This was my first introduction to Steadtler drafting pencils, but not my first introduction to Staedtler-Mars products. I've had a set of Staedtler-Mars Technical pens for a good number of years now and I have enjoyed them immensely. I've used their erasers for a goodly number of years as well so the name Staedtler is no stranger to me. But up until recently I had no experience with their drafting pencils. That's when I decided to buy the Staedtler 925 03 drafting pencil. I happened to purchase the "New Model". There was a revamp of the pencils design and for some time there were 2 different models of the same pencil available, the "Old Model" and the "New Model". Had I the funds at the time I would have purchased both although I think aesthetically the "New Model" is more appealing.A habit that I got into a long time ago, when I was but a wee tot was taking things apart to see how they worked. I wasn't always able to get things back together in working order, which displeased my parents no end. Well, I've gotten a little better at putting things back together in working order mainly because I no longer take anything too complicated apart and if I break it I have to pay for it. But I still take down a new pencil to it's bare bones as soon a I get it. The 925 03 breaks down into 8 major components.
They are the brass chuck assembly and integral lower body, the lead grade indicator markings and the the lead reservoir. Into the lead reservoir goes the eraser with the attached clean out rod. Over the outer tube of the lead reservoir goes the gold colored mental lead grad indicator ring with the lead grade indicator window. To secure this the upper body shell with the detachable chromed metal pocket clip slips over the lead reservoir and screws down tightly. To adjust the lead grade indicator it is necessary to loosen the upper body. The barrel shaped plastic push button with the convenient lead size indication on top slips over the lead reservoir to protect the eraser. The grip is of black rubber, probably of closed cell neoprene, and slips over the lower body from the business end of the pencil. The grip is thin but is backed by the hard plastic of the lower body so it is not squishy. A squishy grip on a pencil is something I find disgusting. Last but not least the chromed metal end cap/lead sleeve screws onto the lower body covering the chuck assembly. Under normal usage, unless there is a lead jam, the user will find that disassembly of the 925 03 will be limited to the removal and replacement of the push button and eraser in order to replenish the lead.Now for some stats. The 925 is 139 mm long making it just shy of average length. At it's next to widest point it is 9.2 mm in diameter. The widest point is at the pocket clip but since you don't grip the pencil up there, it doesn't count! The pencil balances 76.2 mm from the top of the push button which means that the pencil is almost perfectly balanced. And weighting only a scant 9.2 grams means it is as light as a feather, well, OK, as several feathers but it feels as light as a feather in the hand.
It's near central balancing point, light weight and rubber grip combine to make the 925 03 one of the nicest pencils in my collection to write with. It's easy to control and fatigue free. Sometimes I have to look at the pencil while using it to make sure it's still there! The ratcheting mechanism is solid with a positive feel to it, which is nice. One thing I like about some drafting pencils is that they increment lead in very small increments because I have a habit of advancing more lead before it's needed. The Steadtler 925 03 advances lead in small increments. About 3 clicks is what it takes to advance enough lead to write with without advancing too much. A nice feature of the pencil. The lead reservoir is cavernous enough to hold a couple of tubes of lead, but one should suffice.
The 925 03 is an attractive pencil being black silver with a touch of gold. The lines are clean with the pencil being almost a straight, elegant line broken only by the bulb like swelling at the pocket clip. The metal end cap/lead sleeve is a bright polished chrome which is set in contrast to the flat black of the rubber grip. The grip is broken by 18 evenly space rings dividing the grip into 19 mostly equal length raised rings. Only the two ends are of unequal length, the wider ring being closest to the lead grade indicator ring. A spacer of plastic separates the the grip from the metal lead grade indicator ring and its silver on black markings visible through the square window of the gold ring. The semi gloss of the black plastic upper body snuggles up tightly to the lead indicator ring keeping it from moving undesirably. Set against the darkness of the upper body is the Staedtler logo, the Staedtler name and the pencils designation, 925 03, embossed in silver. The highly polished chromed metal pocket clip with its impressed Staedtler logo points the way to the gloss black barrel like push button with its 5 groves and 6 evenly spaced raised rings, reminiscent of the grip, topped by the yellow ISO colored lead size designation of .3. Ah, what a beauty.
Staedtler is a name that I have come to trust for fine quality engineered drafting and drawing products and the 924 03 falls right in line with that level of trust. The 925 03 and it's brothers may be on the low end of the price range for drafting pencils they certainly are not on the low end of quality. The Steadtler 925 series of Professional Mechanical Pencils are designed to give the end user years of fine use. So do yourself a favor and pick up one, or more, in your favorite lead sizes today.
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