Pilot S20: The Birch-Barrel Drafting Pencil
The Pilot S20 is a 0.5 mm (and 0.3 mm) drafting-style mechanical pencil with a barrel of resin-impregnated birch and metal fittings. Pilot lists it at 145.6 mm long, 10.6 mm at the widest and 18 g. It costs ¥2,530 (about US$16) in Japan and is made in Japan.
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Product facts
- Product
- Pilot S20 drafting pencil (HPS-2SK, 0.5 mm, Dark Brown)
- Brand
- Pilot
- Brand origin
- Japan
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- Resin-impregnated birch barrel, metal fittings
- Price range
- $$$$20–75 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America. Made in Japan: Maruzen Junkudo's listing for the Dark Brown 0.5 mm (P-HPS2SK-DBN5, the packaged version of HPS-2SK-DBN5) gives 原産国 日本 (country of origin: Japan), and an eBay listing for the same model says Japan. Pilot's catalogue page doesn't state it. The GTIN is the packaged version's JAN. Source. Price: example listing.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Pilot's Japanese catalogue lists the S20 at 145.6 mm (5.7 in) long, 10.6 mm at the widest and 18 g; JetPens gives a 9.0 mm grip.
- The barrel is resin-impregnated birch (樹脂含浸カバ材), machined to shape, according to Pilot.
- Pilot lists five colors in both 0.5 mm and 0.3 mm: Dark Brown, Deep Red, Black, Brown and Mahogany.
- Pilot's Japanese list price is ¥2,530 (about US$16) including tax; in the US it sells in our $$$ band ($20–75).
- Maruzen Junkudo lists Japan as the country of origin for the Dark Brown 0.5 mm.
What is the Pilot S20?
The Pilot S20 is a drafting-style mechanical pencil with a wooden barrel, made by Pilot in Japan. Pilot’s Japanese catalogue describes the barrel as resin-impregnated birch, machined to shape, with metal fittings at both ends.
It is one of the wooden mechanical pencils US shops keep in stock: JetPens carries it in several colors, and reviewers at The Pen Addict, Pencil Talk and Unsharpen all cover it. The Pen Addict couldn’t find its launch date, and neither could we.
Pilot S20 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | Pilot Corporation, Tokyo, Japan |
| Model codes | HPS-2SK-DBN5 (Dark Brown 0.5 mm); 0.3 mm codes end in 3 (HPS-2SK-DBN3) |
| Colors | Dark Brown, Deep Red, Black, Brown, Mahogany (both sizes) |
| Lead sizes | 0.5 mm and 0.3 mm |
| Length | 145.6 mm (5.7 in) per Pilot; 14.6 cm per JetPens |
| Widest diameter | 10.6 mm per Pilot; 10.8 mm per JetPens |
| Grip diameter | 9.0 mm (JetPens) |
| Weight | 18 g (0.64 oz) |
| Barrel | Resin-impregnated birch (樹脂含浸カバ材) |
| Sleeve | Fixed, replaceable tip (Unsharpen) |
| Eraser | Under the cap; refill HERFS-10 (Pilot) |
| Japan list price | ¥2,530 (about US$16) incl. tax |
| Made in | Japan (Maruzen Junkudo) |
Where Pilot and JetPens differ on the widest diameter, we use Pilot’s 10.6 mm.
What is resin-impregnated birch?
It is birch wood soaked with resin, which Pilot uses so the barrel stays hard and stable. Pilot’s catalogue describes a soft, curved shape with a low center of gravity, and says the wood gains character the longer you use it. Raw wood can dent, swell or crack with handling and humidity; filling the pores with resin reduces that, and gives the even, smooth surface the S20 is known for.
Some reviews call the wood maple. Pilot’s own catalogue says birch (カバ材), so we use that. The Pen Addict describes a warm birch barrel with subtle curves and matte hardware.
Which colors and lead sizes can you get?
Pilot’s Japanese catalogue lists five colors in both sizes: Dark Brown, Deep Red, Black, Brown and Mahogany. All share the same 145.6 mm, 18 g body and the same ¥2,530 (about US$16) list price.
US shops stock fewer 0.3 mm colors; Unsharpen found mainly Dark Brown and Deep Red. Pick 0.3 mm for small handwriting and fine lines, and 0.5 mm for everyday writing.
How does the S20 compare with other drafting pencils?
It is lighter than metal drafting pencils and costs more than plastic ones.
| Pilot S20 | rOtring 600 | Pentel Graph 1000 for Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel | Resin-impregnated birch | Metal, hexagonal | Plastic, metal grip section |
| Length | 145.6 mm | About 142 mm | About 145–147 mm |
| Weight | 18 g | 22 g | 11 g |
| Sleeve | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed |
| US price band | $$$ | $$$ | $$ |
For a wood-and-metal pencil that twists its tip in, the rOtring 800 is the retractable alternative. If you want a wooden pencil that you sharpen, the Blackwing 602 is a different kind of tool.
Who is the S20 for?
It suits people who write or draw for long stretches and want a light pencil with a warm, non-metal grip. At 18 g it weighs less than most metal drafting pencils, and the wood doesn’t get cold or slippery the way knurled metal can.
Pencil Talk describes it as a drafting pencil that also works well as a general-purpose writing pencil. The fixed sleeve suits ruler work, because it lets you see the line next to the straightedge, but it can catch on a pocket, so carry it in a case.
If you mainly want to stop lead breaking or keep a point even, a mechanism pencil such as the uni Kuru Toga does more for less money. The S20 is about the feel of the barrel.
How do you refill and maintain it?
Press the knock cap to advance the lead, and refill through the top, as with most drafting pencils. Take off the cap to reach the eraser and load new 0.5 mm (or 0.3 mm) leads. Pilot lists a replacement eraser (HERFS-10) and a spare S20/S10 tip in its Japanese catalogue.
Keep the barrel out of long, direct sunlight. Resin-impregnated wood is more stable than raw wood, but its color can still change with years of use, which many owners like.
How much does the Pilot S20 cost?
In Japan, Pilot’s list price is ¥2,530 (about US$16) including tax. US prices are higher: JetPens lists it in our $$$ band ($20–75), which covers most US listings we checked.
Where is the Pilot S20 made?
Maruzen Junkudo lists Japan as the country of origin. That listing covers the Dark Brown 0.5 mm (JAN 4902505571190), and an eBay listing for the same model agrees. Pilot is based in Tokyo.
Frequently asked questions
What wood is the Pilot S20 made of?
Pilot's Japanese catalogue says resin-impregnated birch (樹脂含浸カバ材). The resin makes the wood harder and more stable than raw wood; some forum reviews call it maple, but Pilot says birch.
How long is the Pilot S20?
Pilot lists 145.6 mm (5.7 in), and JetPens gives 14.6 cm. That is a little longer than a rOtring 600 at about 142 mm.
How much does the Pilot S20 weigh?
Pilot and JetPens both list 18 g (0.64 oz) for the 0.5 mm pencil, which is light for a drafting-style pencil with metal fittings.
Does the Pilot S20 come in 0.3 mm?
Yes. Pilot's Japanese catalogue lists the 0.3 mm (codes ending in 3, such as HPS-2SK-DBN3) in the same five colors as the 0.5 mm. US shops stock fewer 0.3 mm colors.
Is the Pilot S20 lead sleeve retractable?
No. Unsharpen describes it as a fixed-pipe pencil, so the sleeve stays out; the tip piece can be replaced, and Pilot sells S20/S10 spare tips.
Is the Pilot S20 worth it?
It costs more than plastic drafting pencils, and you pay mostly for the wood barrel and its feel. Reviewers at The Pen Addict and Pencil Talk praise its balance and finish.
Where is the Pilot S20 made?
Maruzen Junkudo lists Japan as the country of origin for the Dark Brown 0.5 mm, and an eBay listing says the same. Pilot is based in Tokyo.
Sources
- Pilot web catalogue (Japanese): S20 0.5 mm HPS-2SK-DR5 (price, size, weight, resin-impregnated birch, eraser HERFS-10, lineup; page read in full)
- Pilot web catalogue (Japanese): S20 0.3 mm HPS-2SK-DBN3 (five colors, same size and price; page read in full)
- Pilot web catalogue (Japanese): S20/S10 spare tip, 0.3 mm
- Maruzen Junkudo (Japanese): Pilot S20 0.5 mm Dark Brown P-HPS2SK-DBN5 (JAN, 146 mm, country of origin Japan; page read in full)
- JetPens: Pilot S20 Drafting Pencil, 0.5 mm, Dark Brown (length, diameters, weight)
- JetPens: Pilot S20 Drafting Pencils (all colors)
- GetNavi (Japanese): Pilot S20 wooden mechanical pencil (146 mm, 10.6 mm)
- The Pen Addict: Pilot S20 Drafting Pencil Review
- Unsharpen: Pilot S20 drafting pencil (fixed pipe, replaceable tip, 0.3 mm colors)
- Pencil Talk: Pilot S20 review
- Fountain Pen Network: review of Pilot S20 and rOtring 800 mechanical pencils
- eBay: Pilot S20 DBN Dark Brown HPS2SKDBN5 (country of origin Japan)