The Pentel Kerry is, hands down, my favorite pencil with the ability to cap and uncap. That’s not much of a complement, though, given how vanishingly short the list of pencils to share that feature is. No, to truly reflect my feelings on the Kerry, I’d have to say that it’s my favorite pencil, period. I’m guessing that this will come as no surprise to anyone who has read my writings over the years (and in particular over the last six months or so). It has the dual benefit of a killer feature (the aforementioned cap) and the benefit of nostalgia; the combination of these two forces mean it would be very, very difficult for another pencil to knock the Kerry from the high perch in which it sits in my esteem.
With that being said, it is not a perfect pencil because no pencil is perfect. A particular pencil may be a great value, or designed in an interesting way, or a stone-cold classic that persists 50 years after its introduction (like the Kerry, actually). No pencil can be all things to all people, though, and no pencil can be perfect in every situation. As such, and because I can’t leave well enough alone, here are some of the weaknesses of the “best pencil.”
Materials
After owning and coming in contact with a number of Kerry over the years, I’ve noticed that the color matching between the aluminium caps and plastic bodies isn’t always as accurate as I’d like. The “military green” comes to mind, with the aluminium cap having a yellow tinge / undertone that really turned me off of that colorway. There can also be a mismatch between the brightness of a color between cap and barrel, as with the “Kelly Yellow” colorway. This is understandable, obviously, as plastic and aluminum are different materials. I still returned my yellow Kerry because of it, though. I know this is a matter of personal taste, and that the interchangeable nature of the various parts of the Kerry means I could design a “custom” model that gets around all the colors I don’t like. I’d rather just have a great color combo to begin with, however.
That’s not the only material foible of the Kerry, unfortunately. My next pain point is the clip, which (as near as I can tell), is made from stamped aluminum. I haven’t had any issues with the clip’s durability; a Kerry has reliably been attached to one of my pockets or pocket journals for months. Instead, the issue comes with the finishing. In short, the stamped nature of the clip means the inner edges can be a bit pokey. While I seriously doubt that this method of clip construction would ever lead to an outcome that could break skin, it does lead to a product that is less pleasing in its tactility than it otherwise could be. Then again, the most obvious solution I can think of for this problem – a milled or forged clip – would also probably mean a pencil that is, at a minimum, more expensive to produce, if not heavier as well. What I’d really like to do is compare a “modern” Kerry to a vintage one to see if the pencil has used this construction method for its entire run. If so, I will retract this complaint!
The last complaint I have with regards to the materials of the Kerry is the nose cone. Vintage versions of the pencil use a full-metal nose cone and appointments, while the modern version has plastic dressed up as metal instead. In some ways, I want to give kudos to Pentel for changing the materials so subtly that I’m sure some users didn’t notice. On the other hand, it stinks to be sold a version of the pencil that uses materials more susceptible to wear-and-tear. Could a plastic nose cone survive a decade or more of use? I would be willing to bet it could with the proper maintenance and care in use. I’d be even more assured of that assumption if the cone was made of metal, however.
Construction
While I have no doubt a well cared for Kerry could last a career, there are a few pain points in the pencil’s construction that irritate me. The most noticeable pain point for me is that the transition between the nose cone and the body of the pencil isn’t flush. Just like the clip, I seriously doubt this touch point of materials would ever be sharp enough to cause the user actual harm. With that being said, just like the clip, it also reduced my tactile enjoyment of the pencil. The same can be said for the various ends of the pencil: the transition between the cap and the body, the lip of the body that surrounds the lead cap, and next to the cap’s trim ring all lack the smoothness of a chamfered edge or perfect material transition. I can’t be too mad at the Kerry given that it is a pencil that is manufactured with a specific price-point in mind and knocking down all the edges to be perfectly smooth to the touch would undoubtedly add to the cost and complexity of the manufacturing process. It is something I am reminded of every time I use the pencil, though, so I can’t just “let it go.”
I like that the Kerry comes in two lead sizes: 0.7mm and 0.5mm. I also like that the 0.7mm model is distinguished with gold lettering on the pencil. This appreciation is only heightened by the fact that every Kerry I’ve handled is marked with its lead size, thus handily avoiding one of my pencil pet peeves (pencils with no indication of lead size). For all my appreciation, however, I do have one hang-up about the gold text used on the 0.7mm versions of the Kerry: said pencils do not also include gold trim to match the text. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but I know in my heart that I’d like my 0.7mm Kerry if their trim matched their text. It’s also another unavoidable reminder of the corners cut to help the model meet its price point (in this case, by simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the number of unique parts needed for the line as a whole).
Speaking of leads, why doesn’t Pentel offer a 0.3mm or 0.9mm version of the Kerry? Perhaps this is another way to keep the cost of manufacturing down by limiting skews and individual components. It feels like a missed opportunity to me, though, especially since pencils using the other lead sizes could be introduced as limited editions (a practice that Pentel is happy to pursue with regards to the myriad colorways of the Kerry). My research was far from exhaustive, but I couldn’t even find a vintage version of the Kerry that offered lead sizes beyond those offered in the modern models; perhaps this precedent is part of the reason why versions of the pencil offering other lead sizes have never materialized?
Market & Design
While there’s lots to love about the design of the Kerry, there’s one design element that I don’t love: the eraser can only be used while the pen is posted (i.e. while the business end of the pencil is deployed and the cap has been moved to the other end of the pencil). Like many of my complaints about the Kerry, this is also a fairly minor quibble. If I want the eraser, moving the cap from the front to the back of the pencil is trivial. With that being said, it also means that deploying the eraser, a “killer feature” of the pencil, is more cumbersome compared to other pencils on the market. Moreover, there was a time when I didn’t realize the Kerry even had an eraser (because it was hidden in the cap). The latter is definitely user error on my part, but I can’t be the only person who has run into that issue. (Also, before anyone shouts “read the manual!” to me, none of the modern Kerry I’ve purchased have included documentation beyond a UPC. If a user manual exists for the pen, I didn’t receive it!)
The fact that the “5” branding for the Kerry is reserved for limited editions of the pencil also isn’t great; frankly, I think the “Since 1971” branding is garish in comparison. My understanding is that this change in branding was made in 2001 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Kerry (see: link) and while I agree that a pencil model sticking around for thirty years is something to celebrate I still prefer the previous branding. Given the number of limited edition models that Pentel has released over the years with the “5” branding, it seems they agree with me. That’s not the only problem with the limited edition models, however.
It should surprise no one that the myriad Kerry limited editions demand a considerable premium compared to their standard counterparts. It’s not unusual for the limited editions of a given Kerry to fetch $50 USD or more, while a regular Kerry retails for around $15 (assuming you can find a copy of said colorway in the first place). At time of writing, many sellers on auction sites like eBay are only willing to sell their wares in bundles of multiple limited colors, pushing the purchasing prices to $100 USD or more. I was never planning to collect every colorway of the Kerry; I don’t have the time, energy, or space for that! Even if I did, however, the cost would be more than enough of a deterrent. Instead, I’m focusing on a few colorways that speak to me and enjoying the rest from afar.
I have one more complaint about the Kerry, but it’s not one I can level at the pen itself. Instead, it’s a problem I’ve had with how the pens have been sent to me. Of the myriad Kerry I have purchased, only one (1) has included a plastic presentation box. The pencil in question was the 0.7mm Kerry in dark blue that I purchased, too, not one of the limited edition models. I’ve received every other Kerry in little more than a plastic sleeve, with naught but the shipping envelope to keep it from harm. I recognize that this is an issue with the distribution of the pen rather than with its manufacture, but it’s an area of the experience that I feel could be greatly improved. Even a little bubble wrap would go a long way!
Conclusion
After laying out my grievances do I still consider this pen the king of my pencil collection? Yes, yes I do. If anything, this exercise demonstrated to me that most of the complaints I have about the pen are either relatively minor or more to do with the distribution of the pen than its manufacture. I’d go so far to say that I’d recommend the Kerry to almost anyone seeking a relatively affordable everyday carry pencil that matches good looks with functionality. The fact that the pen can still regularly be found for $15(ish) USD is a reality that I hope continues for years to come.
