In the stationery space, Namisu has been known mostly for their fountain pens. I’ve backed several of their Kickstarter campaigns, and have always been happy with the end result. With the launch of the Pulsar, Namisu took that fountain pen aesthetic and applied it to a fresh mechanical pencil design. Successfully, I might add.
As is the norm with Namisu, choosing the style of your writing instrument poses the biggest challenge. The Pulsar comes in three different barrel materials - Aluminum, Titanium, and Polycarbonate - with each featuring different colors and finishes. How could I choose? Well, just have a look:
The Polycarbonate barrel with Steel grip and Petrol finish stood out to me, and would bring a different style to my writing library compared to my other mechanical pencils. Little did I know how different it would feel in hand, as well.
The best way I can describe how the Pulsar Polycarbonate feels is “different.” Not different bad, or different good, just different. I’m used to metal grips and acrylic/plastic barrels in pens and pencils, and even prefer that setup in many cases. I like it in the Pulsar as well, but I’ve yet to stop thinking about the feel of it in my hand.
The Polycarbonate barrel has a thick wall, and combined with the bolt mechanism in the last quarter of the barrel, the balance shifts towards the rear. Not terribly, but enough that I keep thinking about it.
Mechanical pencils, even more so than most types of pens, need to feel one of two ways for my needs: weighted towards the front, or ultralight. Most mechanical pencils are designed around tip control for detailed writing or drawing. The Namisu Pulsar is designed for regular writing.
Being designed for writing is perfectly fine in my book, which is why I enjoy the Pulsar. But I think of it more as a pen than a pencil, given its more stout design, and pipe-less tip. I also have it loaded up with the 0.7 mm mechanism, which leads to more of a writing style. I have’t tried to swap in the 0.5 mm - I think the wider size suits the barrel better, but it is a nice option to have.
Pentel Sharp P205 comparison.
I also wonder if the aluminum model feels different, and more front balanced. It has a 23g total weight, versus 31g for the Polycarbonate model, so it’s likely. The Titanium model checks in at 33g, for reference. Aluminum may be the choice if you prefer 0.5 mm lines.
The Pulsar Polycarbonate looks amazing and feels great. It is built well, too, which is a Namisu staple. My only hangup is when do I choose to use it over any of my other favorite mechanical pencils?
Nesting boxes.
During the Kickstarter campaign, I paid around $42 for this model. It is currently $58, with the Aluminum Pulsar at $55, and Titanium at $85. If the style is something you like, I would have no hesitation recommending this pencil. Just be sure to consider how you will use it to ensure that it is a good fit for your graphite writing needs.
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