Pentel Smash: The 1987 Drafting Pencil With a Grip

Black Pentel Smash Q1005 0.5 mm mechanical pencil drawn to scale at 139 mm (5.5 in), with rubber knock cover, grade window, clip, metal grip with square rubber blocks and 4 mm sleeve; inset: the rubber blocks — The Smash Q1005 at 139 mm, drawn to scale.

Product facts

Product: Pentel Smash mechanical pencil (Q1005, 0.5 mm; Q1003, 0.3 mm)
Brand: Pentel
Brand origin: Japan
Made in: Japan^*
Material: ABS plastic barrel, one-piece brass tip and grip with silicone rubber blocks
Released: 1987^*
Price range: $$$5–20 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)

Notes on these facts

Made by ASTRUM Corporation (Tokyo), called Pentel Co., Ltd. until April 1, 2026; Pentel remains the brand. Made in Japan: Japanese office retailer Askul lists Japan (日本) as the country of origin for the red Smash Q1005-B; we found no origin statement for the black Q1005-1, and Pentel's Japanese product page doesn't state one. An eBay.de listing title also says made in Japan. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Pentel's Japanese product page and design archive both give 1987.
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; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).

Key takeaways

Japanese retailers list the Smash at 139 mm (5.5 in) long and 12–13 g (about 0.45 oz).
It comes in 0.5 mm (Q1005) and 0.3 mm (Q1003), with a 4 mm lead sleeve that does not retract.
Pentel's Japanese site dates the Smash to 1987; it won a Good Design Gold Award that year and a Long Life Design Award in 2000.
A mirror of the US Amazon listing for the black 0.5 mm (Q1005-1) shows about 5,520 ratings averaging 4.3 stars.
Pentel Japan lists the Smash at ¥1,320 (about US$8.40) including tax in black, red and dark gray; in the US it sits in our $$ band ($5–20).

What is the Pentel Smash?

The Pentel Smash is a mechanical pencil Pentel has sold in Japan since 1987, with a metal grip studded with square rubber blocks. Pentel’s Japanese site says it was born as an everyday writing pencil with the basic performance of a drafting pencil; its design archive lists a Good Design Gold Award in 1987 and a Long Life Design Award in 2000. Yoseka Stationery describes it as an iconic pencil among Japanese students, and it has a strong following in the US among people who want a drafting-style pencil for writing.

It takes drafting features, a 4 mm lead sleeve and a lead-grade window, and pairs them with a grip that is softer and grippier than plain metal.

Pentel Smash specs

Spec	Value
Maker	ASTRUM Corporation (formerly Pentel Co., Ltd.), Tokyo
Models	Q1005 (0.5 mm), Q1003 (0.3 mm); black, red and dark gray (black 0.5 mm is Q1005-1)
Released	1987
Lead sleeve	4 mm, fixed
Grip	Brass, one piece with the tip, with raised square silicone rubber blocks
Barrel	ABS plastic
Extras	Lead-grade window, large rubber knock cover
Length	139 mm (5.5 in)
Weight	12–13 g (about 0.45 oz)
Price in Japan	¥1,320 (about US$8.40) including tax (Pentel Japan)
JAN (black 0.5 mm)	4902506314413
Made in	Japan (Askul, for the red Q1005-B)

Length and weight come from Bungu, Askul and Hachimonjiya, which agree on 139 mm but give 12 g (Bungu, Askul) and 13 g. Pentel’s Japanese site gives no size or weight. Hachimonjiya lists the materials for a limited edition; Bungu simply says plastic body and rubberized grip.

What makes the Smash grip different?

The tip and the grip are a single brass part with rows of raised rubber blocks, so it is weighted near the tip but still grips. Pentel’s Japanese site says that one-piece design stops the tip from loosening as you write, and that the brass front gives a low center of gravity.

Pentel Smash at 139 mm and 12 to 13 g drawn to scale next to the Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro at about 145 mm and 11 g and the Pentel Sharp P205 at 145 mm and 10 g; all have 4 mm sleeves — The Smash is the shortest of the three Pentel 4 mm-sleeve pencils and the heaviest.

The metal grip moves the balance forward, which is why the Smash feels steadier than an all-plastic pencil of similar weight. One buyer review mirrored from Amazon calls the balance excellent and the weight light rather than heavy.

Pentel Smash vs Graph 1000 for Pro and P205

Choose the Smash for the grip, the Graph 1000 for Pro for the lightest drafting pencil, and the Sharp P205 for a classic 1970s design.

	Smash (Q1005)	Graph 1000 for Pro (PG1005)	Sharp P205
Released	1987	1986	P200 series 1970
Grip	Metal, rubber blocks	Metal, rubber pads	Grooved
Sleeve	4 mm, fixed	4 mm, fixed	4 mm, fixed
Length	139 mm	About 145 mm	145 mm
Weight	12–13 g	About 11 g	10 g
Price band	$$	$$	$$

Specs for the other two come from our guides to them. If you want the sleeve to retract, look at the GraphGear 1000 instead.

Which lead size should you choose?

Choose 0.5 mm (Q1005) unless you write very small; it is the standard size and the easiest to find in the US. The 0.3 mm Q1003 draws finer lines, but thin lead snaps more easily under heavy pressure.

What lead and erasers does the Smash use?

Any standard 0.5 mm lead fits the Q1005, and any 0.3 mm lead fits the Q1003. Set the grade window to match what you load, so you know the hardness without writing a test line.

Pentel Japan lists HB as the lead that comes loaded. The large rubber cover on the knock button is the other Smash trademark; Pentel calls it a large rubber knock. Pentel Japan also sells a matching Smash block eraser (ZETH17SM1N) for ¥132 (about US$0.80).

For bigger corrections than a pencil-top eraser handles, a block eraser such as the Pentel Hi-Polymer is the usual partner.

Is the Pentel Smash popular in the US?

Yes, for a pencil that started as a Japanese school favorite. A mirror of the US Amazon listing for the black 0.5 mm Q1005-1 shows about 5,520 ratings averaging 4.3 stars.

Collectors also chase its limited colors: Yoseka lists 2023 limited editions, Hachimonjiya sells a Korea-only splatter edition, and Pentel of America sells limited colors of its own.

Where is the Pentel Smash made?

In Japan, according to Japanese office retailer Askul, which lists Japan as the country of origin for the red Q1005-B. Pentel’s own pages don’t state it, and we found no origin listing for the black Q1005-1, so check the box if it matters.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pentel Smash a drafting pencil?

Pentel's Japanese site says it was born in 1987 as an everyday writing pencil with the basic performance of a drafting pencil: a 4 mm lead pipe and a lead-grade window. Pentel of America sells it as a mechanical drafting pencil.

Does the Pentel Smash have a retractable tip?

No. Unsharpen notes that the tip is not retractable, so carry it in a case to protect the 4 mm sleeve.

What lead sizes does the Pentel Smash come in?

The regular line comes in 0.5 mm (Q1005) and 0.3 mm (Q1003), each in black, red and dark gray, per Pentel Japan. 0.5 mm is the size most US shops stock.

How heavy is the Pentel Smash?

Bungu lists 12 g and Hachimonjiya 13 g. That is slightly heavier than an 11 g Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro and well under the 20 g of a GraphGear 1000.

What is special about the Smash grip?

Pentel Japan says the grip and the metal tip are one brass part, so the tip can't work loose while you write, and the small square rubber blocks keep fingers from slipping. The brass front makes it slightly tip-heavy.

Why are there so many Pentel Smash colors?

Pentel releases limited editions in Japan, Korea and the US, such as the 2023 colors, a Korea-only splatter edition and Pentel of America's limited colors. The regular black Q1005-1 is the standard model.

Where is the Pentel Smash made?

Japanese retailer Askul lists Japan as the country of origin for the red Q1005-B. Pentel doesn't state it, so check the packaging of other colors.

Sources (13)

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