black warrior HB2 lead not dark anymore, what happened?

The basic components of a pencil are the lead (actually graphite), the wood & paint, eraser holder, and the eraser. People who took pride in their craft started pencil companies and created a reputation based on their choice of these components, and their execution of certain other quality characteristics like centering the lead so sharpening is symmetrical, etc. Unfortunately some of these companies have been sold to corporations who reduce the quality of I all but keep the price up. For a period they show much improved profits and often sell he purchased company for more than they paid based on this artificial profitability which eventually diminishes as users of the product catch on that there favorite product is no longer what it use to be. With pencils companies, like Papermate, so it seems, have done just that. The lead is poor quality and inconsistent, the wood is thinner and no longer good quality cedar, the brass holding he eraser is no longer brass, and the eraser is also of poorer quality. Since these are only pencils, the bean counters at corporate I guess think they can pull it off. For some of us who enjoy using a good pencil, we notice. At least there are forums such as this where we can voice our discontent.

Do these come pre sharpened ?

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't, but don't let that stop you from buying a Paper Mate product. It's a good pedigree and even if you buy pre-sharpened pencils you'll have to keep on sharpening them as needed. Just get a good sharpener. Good luck!

I'm a beginning writer and are these worth trying for my new series

If you can, try to find some older USA made ones. The cedar wood was fantastic and the graphite was buttery smooth. I could write for an entire day with no problems. When they moved production to Mexico it just wasn't the same. Eventually you might want to try out Blackwing Pencils, but those are expensive.

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✏️ Write your success story with every stroke!

NON TOXIC CERTIFIED - PMA certified for safe, worry-free use in any workspace or classroom.
CLEAN ERASING EVERY TIME - High-quality, soft, stain-free erasers keep your work neat and professional.
SLEEK MATTE BLACK DESIGN - Elegant black lacquer finish adds a touch of sophistication to your everyday writing tools.
SMOOTH PRECISION WRITING - Super smooth lead sharpens to a fine, accurate tip for flawless notes and sketches.
DURABLE CEDAR WOOD BARREL - Pressurized bonded California Cedar ensures excellent tip strength and long-lasting stability.

This 12-pack of Paper Mate Mirado Black Warrior #2 Medium Soft pencils features super smooth, fine-sharpening lead encased in durable, pressurized bonded California Cedar wood barrels. Equipped with high-quality, stain-free erasers and a sleek black matte lacquer finish, these PMA certified non-toxic pencils combine professional performance with stylish design.

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Manufacturer	Paper Mate
Brand	Paper Mate
Item Weight	0.008 ounces
Product Dimensions	7.7 x 1.9 x 0.65 inches
Item model number	2254
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Color	Black
Grip Type	Contoured
Pencil Lead Degree (Hardness)	HB
Material Type	Wood
Total Recycled Content Percentage	100
Number of Items	1
Size	12 Count (Pack of 1)
Point Type	Fine
Line Size	0.7mm
Ink Color	Black
Manufacturer Part Number	2254

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