Kaweco Special Mechanical Pencil: Sizes & Build
The Kaweco Special is a slim, eight-sided aluminium mechanical pencil from the German brand Kaweco, with a mechanism made in Japan. Kaweco lists it at 14 cm (5.5 in), 10 mm across and 16 g, in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 2.0 mm, and assembles it by hand in Nuremberg.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Kaweco SPECIAL Mechanical Pencil, Black, 0.5 mm (10000181)
- Brand
- Kaweco
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- Aluminium body, metal clip and tip, Japanese mechanism
- Price range
- $$$$20–75 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
- Rate it
Notes on these facts
- Made by Kaweco (H&M Gutberlet GmbH), Germany. Made in Germany: Kaweco's text on its Amazon US listing says its products are hand-assembled and individually inspected in Nuremberg, and that the mechanics come from Japan; Kaweco's German product page also says the mechanism comes from Japan (Mechanik aus Japan). Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Kaweco's German shop lists the Special at 14 cm (5.5 in) long, 10 mm across without the clip and 16 g.
- It comes in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm with an eraser in the push-button, and in 2.0 mm without one.
- Kaweco says the mechanism comes from Japan and the pencils are hand-assembled and inspected in Nuremberg.
- On October 23, 2026 Kaweco's German shop listed the black 0.5 mm at €44.50 (about US$50).
- On Amazon US the Special 0.5 mm had 2,547 ratings, averaging 4.6 stars, on October 23, 2026.
What is the Kaweco Special mechanical pencil?
It’s a slim, eight-sided aluminium pencil from Kaweco, the German maker of the Sport pocket pen. Kaweco’s series page says the Special’s simple octagonal design and grippy push-button date from pencils once turned from hard rubber, then celluloid; today they’re aluminium or brass.
The current mechanism comes from Japan, Kaweco says. On Reddit’s r/mechanicalpencils it’s a common pick in daily-carry and collection posts, and the 0.5 mm had 2,547 ratings on Amazon US on October 23, 2026. Our Kaweco history tells the brand’s story.
Kaweco Special specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Kaweco, Nuremberg, Germany |
| Article (black, 0.5 mm) | 10000181; EAN 4250278603472 |
| Length | 14 cm (5.5 in) |
| Diameter | 10 mm without the clip |
| Weight | 16 g |
| Body | Aluminium, eight-sided; black with silver parts |
| Mechanism | From Japan (Kaweco) |
| Lead sizes | 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 mm (eraser in the button); 2.0 mm (no eraser) |
| Germany list price | €44.50 (about US$50) incl. VAT |
All figures are from Kaweco’s German shop. Amazon US lists 20 g, which may include packaging.
Which lead size should you choose?
0.5 mm for everyday use; 0.3 mm for fine detail, which is what Kaweco suggests it for. Kaweco says the 0.3 mm suits exact drawings, while 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm add a small eraser in the push-button.
The 2.0 mm version is really a lead holder for sketching, like the Staedtler Mars Technico 780 C.
What is it like to hold?
Light and thin: 16 g and 10 mm across, with eight flat faces. Kaweco calls the 10 mm diameter comfortable for long sessions and the aluminium scratch-resistant.
Kaweco also makes it in brass, a much denser metal than aluminium, if you like more weight. Drafting pencils such as the rOtring 600 add a knurled grip instead.
Which version should you buy?
The black aluminium 0.5 mm is the standard; the brass and the short Special S are the alternatives. Kaweco’s shop lists three:
| Version | Body | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL Druckbleistift | Aluminium, black | 14 cm, 16 g |
| SPECIAL Druckbleistift Messing | Brass | Size not listed |
| SPECIAL S Druckbleistift | Aluminium, black | Shorter; size not listed |
Kaweco doesn’t give the brass or S sizes on the pages we read, so compare them in a shop if size matters.
How does it compare with other metal pencils?
It’s the lightest of the popular metal pencils, and the only one with eight sides. The figures below come from Kaweco and from our guides to the other two.
| Kaweco Special | rOtring 600 | Staedtler 925 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 14 cm (5.5 in) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Diameter | 10 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm (12 mm at the clip) |
| Weight | 16 g | About 22 g | 17 g |
| Body | Octagonal aluminium | Hexagonal metal | Aluminium |
| Lead sizes | 0.3–0.9 and 2.0 mm | 0.5, 0.7 mm | 0.3 to 2.0 mm |
| Price band | $$$ | $$$ | $$ |
Kaweco pitches the Special for precise drawing as well as writing; the rOtring and Staedtler are drafting pencils with knurled grips and fixed sleeves for work against a ruler.
Where is the Kaweco Special made?
It’s assembled in Germany with a Japanese mechanism. Kaweco’s text on its Amazon US listing says its products are hand-assembled and individually inspected in Nuremberg, and that the mechanics come from Japan.
How much does it cost?
It’s in our $$$ band, $20–75 per pencil, in the US listings we checked in October 2026, such as Amazon US. Kaweco’s German shop lists the black 0.5 mm at €44.50 (about US$50) including VAT.
On October 23, 2026 Kaweco’s own shop said it had paused orders to the USA because of import and customs costs, so US buyers need a US retailer. For a Kaweco pen to match, see the Kaweco Sport.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kaweco Special metal?
Yes. Kaweco makes the body from aluminium with a silk-gloss finish, and also sells a brass version. Older Specials were turned from hard rubber and later celluloid, Kaweco says.
What is the Kaweco Special S?
A shorter version of the same pencil. Kaweco's shop lists the SPECIAL S Druckbleistift in black alongside the full-length black and brass models.
Which lead size should I get?
0.5 mm for everyday writing; 0.3 mm for fine drawing, as Kaweco suggests; 0.7 or 0.9 mm if you press hard. The 2.0 mm version is a lead holder for sketching and has no eraser.
Can I buy directly from Kaweco in the US?
Not at the moment. On October 23, 2026, Kaweco's German shop said it had temporarily stopped shipping orders to the USA because of high import and customs costs, and pointed buyers to US retailers.
Does the Kaweco Special have an eraser?
The 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 mm versions have a small eraser in the push-button, per Kaweco. The 2.0 mm version doesn't.
Is the Kaweco Special made in the USA?
No. Kaweco says its pencils are hand-assembled and inspected in Nuremberg, Germany, with a mechanism made in Japan.
Sources
- Kaweco SPECIAL Druckbleistift Schwarz 0.5 mm, Kaweco Germany (14 cm, 10 mm, 16 g, aluminium, Mechanik aus Japan, lead sizes, article 10000181, EAN 4250278603472, €44.50, US shipping notice; read October 23, 2026)
- SPECIAL series, Kaweco Germany (octagonal design, hard rubber then celluloid, today aluminium and brass)
- Kaweco SPECIAL Druckbleistift Messing, Kaweco Germany (brass version)
- Kaweco SPECIAL S Druckbleistift Schwarz, Kaweco Germany (short version)
- Amazon US: Kaweco Special Mechanical Pencil 0.5 (2,547 ratings, 4.6 stars, model PS-05, Kaweco's text on assembly in Nuremberg and Japanese mechanics, October 23, 2026)
- Amazon US: Kaweco SPECIAL mechanical pencil S, black, 0.5 mm (508 ratings, October 23, 2026)
- Reddit r/mechanicalpencils: collection and daily-carry posts naming the Kaweco Special (top-of-year RSS, read October 23, 2026)