Paper Mate Mirado Black Warrior: Matte Black #2 HB
The Mirado Black Warrior is Paper Mate's matte black, round, wood-cased #2 (HB) pencil with a gold-toned ferrule and a latex-free eraser. Retailers list a 2.2 mm graphite core and a cedar barrel, sold unsharpened by the dozen (item 2254). Distributor listings give Mexico as the country of origin.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- Paper Mate Mirado Black Warrior Woodcase Pencil, HB #2, 12-count (2254)
- Brand
- Paper Mate
- Brand origin
- United States
- Made in
- Mexico*
- Material
- Cedar wood case, graphite core, latex-free eraser
- Price range
- $under $5 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by Newell Brands. Made in Mexico: ADI Global Distribution lists country of origin MX for item 2254, and On Time Supplies also gives Mexico (its page also shows a generic Made in USA badge, which conflicts with its own origin field). Paper Mate's own page doesn't state it in the sources we found; check the box. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The Black Warrior is an HB #2 pencil with a 2.2 mm graphite core, per Staples and other retailer listings.
- It sells by the dozen (Paper Mate item 2254) and falls in our $ band, under $5 a pencil.
- Paper Mate says its eraser is 100% latex-free and smudge-resistant, and markets the lead for standardized tests.
- The Black Warrior name dates back to the Eagle Pencil Company; the Mirado name was added on a 1993 Berol-made model, per Brand Name Pencils.
- ADI Global Distribution and On Time Supplies give Mexico as the country of origin.
What is the Mirado Black Warrior?
The Mirado Black Warrior is Paper Mate’s matte black, round #2 (HB) wood pencil, with a gold-toned ferrule and a pink, latex-free eraser. Paper Mate, a Newell Brands label, sells it by the dozen as item 2254. Office chains, Walmart and school suppliers all list it.
The Well-Appointed Desk describes the details: a smooth round barrel in matte black paint, a gold-toned ferrule with a cherry red painted stripe, and a pink eraser. The barrel imprint is gold.
Black Warrior specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Paper Mate (Newell Brands, United States) |
| Item number | 2254 (12-count) |
| Grade | HB, #2 |
| Core | 2.2 mm graphite, per Staples |
| Barrel | Round, matte black, cedar wood case |
| Eraser | Pink; latex-free and smudge-resistant, per Paper Mate |
| Sharpened? | No, the 2254 dozen is unsharpened |
| Made in | Mexico (per distributor listings) |
| Price band | $ (under $5 a pencil) |
Paper Mate doesn’t publish a single pencil’s length or diameter in the sources we found. The 7.6 in (193 mm) dimension on some listings appears to describe the box, not the pencil.
How does the Black Warrior write?
Reviewers agree it writes dark and smooth for an HB, but disagree on whether that’s good. Cool Tools credits a wax additive for its smoothness. The Well-Appointed Desk found the lead quite dark and smudgy, and said the point dulled quickly.
Paper Mate markets the lead as bold and suited to standardized tests, where scanners need a dark mark. Both points are claims, not our test.
Is the Black Warrior good for standardized tests?
Yes, as a #2 (HB) pencil it meets the usual “No. 2 pencil” request, and Paper Mate markets it for tests. For a test day, sharpen several in advance, since the 2254 dozen comes unsharpened.
The round barrel is the one drawback reviewers mention: it rolls more easily than a hexagonal pencil. The Well-Appointed Desk also found the eraser wore down fast.
Who is the Black Warrior for?
It suits anyone who wants a cheap, dark-writing #2 pencil and prefers a round barrel to a hexagonal one. Students filling in answer sheets, writers who like a soft-feeling HB, and people who just like the matte black look are the usual buyers.
It is less suited to fine drawing or precise lines. A dark, waxy HB dulls faster than a harder grade, so expect to sharpen more often.
If you would rather never sharpen, a mechanical pencil with 0.7 mm HB lead gives a similar #2 mark. The Pentel Orenz is one option.
How does the Black Warrior compare to the Ticonderoga and Blackwing?
It is the dark, round, budget option; the Ticonderoga #2 is the hexagonal yellow standard, and the Blackwing 602 is the premium choice.
| Pencil | Barrel | Grade | Eraser | Made in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirado Black Warrior | Round, matte black | HB #2 | Latex-free, pink | Mexico |
| Ticonderoga #2 | Hexagonal, yellow | HB #2 | Latex-free, pink | China (most packs) |
| Blackwing 602 | Hexagonal, gunmetal | Firm graphite | Replaceable, in a flat ferrule | Japan |
If you want a darker drawing pencil with more grades, the Staedtler Mars Lumograph runs from 12B to 10H.
Where does the Black Warrior come from?
The name goes back to the Eagle Pencil Company of New York; today Paper Mate sells it, and distributor listings give Mexico as the country of origin. Brand Name Pencils says the Black Warrior was a separate line from Eagle’s Mirado until the names were combined on a 1993 Berol-made model.
Eagle merged with Berol in 1969, and ownership passed to Sanford, which became part of Newell Rubbermaid (now Newell Brands) in 1992. PencilTalk reports that Sanford later closed its Tennessee pencil plant.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Black Warrior a #2 pencil?
Yes. Paper Mate sells it as an HB #2 pencil, the grade most US schools and standardized tests ask for.
Is the Black Warrior darker than a Ticonderoga?
Some reviewers say so. The Well-Appointed Desk found its lead quite dark and smudgy, and Cool Tools describes a wax additive that makes it smoother; we have not tested them side by side.
Are Black Warrior pencils round or hexagonal?
Round. Retailers and reviewers describe a smooth round barrel with a matte black finish, which feels comfortable but can roll off a sloped desk.
Does the Black Warrior have a latex-free eraser?
Yes, Paper Mate describes the eraser as 100% latex-free and smudge-resistant. Reviewers have been less kind about how long it lasts.
Do Black Warrior pencils come sharpened?
The standard dozen (item 2254) is listed as unsharpened. A separate bundle with an X-Acto sharpener is sold under its own item number.
Where are Black Warrior pencils made?
Distributor listings for item 2254 give Mexico. They were once made in the US, but Paper Mate's former parent Sanford closed its Tennessee pencil plant, according to PencilTalk.
Who makes the Mirado Black Warrior?
Paper Mate, a brand of Newell Brands in the United States. The pencil came to Paper Mate through Eagle Pencil, Berol and Sanford, which became part of Newell in 1992.
What is the difference between Mirado and Mirado Black Warrior?
The Mirado was Eagle's yellow pencil (originally the Mikado), while the Black Warrior was a separate line. The two names were joined on a 1993 Berol-made model, according to Brand Name Pencils.
Sources
- Paper Mate: Mirado Black Warrior Woodcase Pencils, HB #2 (SAP 2254)
- Staples: Paper Mate Mirado Black Warrior wooden pencil, 2.2 mm #2 lead, dozen (2254)
- Walmart: Paper Mate Mirado Black Warrior Pencils, Black, HB #2, 12 Count
- ADI Global Distribution: item 7D-2254 (country of origin MX, Newell Brands)
- On Time Supplies: Mirado Black Warrior pencil, PAP2254 (Mexico)
- My Work Supply: Mirado Black Warrior, 2254 (cedar, round barrel, unsharpened)
- Azor: Mirado Black Warrior pencil, HB #2, black matte barrel, dozen
- The Well-Appointed Desk: Pencil review, Papermate Mirado Black Warrior (March 2015)
- Cool Tools: Mirado Black Warrior pencil
- Brand Name Pencils: Mirado Black Warrior 372 (history of the name)
- PencilTalk: Eagle Mirado pencil (Mikado renamed during WWII)
- PencilTalk: Goodbye, Paper Mate Mirado Classic pencil (Sanford plant closure)