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The Dixon Ticondoroga Soft 2HB Yellow Just as Good for a Lot Less
I am a ballpoint, fountain pen, and pencil geek and have PERSONALLY tested over 50 brands/models of cedar writing pencils (see below). My testing has shown that both the Blackwing Pearl and Blackwing 602 are very comparable (smoothness, ability to be sharpened without falling apart, etc) to the Dixon Ticondoroga 2HB Soft Yellow pencil. The only Blackwing model that has exceeded the smoothness of the Blackwing 602 and the Dixon Ticondoroga 2HB Soft Yellow pencil was the black Blackwing pencil. Comparables to the Blackwing Black variety are the Mitsubishi Uni 2B and a few others. For the price of a dozen Blackwing Pearl or Blackwing 602 pencils, you are better off either buying the Blackwing Black (its their softest) or grabbing a dozen Dixon Ticondoroga 2HB Soft Yellow pencils for 1/3 the price. The images show the ~50 varieties of writing pencils I have tested, along with a close-up of the Blackwing Black, 602, and Pearl.
