Mobius & Ruppert Brass Pencil Sharpener

While I prefer using mechanical pencils when possible, there are times when a regular pencil is simply the better choice. Regular pencils have one downside – they must be resharpened anytime the point dulls or breaks off.

I have an electric pencil sharpener from my college days, but it’s bulky and takes up way too much room. I figured that, for as infrequently as I need to sharpen pencils, a manual sharpener might be less of a hassle to use.

There are plenty of 99-cent sharpeners widely available, but I was never happy with the speed or quality of cheap sharpeners. In my experience, cheap sharpeners are too much of a hassle to use, or at least all of the ones I’ve tried.

I bought this made-in-Germany Mobius & Rupert sharpener a few years ago, and it’s changed my feelings towards pencils. I also have another M&R sharpener with plastic shavings container, but prefer the bullet-shaped brass sharpener. I still use mechanical pencils much of the time, but am no longer as hesitant to use regular pencils as I once was.

This barrel-shaped brass sharpener is easy to grip, it comes with a super-sharp blade, and it’s virtually unbreakable.

At the time I spent about $3 on the sharpener. Its price went up since then, but it’s still available for under $5.

Yes, it’s cheaper to use a utility knife or other knife to sharpen pencils with a hacking or slicing motion, it’s safer, easier, and a lot quicker to use a sharpener.

This sharpener is made for artists and design professionals, but it should hold up to professional contractor use. Just keep in mind that you need to use the sharpener over a garbage pail, as the shavings go everywhere without containment.

Buy Now(Dick Blick)
More Info(via Mobius Rupert)