I haven't written much about the Palomino Blackwing, mostly because I don't feel as though I have anything to say that hasn't already been said. I don't burn through as many woodcase pencils as some people, but when I do reach for one, it's often the Palomino Blackwing 602 or the Blackwing Pearl. Recently, however, I've been accumulating a stash of these:
These, of course, are the Blacking "Volumes" Limited Edition pencils. From left, the Blackwing 725, the Blackwing 211, and the Blackwing 1138.
I fully acknowledge that I've more or less crossed the line into hoarding with yet another limited-edition-subscription line of products, but I like having these pencils within reach. I'll probably break up the packs and give a few to family members in their Christmas stocking, along with some 3-packs of Field Notes I have lying around. (See, that "hoarding" is really just "planning ahead" for the holidays!)
My impressions: Aesthetically, I prefer the Volumes 211 (John Muir Trail theme). I love natural wood pencils, and the brown eraser is the kicker. Second place is a virtual tie. I play guitar, so I like the Volumes 725 (Newport Folk Festival / Sunburst theme), but the new Volumes 1138 (Sci-Fi theme) is cool-looking as well, though I'm not much of a film buff. I'm using them both fairly regularly, so no need to make a decision. Curiously, I've found the graphite core of the 211 to be identical to the core in the Blackwing 602, but the cores on the 725 and the 1138 to be just slightly harder than their supposed equivalents, the Pearl and the Original. It could just be a batch variation unique to the packs of pencils in my stash, but there you go.
DISCLAIMER: I purchased all of the products featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection. I have not been compensated in any way for this review.