REVIEW: TACTILE TURN PENCIL

You may recall - I think it was back in december last year - that I warned you to expect a bunch of Tactile Turn product reviews. And for once I actually kept my word! Eight months and three TT product reviews later (the Gist, Mover and Bolt Action Pen), there's only one product we haven't discussed yet: the Tactile Turn Pencil. Big thanks to Will for sending one my way for review!

Mechanical pencils seem to be the last resort of many a respected pen maker. Same goes for Tactile Turn, where Will staved off on the idea of a pencil until just a year ago. Perhaps it reflects what lives within the pen community, as most everyday carry needs are usually filled in with balpoint pens, rollerballs or even fountain pens. Often leaving mechanical pencils overlooked (Even though in my mind they are actually versatile and reliable tools for on the go, right?). Frankly, for someone with a blog that starts with "pencil" I don't quite spend enough time on them either. So let's bring some change to that...

The TT Pencil and Mover (now called Click Pen)  side by side.

The design of the Pencil is completely in line with most other Tactile Turn products: a balanced combination of fairly minimal but rugged industrial design and refined details. The 'tactile' machined surface finish and bent steel clip -the two main design characteristics that set Tactile Turn products apart- are of course both present here as well. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I like the uniformity across the entire Tactile Turn product catalog. Over the years they really found their own unique identity which makes all their products easily recogniseable.

The brand logo and production year are neatly engraved on the underside of the clip. Very low-key!

L to R: TT Mover (a.k.a. Click Pen), Glider (Old model, now replaced by the BAP), Pencil

The overall shape of the Pencil is also shared with most other Tactile Turn pens, although it seems like each one has a different front section shape - giving each pen a slightly distinct appearance. The difference is very subtle though. Can you see it too or am I just imagining this?

Designwise, the only thing that slightly irks me is the break between the barrel and top finial. Because of the way Tactile Turn pens are made, the front section and barrel always match up perfectly because the spiral texture is machined after these two parts are assembled. The finial however, is machined separately so there's always a noticeable break when it's joined to the barrel. I wish Will could figure out a way to make it integrate as seamlessly as the other parts just to create a unibody appearance... but maybe that's just me being picky? 

L to R: Karas Retrakt, Tactile Turn Gist (old version), TT Mover (a.k.a Click pen), TT Pencil, TT Glider, Lamy Safari, Lamy 2000

The Pencil comes in one size and appears a bit shorter than the other Tactile Turn pens. But with the non-retractable lead sleeve and eraser sticking out it still comes in at a decent and full-sized 14 cm (5.5"). All TT pens have the exact same, comfortable diameter (11 mm/ 0.43"). The titanium version weighs in at a comfortable 37 grams. I find titanium pens usually balance quite nicely, and it's a super strong material for EDC. At the relatively low upcharge Will asks for his Titanium creations, I can't think of a good reason not to go for this version. Except if you prefer a very light or very heavy pencil, in which case the aluminium, stainless steel, brass and copper versions respectively may be more up your alley. The TT Pencil is very comfortable in the hand. The diameter is perfect and the machined texture provides a pleasant grip without being offensive to the touch.

The Tactile Turn Pencil isn't without its' quirks though. In my opinion the bolt action mechanism -while certainly unique- is perhaps not the most practical for a mechanical pencil. The bolt that protrudes from the barrel is small, and the way the mechanism is set up requires a rather firm push to engage the lead. It's not as smooth and supple to operate as on the bolt action pen, which you can fidget with for hours on end.

My second irk has to do with the internal mechanism. Will designed the Pencil around Schmidt's DSM pencil mechanism. It's a decent part on itself, but I kind of miss having a retractable lead sleeve. In an ideal world, I hope they can come up with a custom machined mechanism (I'm sure they can, although it'll probably cost an arm and a leg!) that has a retractable lead sleeve. And while we're at it, a slightly smoother click action to make the bolt action mechanism easier to operate.

That's just me being picky though. The DSM mechanism is really not a bad choice for an off-the-shelf mechanism. It's solid, mostly made out of metal parts, and it screws into the front section so it doesn't rattle. It comes loaded with surprisingly decent leads that are smooth, leave a dark line and are quite smear-free. In case the mechanism fails or you want to swap it out for a different lead size, TT sells replacement units for just 6$. Even the eraser on top is quite decent, although it does create a lot of dust when you erase something.

What I like most about the TT Pencil is that it's shaped and sized more like a regular pen. A lot of mechanical pencils are meant for drafting or sketching and usually have a more slender design. From a usability perspective, I find this design considerably more comfortable for long writing sessions. 

In the recent years I've sort of drifted away from mechanical pencils. But a pencil as good as this certainly reminds me how much fun it can be to write, sketch and doodle! The Tactile Turn pencil does a lot of things right. It's a sleek-looking piece with a durable construction, making it an excellent option as an EDC tool. The Tactile Turn Pencil starts at 69$ for the aluminium version and goes up to 99$ for Titanium, with brass, copper and steel somewhere in between. I think that's a fair price for the quality you get, and it's in line with all other Tactile Turn products. 

NOTE: This product was provided by Tactile Turn, so I could write this review. I was in no way influenced in the making of this review, the opinions shared in this review are completely my own! This post does not contain affiliate links.