Platinum Pro-Use 171 Mechanical Pencil Review

The Platinum Pro-Use Mechanical Pencil is a little beauty. Competitively priced - it's well under the price of an all-metal offering like the Rotring 600/800. I picked up the 0.3mm version as I'm moving over to preferring 0.3 over 0.5 these days. Even though it does have a tendency to make me write really small!

So, what featured does this thing boast? It's got a mechanism to shorten the lead sleeve so you can choose how much lead sticks out over the end of the barrel - that also means it can be made "pocket safe". It has another cushioning mechanism as well which gives the lead a little bit of bounce. 

It's not an all metal body though... the knurled grip is metal though - I really love a knurled grip! This is not the best knurling I've felt because that accolade goes to the Rotring 800 but it's not the worst and any knurling is better than none. There is a lead indicator as well which works really well. I've seen it written on Reddit etc. that the indicator is too easy to move - I wouldn't agree as I'd rather than near impossible to move as it is on the Pentel GraphGear 1000. I'll probably have a review up on that at some point.

I think the eraser is compatible with Pentel Z2-N1 but I haven't checked for sure. I'd also comment that the eraser is really hard to pull out of the end of the pencil. The exact opposite of the Uni Kuru Toga Advance (will have a review of that up at some point).

In writing - it feels nice and heavy in the hand. Obviously not Rotring 800 heavy but nicely balanced, the metal grip makes that weight sit near the bottom which is great. The clip is not much good - it's flimsy and definitely won't last if you are one for clipping pens to things. All it serves to do just now is stop it rolling off my table, to be honest with you.

Another question I know you're sitting on - the cushioning mechanism... does it work? Well yes, it does but you will need to be a pretty heavy writer to be seeing it actuate a lot. It is a testament to the solid build though that you can easily press hard enough on a 0.3 lead to make the cushion actuate. I think I can feel a difference at normal writing pressure with the cushioning on and if it saves a bit of lead breakage here and there, what's the harm?

It's £17.95 at the time of writing from Cult Pens. Is it worth that money? Yes, it's not much worse than a Pentel OrenzNero at £20 less and the same can be said for it in comparison with a Rotring 800. It doesn't look as cool as either of those pencils but it's worth the money.