--- title: "CARL Angel-5 Grand: Conic vs Sharp & Stepless Point" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-angel-5-grand-sharpener/" description: "CARL Angel-5 Grand hand-crank pencil sharpener: Conic (A5GRC) vs Sharp (A5GRS) finish, the stepless 0.5–0.9 mm adjuster, 540 g size, colors and where it's made." category: "Accessories" type: "Pencil sharpener" published: 2026-10-21 updated: 2026-10-21 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 8 products: - name: "CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5GRC)" brand: "CARL" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Steel body, metal handle, resin chuck, Japanese-made blade (CARL Japan, Yodobashi)" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan" model: "A5GRC" gtin: "4971760100636" url: "https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/a5grc/" --- # CARL Angel-5 Grand: Conic vs Sharp & Stepless Point > The CARL Angel-5 Grand is CARL's top steel hand-crank pencil sharpener, made in Japan. It comes as the Conic (A5GRC), which cuts a straight cone for coloring and drawing, or the Sharp (A5GRS), which cuts a bowed point for small handwriting. Both have a stepless point adjuster from about 0.5 to 0.9 mm and weigh 540 g. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-angel-5-grand-sharpener/ - Category: Accessories - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-21 - Updated: 2026-10-21 ![Blue CARL Angel-5 Grand hand-crank pencil sharpener with a pencil in the chuck, drawn to scale](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/carl-angel-5-grand-sharpener-16x9.png) *The Angel-5 Grand from the crank side, 124 × 132 mm (drawn at 1 mm = 1.6 px; details by eye).* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5GRC) | CARL (by CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan) | Japan | Japan | Steel body, metal handle, resin chuck, Japanese-made blade (CARL Japan, Yodobashi) | – | $$$: $20–75 per item | - Made in (CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5GRC)): Japan. Yodobashi's A5GRC listing gives 生産国：日本 (country of production: Japan) and CARL's copy there calls it a Made in JAPAN sharpener. CARL Japan's A5GRC page names a Japanese-made blade, and its Grand Sharp (A5GRS) page lists the sharpener as made in Japan. Source: https://www.yodobashi.com/product/100000001009796023/ ## Key takeaways - Two versions with one body: the Conic (A5GRC) cuts a straight cone and the Sharp (A5GRS) a slightly bowed "sharp line". - A stepless adjuster sets the lead tip from about 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm, per CARL Japan. - CARL lists it at 124 × 73 × 132 mm (4.9 × 2.9 × 5.2 in) and 540 g (1.19 lb); 600 g boxed. - Japan list price ¥4,400 (about US$28) including tax, in blue or red. - Yodobashi lists Japan as the country of production for both versions, and CARL calls the blade Japanese-made. ## What is the CARL Angel-5 Grand? **It's the top model of CARL's Angel-5 hand-crank desk sharpeners: a Japanese-made steel sharpener with a stepless point adjuster and a choice of two point shapes.** CARL International calls it "CARL's Ultimate Masterpiece Sharpener". The Angel-5 line has a following among pencil users; The Gentleman Stationer says the plain Angel-5 has a cult following for its long point. Its one complaint was that the point couldn't be adjusted, which the Grand fixes. ## Conic or Sharp: which Grand should you buy? **Buy the Conic (A5GRC) for coloring, drawing and bolder writing, and the Sharp (A5GRS) for small handwriting.** CARL's copy says the Conic cuts a straight "conic line" suited to Latin script, painting and coloring, while the Sharp cuts a slightly bowed "sharp line" that makes small characters easier to write. According to CARL, every earlier Angel-5 cut the sharp line, so the Conic is the new shape. Our [best pencil sharpeners roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pencil-sharpeners/) picks the Conic for colored pencils. ![CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic and Sharp point finishes, with the 0.5 to 0.9 mm tip adjuster](https://stationerytimes.com/images/carl-angel-5-grand-sharpener-finishes.svg) *The two finishes and the adjuster range, drawn in proportion.* ## How does the stepless adjuster work? **You turn the point-adjusting knob to any setting between a fine and a blunt tip; CARL Japan gives about 0.5 mm and about 0.9 mm as the ends.** The figures describe the thickness of the lead tip, not the pencil. The fine end suits detailed lines. The blunt end leaves a sturdier tip that breaks less with soft grades, such as a [Blackwing 602](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/blackwing-602/) or a soft [Mars Lumograph](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/staedtler-mars-lumograph/). ## Angel-5 Grand specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | CARL (カール事務器, Japan) | | Models | Grand Conic (A5GRC), Grand Sharp (A5GRS) | | Size (L × W × H) | 124 × 73 × 132 mm (4.9 × 2.9 × 5.2 in) | | Weight | 540 g (1.19 lb); 600 g boxed | | Box | 128 × 76 × 136 mm (5.0 × 3.0 × 5.4 in) | | Point adjuster | Stepless, about 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm lead tip | | Finish | Conic: straight · Sharp: slightly bowed | | Chuck | Resin; holds non-hexagonal pencils | | Blade | Japanese-made | | Colors | Blue, red (A5GRC-B / -R, A5GRS-B / -R) | | JAN | Conic 4971760100636 (blue), …643 (red); Sharp 4971760100483 (blue), …490 (red) | | Japan list price | ¥4,400 (about US$28) including tax | | Made in | Japan | | Price band ($$$ = $20–75) | $$$ | Size, weight, adjuster range, colors and JAN codes are CARL Japan's, matched by CARL International and Yodobashi; CARL Japan's catalogue corrected the boxed weight from 590 g to 600 g. Yoseka's listed 12.8 × 13.6 × 7.6 cm matches the box, not the sharpener. A search snippet of CARL Japan's Sharp page showed ¥4,840 (about US$31) including tax; Yodobashi's list price is ¥4,400 (about US$28) for both, which we use. ## How does the Grand compare with the Classic and the Royal 3? **The Grand is the only current Angel-5 in Japan with an adjustable point, and the only one made in Japan.** | | Angel-5 Grand | Angel-5 Classic | Angel-5 Royal 3 | |---|---|---|---| | Point | Stepless, about 0.5–0.9 mm | Fixed | 2 steps: 0.5 or 0.9 mm | | Chuck | Resin | Metal (leaves marks) | Not stated | | Weight | 540 g | 450 g | 484 g | | Japan list price | ¥4,400 (about US$28) | ¥2,750 (about US$17) | Discontinued | | Made in | Japan | China | Japan | The [Angel-5 Classic](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-angel-5-classic-sharpener/) is the cheaper fixed-point model. The [Angel-5 Royal 3](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-angel-5-royal-sharpener/) had two settings but is on CARL Japan's discontinued list with no successor named, which leaves the Grand as the adjustable option. ## Is the Grand built to last? **CARL designs it to: the handle is metal, and CARL offers repairs.** Its copy says the handle, the part most often broken in a fall, is sturdy metal, a hand crank has no electrics to fail, and the Japanese blade cuts smoothly and lasts. CARL Japan's FAQ still warns that colored pencils and soft, dark grades can be over-sharpened or break, because their cores are soft. Set the adjuster toward the blunt end for those. ## Where is the Angel-5 Grand made? **In Japan: Yodobashi lists Japan as the country of production for both the Conic and the Sharp.** CARL's copy calls it a Made in JAPAN sharpener with a Japanese-made blade, and its Japanese Grand Sharp page lists the sharpener as made in Japan. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between the Angel-5 Grand Conic and Grand Sharp? Only the finish. The Conic (A5GRC) cuts a straight cone that CARL suits to slightly bolder writing, Latin script, painting and coloring; the Sharp (A5GRS) cuts a slightly bowed point for small handwriting. Size, weight, adjuster and price are the same. ### How do you adjust the point on the Angel-5 Grand? Turn the point-adjusting knob. CARL Japan says the adjuster is stepless, from about a 0.5 mm fine lead tip to about a 0.9 mm blunt one. ### How big is the Carl Angel-5 Grand? CARL lists it at 124 × 73 × 132 mm, about 4.9 × 2.9 × 5.2 in, and 540 g (1.19 lb). Boxed, CARL Japan gives 128 × 76 × 136 mm and 600 g. ### Is the Angel-5 Grand made in Japan? Yes. Yodobashi lists Japan as the country of production for both the Conic and the Sharp, and CARL says the blade is Japanese-made too. ### Which Angel-5 Grand is best for colored pencils? The Conic. CARL describes its straight cone as suited to painting and coloring, and setting the adjuster toward its blunt end leaves a sturdier tip. CARL Japan's FAQ still warns that soft colored cores can break. ### Does the Angel-5 Grand hold round pencils? Yes. CARL Japan says its resin chuck grips well and holds pencils that aren't hexagonal, and Yoseka lists hexagonal, triangular and round pencils. ### How much is the Carl Angel-5 Grand? ¥4,400 (about US$28) including tax in Japan, per CARL Japan and Yodobashi. US importers charge more; we put it in the $20–75 band. ## Sources - [エンゼル５グランコニック A5GRC｜カール事務器 (CARL Japan: W124 × L73 × H132 mm, 540 g, boxed 128 × 76 × 136 mm and 600 g, stepless 0.5–0.9 mm, ¥4,000 + tax / ¥4,400, JAN codes; read via search snippets, the site was down when we tried it)](https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/a5grc/) - [エンゼル５グランシャープ A5GRS｜カール事務器 (CARL Japan: Grand Sharp, sharp line, blue and red, made in Japan)](https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/a5grs/) - [よくある質問｜カール事務器 (CARL Japan FAQ: colored pencils)](https://www.carl.co.jp/information/faq/) - [Yodobashi: カール 卓上手動鉛筆削り エンゼル5グランコニック レッド A5GRC-R (conic line, resin chuck, Japanese blade, stepless 0.5–0.9 mm, made in Japan, ¥4,400 list)](https://www.yodobashi.com/product/100000001009796023/) - [Yodobashi: カール 卓上手動鉛筆削り エンゼル5グランシャープ ブルー A5GRS-B (sharp line, all earlier Angel-5 models cut the sharp line, made in Japan, ¥4,400 list)](https://www.yodobashi.com/product/100000001009762993/) - [CARL International: Angel-5 Grand, A5GR (Sharp and Conic types, stepless adjuster, 124 × 73 × 132 mm, 540 g, blue and red)](https://carl-officeproducts.com/products/angle-5-grand-a-5-gr/) - [Yoseka Stationery: CARL Angel5 Pencil Sharpener, Grand Conic (hexagonal, triangular and round pencils)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/carl-angel5-pencil-sharpener-grand-conic) - [The Gentleman Stationer: Desktop tools, Carl Angel-5 pencil sharpener (July 23, 2019)](https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/blog/2019/7/23/desktop-tools-carl-angel-5-pencil-sharpener)