Blackwing One-Step Long Point Sharpener, German Steel Blade, Machined Aluminum, Compact Design, Black

I bought a 12-pack of Blackwing pencils and figured I’d just use whatever sharpener I had lying around. Huge mistake. Those pencils deserved better, and this one-step long point sharpener absolutely delivers. This isn’t just a sharpener—it’s an experience. The aluminum body feels like a precision tool, not some plastic throwaway. It’s got heft, it’s got grip, and it doesn’t look like something that belongs in a kid’s pencil case.The blade is German steel and it shows. It slices clean, effortlessly, and somehow makes sharpening satisfying. Not once have I had a lead snap or a lopsided point. You get that iconic Blackwing long taper—elegant, sharp, and smooth to write with. No jagged edges, no over-sharpening, no wasted pencil. And the built-in canister? Game changer. No mess, no scrambling for a trash can mid-sketch or mid-note.It’s compact enough to carry in a bag, solid enough to survive it, and good enough that I now judge every other sharpener by its standard. If you’re dropping money on Blackwings and skipping this? You’re not getting the full Blackwing experience. Don’t be that person.

I have been on a quest for a great pencil sharpener ever since my college years when I lost one I really loved (which was a LONG time ago!). I have bought little hand-held steel ones recommended by my art supply store, and I have bought the cheepos from the Dollar Store (now the $1.25 and Up Store), on the recommendation from a friend who told me they were every bit as good as my art store one. She was right, though that isn't saying much for the expensive steel one.I have tried many brands; some were better than others. My goal was to find one that yielded a long, tapered point that did not wear down too quickly and was suitable for shading tone drawings by holding the pencil at an angle. I found many of the old-fashioned schoolroom hand crank ones that mount on the wall, and the modern electric tabletop models do an excellent job, but they don't fit into my portable pencil box.This heavy-duty steel from Blackwing was far more expensive than many others I've bought, but I am very pleased with it. It is fairly compact, fits well in my hand, and the hexagonal body makes it easy to grasp and hold while sharpening the pencil. Best of all, it has a shavings reservoir that works well. I have another sharpener that makes nice points but is rather bulky. The way you open it to access the sharpening ports is precisely the way you open the shavings reservoir (just from the opposite side), and I can't tell you how many times I've ended up with a lapful of pencil shavings by opening the wrong side. The Blackwing's shavings are stored in the body of the sharpener with a top that screws on securely, there is no chance of accidentally opening it, and it will store a good quantity of shavings before you need to empty it. When you do, that lid's rough, serrated texture makes it easy to unscrew.If I could part with the cool and elegant slider box it came in, the Blackwing would be more portable and fit in my pencil case, but I'm storing it in the box for now. The only thing that would make this sharpener better is if it also came with two ports to sharpen thicker pencils as well as standard-sized ones. They make one like that, but I like the profile of this one better.

This particular Blackwing one-step sharpener is dull and/or defective.As far as pencil sharpening, I look for a solid, unbroken shaving (in addition to a sharpened pencil point). This one is extremely choppy (resulting in minced bits of shavings). The blade is extraordinarily dull and blunt...like butter knife blunt.The sharpening pencil process takes WAY more than the estimated sharpening turns of 5 to 15 rotations (per Blackwing), as in 85+ to 100+ rotations (?!) This is the case with new unsharpened Blackwing pencils and previously sharpened (but needed a sharper point) pencils.Additionally, the sharpener has to be opened, and the internal sharpener blade must be blown out (compressed air duster spray) at least every 10 - 15 turns to dislodge the excess wood and graphite bits that accumulate and stick to the blade.So, what's up with this sharpener?I can't tell if it is previously owned and returned merchandise (although it wasn't identified as "open-box" or returned on the Blackwing Amazon store listing), defective, or what. The one thing Amazon has going for it is super-fast shipping and easy returns, so it isn't like I can't initiate a return; drop it at the local UPS store and obtain a refund. But the fact that the return process is simple isn't the point. ✎﹏﹏﹏﹏I've used 99¢ pencil sharpeners that created a better point than this Blackwing sharpener.I reached out to Blackwing support regarding the total failure of their one-step (aka 100 rotations sharpener), and they offered to replace the malfunctioning unit, but the problem isn't just its inability to sharpen (defective blade). The mandatory and constant blowout of the internal blade area (every few turns) to release the wood and graphite obstruction is too much work. I'm going with the Raymay Fujii KUM Masterpiece Pencil Sharpener.The Blackwing one-step is cool looking. Love the weight and heft of the pressed aluminum exterior and matte black powder-coated surface. But it doesn't work.

This is a great pencil sharpener. It cuts a very fine peel with very little effort. The build quality is very nice - the cap opens smoothly for emptying. It can easily sharpen 4+ times before needing to empty; this make it great for carrying. The cut angle has a small curve making the results unique. The first one I ordered did not work; I think someone had bought it, swapped in an old blade and returned it. Fortunately the amazon replacement process made it easy to resolve.

Lot of money for a pencil sharpener? Yes, but highly worth it because you’ll never have to buy another in your lifetime.