rOtring 600: The All-Metal Hexagonal Drafting Pencil
The rOtring 600 is an all-metal mechanical drafting pencil with a hexagonal barrel, a knurled grip, a fixed lead sleeve and a lead-grade indicator. It is sold in 0.5 and 0.7 mm. Retailers list it at about 142 mm long and 22 g, and Japanese and US retail listings give Japan as the country of origin.
On this page
Product facts
- Product
- rOtring 600 mechanical pencil (0.5 mm, 1904443; 0.7 mm, 1904442)
- Brand
- rOtring
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Japan*
- Material
- All-metal hexagonal body, brass mechanism, stainless steel tip, carbon tool steel clip
- Released
- 1989*
- Price range
- $$$$20–75 per pencil (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by rOtring, a Newell Brands company. Made in Japan: The Japanese retailer Maruzen Junkudo lists 原産国 日本 (country of origin: Japan) for the black 0.5 mm (1904443), and the distributor ADI Global Distribution gives Japan for the black and silver 0.5 mm, noting that country of origin is subject to change. Wikipedia says production moved to Japanese maker Holbein and other manufacturers after rOtring's Hamburg factory closed. rOtring's own site blocked our reader, so check the packaging. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Wikipedia says the 600 was introduced in 1989, and Holbein's Japanese rOtring page says rOtring's writing-instrument series was announced in 1989; unsharpen says "the late 1980s". Maruzen Junkudo's Japanese listing says only "the 1980s".
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Maruzen Junkudo and Hachimonjiya list the rOtring 600 at 142 mm (5.6 in) long and 8 mm across; Hachimonjiya gives 22 g, Onlinemantra 22.5 g.
- At about 22 g it is roughly 2 g heavier than a Pentel GraphGear 1000 and about twice the weight of a 10 g plastic Kuru Toga Standard.
- Two lead sizes are sold today, 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm; the black 0.5 mm is item 1904443 and the black 0.7 mm is 1904442.
- rOtring was founded in Hamburg in 1928; Wikipedia and rOtring's Japanese distributor Holbein date its writing-instrument series, including the 600, to 1989.
- A grade indicator on the barrel shows the loaded lead hardness, from 4H to 2B; ADI lists a brass mechanism.
What is the rOtring 600?
The rOtring 600 is a mechanical drafting pencil with an all-metal hexagonal body, a knurled grip and a fixed lead sleeve. rOtring, the German drafting brand founded in Hamburg in 1928, now belongs to Newell Brands. Wikipedia dates the 600 to 1989, and Holbein, rOtring’s Japanese distributor, says rOtring announced its writing-instrument series that year.
It appears in most of the 2026 mechanical pencil roundups we checked, usually as the pick for a heavy, metal drafting pencil. Most of those roundups earn affiliate commissions, so treat their rankings as opinion.
rOtring 600 specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | rOtring (Newell Brands) |
| Lead sizes | 0.5 mm · 0.7 mm |
| Item numbers (black) | 1904443 (0.5 mm) · 1904442 (0.7 mm) |
| Body | All-metal, hexagonal, knurled grip, metal clip |
| Sleeve | Fixed (does not retract) |
| Grade indicator | Yes, 4H to 2B |
| Tip and clip | Stainless steel tip, carbon tool steel clip (Hachimonjiya) |
| Length | 142 mm (5.6 in); unsharpen and Onlinemantra 141 mm |
| Barrel diameter | 8 mm |
| Weight | 22 g (Hachimonjiya); 22.5 g (Onlinemantra) |
| JAN/UPC (black 0.5 mm) | 3501179044439 |
| Made in | Japan (Maruzen Junkudo, ADI) |
Size and weight come from retailer spec sheets (Maruzen Junkudo, Hachimonjiya, Onlinemantra); the features come from ADI, Hachimonjiya and a 2014 review. rOtring’s own site blocked our reader, so we couldn’t check its spec page.
How heavy is the rOtring 600, and does it matter?
Retailers list the rOtring 600 at about 22 g, roughly twice a typical plastic mechanical pencil. A heavier pencil rests on the page under its own weight, which some people find steadies their lines and others find tiring over a long session.
Some shops list 60–70 g and an 18.5 cm length. Those are box figures: Maruzen Junkudo gives the package as 18.5 × 3.3 × 2.0 cm and the boxed weight as 44 g.
Which lead size should you choose?
Choose 0.5 mm for fine writing and drafting, or 0.7 mm if you press hard or want a bolder line.
- 0.5 mm: the more common size and the one in most listings; good for small handwriting and technical lines.
- 0.7 mm: a thicker lead and a wider, bolder line.
Both take any standard lead of the same diameter. Set the grade indicator, which runs from 4H to 2B, to match the hardness you load.
How does the rOtring 600 compare to the GraphGear 1000 and Kuru Toga?
The rOtring 600 is the heaviest and simplest of the three: no retracting tip and no rotating lead, just a fixed sleeve in a metal body.
| rOtring 600 | Pentel GraphGear 1000 | uni Kuru Toga Standard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body | All metal, hexagonal | Metal, rubber grip pads | Plastic |
| Length | ≈142 mm | ≈149 mm | 142 mm |
| Weight | ≈22 g | ≈20 g | ≈10 g |
| Tip | Fixed sleeve | 4 mm sleeve, retracts | 2.9 mm sleeve; lead rotates |
| Made in | Japan | Japan | Japan |
The fixed sleeve means the 600 can poke holes in a pocket or bag; a pen case or the GraphGear’s retracting tip avoids that. rOtring’s own answer is the rOtring 800, whose sleeve twists back into the body. For a lighter drafting pencil with a wooden barrel, see the 18 g Pilot S20.
Which rOtring 600 version should you buy?
Pick the lead size first, then the finish: the mechanism and specs are the same across colors in the listings we found. Black and silver are the standard finishes; other colors depend on the market.
| Version | Item number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Black, 0.5 mm | 1904443 | ADI Global Distribution |
| Black, 0.7 mm | 1904442 | Onlinemantra |
| Silver, 0.5 mm | 1904445 | ADI Global Distribution |
| Red, 0.5 mm | 2114264 | Onlinemantra |
| Blue metallic, 0.5 mm | 2114266 | Post Shop (Switzerland) |
| Mint, 0.5 mm (limited) | Not listed | Hachimonjiya |
Item numbers help when a shop’s photos are unclear. If you want the same look for less, The Well-Appointed Desk’s review points to the rOtring 500, which has a plastic body with a metal grip and cap.
Where is the rOtring 600 made?
In Japan: the Japanese retailer Maruzen Junkudo lists 原産国 日本 (country of origin: Japan) for the black 0.5 mm. ADI Global Distribution lists Japan for the black 0.5 mm (1904443) and the silver 0.5 mm (1904445), and adds that the country of origin is subject to change.
The rOtring brand started in Hamburg, Germany, in 1928. Unsharpen says the first 600s were made in West Germany and today’s in Japan, and Wikipedia says that since the Hamburg factory closed, production has been handled by the Japanese maker Holbein and other manufacturers. Check the packaging of the exact pencil you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How heavy is the rOtring 600?
Hachimonjiya lists it at 22 g and Onlinemantra at 22.5 g. Heavier listings include the box: Maruzen Junkudo gives a 44 g total weight for the boxed pencil.
Does the rOtring 600 tip retract?
No. The 600 has a fixed lead sleeve, which a 2014 review on The Well-Appointed Desk notes. If you want a metal drafting pencil whose tip retracts for pocket carry, look at the Pentel GraphGear 1000.
What lead sizes does the rOtring 600 come in?
Current retail listings offer 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm. Both take standard mechanical pencil lead of the same diameter, and a grade indicator shows which hardness is loaded, from 4H to 2B.
What is the difference between the rOtring 600 and the rOtring 500?
The 600 has an all-metal body; the less expensive 500 has a plastic body with a metal grip and cap. The Well-Appointed Desk's review draws that distinction.
Is the rOtring 600 good for writing or only for drafting?
rOtring sells it as a drafting pencil, but some 2026 roundups also recommend it for everyday writing. Its weight suits people who like a heavy pencil; at about 22 g it is twice as heavy as many plastic pencils.
What colors does the rOtring 600 come in?
Black and silver are the standard finishes. Retailers also list colors such as red and blue metallic, and limited editions such as mint, depending on the market.
Where is the rOtring 600 made?
In Japan, according to the Japanese retailer Maruzen Junkudo and the US distributor ADI. rOtring itself began in Hamburg, Germany, in 1928 and now belongs to Newell Brands.
Sources
- 丸善ジュンク堂書店ネットストア: rOtring 600 メカニカルペンシル 0.5㎜ ブラック (Maruzen Junkudo, Japanese retailer: item 1904443, JAN 3501179044439, 8 × 142 mm, boxed 44 g, origin Japan)
- ホルベイン: 製図・筆記具ブランド「ロットリング」 (Holbein, rOtring's Japanese distributor: history, writing series from 1989)
- ADI Global Distribution: rOtring 600 0.5 mm black, 1904443 (country of origin Japan, brass mechanism, UPC)
- ADI Global Distribution: rOtring 600 0.5 mm silver, 1904445 (country of origin Japan)
- JetPens: rOtring 600 drafting pencils (0.5 and 0.7 mm, hexagonal metal barrel)
- Hachimonjiya: rOtring 600 mint (142 mm, 8 mm barrel, 22 g, 4H–2B indicator, steel tip and clip)
- Onlinemantra: rOtring 600 black 0.7 mm, 1904442 (141 mm, 22.5 g)
- Onlinemantra: rOtring 600 red 0.5 mm, 2114264
- Post Shop (Switzerland): ROTRING Feinminenstift 600 0.5mm 2114266 blau metallic
- Wikipedia: Rotring (founding in Hamburg in 1928, Newell ownership, 600 from 1989, production by Holbein and others)
- The Well-Appointed Desk: Review of the rOtring 600 0.5 mm mechanical pencil (2014)
- Clever Creations: The 8 best mechanical pencils for drawing and writing (2026)
- unsharpen: rOtring 600 drafting pencil (late 1980s, 14.1 cm, 22 g; first made in West Germany, now Japan)