Over the years, Eagle/Berol/Sanford/Papermate has traditionally been conservative about the designs of their premier Mirado and Black Warrior lines. A prewar Eagle Mikado is easily identifiable as the ancestor of today's Papermate Mirado Classic.
hi-res images here https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1Ffzsj
hi-res images here https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1Ffzsj
But with the Mirado Design, Papermate is attempting to attract a "new crowd" to the Black Warrior. With a design near the front of the pencil reminiscent of the Sanford chevron logo, it clearly appeals to kids who want something "cool" to differentiate themselves from their yellow-number-2 yielding friends.
Unfortunately for Papermate, however, it's no more premier than a run of the mill #2 in terms of quality, and is in my opinion unworthy of the Mirado name.
Unfortunately for Papermate, however, it's no more premier than a run of the mill #2 in terms of quality, and is in my opinion unworthy of the Mirado name.
Fit/Finish: Even before opening the package, I could see splintering of the wood near the point. After handling the pencil for awhile I noticed how thin the paint was and how the branding was not foil-stamped, but painted on. While the ferrule is attached securely and the red band around it nicely finished, there was some chipping of the paint at the attachment point. Though the pencil retails at $2.99 for a 5 pack, I got my pack for 79 cents, and am glad I did.
Performance: While the pencil sharpens well and the lead in this one is centered, the writing experience itself is nothing of note. The line is not especially black or dense, and the point retention is average at best. Erasability?
Not too shabby; the attached eraser is leagues ahead of the one on the standard Mirado Black Warrior. But the lead has plenty of rough spots, and for a pencil positioned as "a cut above the rest" it's not quite good enough.
Overall: Again, as with the General's Semi-Hex, this is NOT a bad pencil. But considering its pedigree and the quality many have come to expect from the Mirado name, the Mirado Design fails to satisfy. For someone looking for a "cool" pencil, with a unique design to stand out from their peers, it's OK, but for those concerned with performance and quality, look elsewhere.
Rating: 3/5
Rating: 3/5