser.
A favorite of calligraphers and illustrators, the Blackwing Pearl includes a balanced and smooth graphite core that is softer than the graphite found in the Blackwing 602, but firmer than the graphite found in the Blackwing Matte. Each pencil features a classic pearl white finish, iconic square Blackwing ferrule and white eraser.
NATURAL
The Blackwing Natural includes our popular extra-firm graphite that works well for extended writing and detailed line work. Each pencil features an exposed Incense-cedar barrel with a subtle clear matte finish, iconic square Blackwing ferrule and grey eraser.
Volume 651 - The Bruce Lee Pencil
The Blackwing 651 is a tribute to the legendary Bruce Lee. Both simple and direct, each pencil features a black and yellow striped design that takes its cues from the philosophies of Jeet Kune Do. The number 651 is derived from 651 S. Weller Street in Seattle, where Bruce Lee opened his first formal school. The extra-firm graphite is ideal for writing notes, including those to your future self, whenever inspiration strikes.
