DixonOriole Woodcase Pencil, #2.5/F Medium Fine, Yellow Barrel, 12-Pack (12875)

A pencil is a pencil

I remember using these in elementary school with fond sentimentality. I've never had an issue with these "budget" pencils. I've noticed a lot of other online reviews on other blogs give them a much undeserved thrashing. Even the newer Indian made version is high quality, in my experience. I have a few boxes of the old US made ones and a few boxes of the new Indian made ones and I've noticed no real drop in quality. The leads are well centered, the pencils are not warped, and the lead is very smooth with good point retention. The pencils have a nice, glossy yellow paint that isn't blotchy or rough like some Dixon Ticonderoga pencils. They are also very durable. My first time using one since elementary school was when I found one in a parking lot a few years ago that had obviously been run over and abused. Its eraser was shot, but there was a lot of wood/graphite left. I left it in my car and used it to jot down gas mileage notes for years. When I started getting more into pencils seriously again, I took it out and began using it more regularly. Even though the paint is cracked from being run over, the graphite itself is still perfectly fine. I use it on a daily basis for random notes at my desk at home. I highly recommend giving these pencils a try and trying not to take the other naysayer's opinions before giving it a try yourself.

The leads are so soft and nice but they are not always located in the center. So you need good sharpeners!

While these pencils aren't all terrible, appearance-wise they're a far cry from the finer ORIOLE pencils I remembered from when I was in school. A few months back, a purchase of some poorly crafted Ticonderoga pencils left me disappointed and wondering what other pencils there were that Dixon had to offer. I soon became nostalgic for the ORIOLEs.Ticonderoga had been my go to brand since I was in high school, following ORIOLE from middle school. I'd previously enjoyed ORIOLE for its elegant appearance, that really unique pink-toned wood and elegant silver lettering with the word ORIOLE in all caps made it stand out from other pencils I'd see in a classroom. Back then I would always immediately look for an ORIOLE for quality.The sturdy and dark writing graphite, and the handsomely designed, double banded, silver colored metal securely wrapped around the soft pink eraser. The way 2 (H/B) was written out horizontally instead of being stacked up with the HB in a hexagonal design. (Oh and I grew up rooting for the Baltimore baseball team of the same name).I switched to Ticonderoga when I was in High school based on the fact that they offered a #1 grade graphite which I desired for darker lines while drawing. In addition, the design was even more alluring (that forest-green/yellow combo, oh my!) and the declaration that it was "The World's Best Pencil!" Apparently Tikes became the top of the line from Dixon whereas ORIOLEs became the 2nd, or even bottom, tiered product.The current incarnation of ORIOLE seem like cheap knockoffs from the earlier ones I described. The design for the metal band is ridged in the center, which to me looks tacky, although, that may be a design cue to secure the eraser better, but still I liked the old look. The gold color paint for the lettering is cheap and rubs off really easy, and honestly, I liked the silver color scheme more.Again, its not a terrible pencil, I was just hoping for something familiar that I'd grown up with, especially after purchasing some Ticonderoga pencils that were of shoddy quality (for goodness sake, one of 'em actually split in two, vertically, from tip to metal band, after sharpening!)People might look at pencil and say, hey, as long as it writes and erases, that's fine by me, but when I use one, I also enjoy the experience of writing with something that not only functions well, but also looks familiar, elegant, and iconic.I think I might just try another brand altogether. I dunno... C'mon Dixon, get it together!

Yes they are pencils but growing up has different Dixon oriole pencil’s and these are not the same

Came in time & item was as described!

I guess they Amazon got ticonderoga from the tip of pencils it is on the left side of box sead dixon ticonderoga company I've seen pencils in ten count for¢49 in local kroger grocery store&doller general&walmart wish I'd seen these prices the only difference ten count box p.s.with this deal you only get one box as i thought i was getting two boxes because of the add wording wrong if got 7 boxes for this price I'd buy again but for now I'll buy my pencils locally ps I recommend using a hand pencils sharper one which has a shaving catch compartment built in I've found far superior to battery operated one's less clogging if dose you can unclog they do a good job we're as the old school hand cranked kined usually chuw up pencils and electronic one's to high price and have a motor that can were out if you have hand problems next best electric pencils sharper way to go

I just like these pencils nice dark graphite and good eraser.

When I first opened the pencil my first reaction was ouch!! It was so sharp I pricked my finger and dang near drew blood. Like holy smokes already!! But once I got pencil to paper it really did flow nicely. I’m reluctant to recommend to anyone under the age of 5 with parental over-site. Please be careful while opening from it package, don’t say I didn’t warn you!!' 3 stars is my official star rating.

They are pencils, what more do u need.

No me ha gustado nada,llego una caja,de,12 cuando en la descripción ponía 72 piezas,llego,tarde muy tarde.

i never expected i will spent this much money for pencils.

Just ordinary pencils :)