I ordered this pencil in three grades (HB, B, 2B) and since all my reviews have been on HB previously I thought I'd compare this one of those to have a benchmark for performance of the Mitsubishi 9800.
hi-res images here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1jPQaD
hi-res images here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1jPQaD
Fit/Finish: I'm glad the 9800 comes unsharpened, because sharpening this pencil was an exquisite experience. Though the blade in my Alvin Brass Bullet is just over four years old, the wood curled away in picturesque flower-like shapes, fragrant and smooth. The lead is perfectly centered in its case, making for a very useful and visually pleasing point. Lacquering, paint, and foil-stamping are of top quality as well, reminiscent of the Faber-Castell 9000 which this one clearly emulates. Although the pencil's relatively low price would imply a drop in quality, there is none I can find in the look-and-feel department, except perhaps the lack of an onboard eraser.
Performance: The lead is very smooth, and even though it writes a bit lighter than I would normally prefer, it's legible and consistent. (I've only experienced one small rough spot in the five pages I've written with the pencil so far.) The point does tend to wear down a bit quickly to a blunt end, but that just means you get the sharpening experience a bit more often. It's pretty smear-resistant as well. How about erasability?
As expected, erasability is excellent with the Staedtler.
Overall: Marketed as a pencil for the infamous "home/school/office", the Mitsubishi 9800 is a very well-performing pencil that could easily be used as a "gateway pencil for those unwilling to shell out the big bucks for the likes of the Mitsubishi hi-uni or Palomino Blackwing. Available at JetPens for 70 cents individually, I'd highly recommend picking a few of these up either for yourself or a fellow writing instrument connoisseur.
Rating: 4.5/5 (point retention and lack of attached eraser)