For what it is worth, mine were yellow sleeves, I don't know it all of their colored plastics have the same mechanical properties, perhaps yellow is a weaker plastic or perhaps it ages faster

I would buy again and recommend but buy with caution this pencil is great but has a huge plastic midsection weak spot.

After using this pencil, I'll never use those cheap plastic ones ever again.

Keep it capped and protected under the metal piece, buy a nice polymer plastic eraser to accompany this pencil

This pencil is awesome, it works great, it's a super solid pencil, which is great because I end up dropping and breaking the cheaper plastic ones too frequently

While it did last for about two years, the plastic the holds the tip on the pencil finally broke, rendering it useless

I would buy it again if they replaced the cheap plastic tubing that holds the top and bottom piece together with something more robust.

after numerous disappointments with the cheap overpriced plastic brands, I guess this is what it takes to get a decent writing pen.

Doesn't feel cheap -- no plastic

The grip is rubber or soft plastic that gives slightly, has a delicate taper in the middle, is naturally non-slip, and extraordinarily comfortable.

and I'll now try another brand or just go back to the cheap plastic ones that seem to work fine.

The biggest flaw is the plastic that lies in-between the inner and outer metal barrel

no more buying the cheap plastic products.

Over time the blue plastic between the grip and the main body must be breaking down, because it has broken on both my pencils in the same way

Other less expensive plastic bodied mechanical pencils have too much play in the barrel and slightly bend and twist while in use, snapping the lead

Lightweight but not "cheap" plastic feel

3.5 months later I'm back to using cheap plastic

lead breaks in cheaper plastic pencils

To build the rest of the pencil out of rugged materials, only to hold it all together with a piece of fine-threaded plastic?

Works just as you would expect but with a level of refined luxury to it.

Not to thrilled over this as I cannot tell if it has been used previously

I am pretty light on my stuff and don't consider myself an abuser so this was pretty disappointing and frustrating as it did not even last a full year.

Works perfect as if it was the original cap, better yet, they're basically free

The pencil lasts a very long time I bought mine last year July around this time and it still works just as good as when I first got it

A wonderfully well-made mechanical pencil -- as good as the ones I purchased during engineering school in the 1980's!!Smooth operations, good feeding of the lead, and the pointy tip retracts into the barrel, so no more holes in my pockets!I love it - ordered two more for use at home and at work.

The pencil disappoints as it failed too early for the price charged.

I would just say not to press too hard on the lead because it will break as it is very thin lead

I love Pentel lead as it is smooth going down on paper.

Loves i!

Also the extend/rectract action is just so satisfying to use when I my hand needs to fidget.

I bought the 0.5mm use with Pentel HB lead as I like the darkness of it when I use it for drawing and shadowing