Sharp pencils for hard times

Jul 1, 2025 - 16:08

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Allison Johnson is a reviewer for The Verge who writes about phones and mobile technology. “Occasionally,” she adds, “I yell at your wireless carrier.”

I asked her if there were any items that she especially liked using, and after thinking about it, she eventually came up with… a pencil sharpener.

Where did you first hear about the Blackwing One-Step Long Point Sharpener?

Last year, I told my husband all I wanted for Christmas was a nice pencil sharpener — and he understood the assignment. Initially, I was thinking of the big kind that you bolt to the wall, like in elementary school, but he found this one, and it’s way more practical. It’s small and light enough that I can just carry it around all the time, along with a couple of fancy Blackwing pencils, just in case a crossword puzzle breaks out at any given moment.

Why did you want one?

At some point over the past few years, I noticed that we didn’t have pencils in our house, which I blamed on a lack of pencil sharpeners. Sometimes, you need to make a little mark on a wall when you’re hanging a picture, and you kind of need a pencil for the job. Also, I wanted to get some Sudoku books, and you really need a pencil for those. So that’s why I landed on a pencil sharpener for Christmas. I also turned 40 this year; these things might all be related.

What do you like about it?

It’s just such a nice little object. It’s reassuringly weighty while still light enough to carry everyday. It has one job: it sharpens pencils beautifully. When the blade gets dull I can order a replacement from Blackwing, and I appreciate a little gadget with a lot of life.

Is there anything about it that you dislike, or that you think could be improved?

You do have to apply a bit of pressure to really get it sharp, and sometimes that creates kind of an indented ring on the pencil wood just above the point. Maybe that’s why people use two-stage sharpeners? I don’t know, I’m new to the luxury pencil game. If so, I think it’s an acceptable tradeoff for one-step sharpening.

Isn’t it a bit expensive for a pencil sharpener?

Yes, but I just tried out a cheaper sharpener from another brand and it absolutely mangled my pencil, so I think the extra cost is worth it.

Who would you recommend it to?

Anyone who appreciates a nice little thing that has a special job. Anyone who also misses having pencils around. Pencils are so handy!

Is there anything I should have asked that I didn’t?

I’ll just note that these are dark times and the simple joy of buying and using a Nice Pencil is way more load-bearing for my mental health than it should be.