Blackwing's History and What We Stand For

In a world that's always buzzing, taking time to pause can seem rare. At Blackwing, we think these moments to unplug aren’t just nice to have—they’re vital.

This is our story, from a beloved classic to a mission-driven brand.

The Revival of a Legacy

The original Blackwing pencil was first introduced in the 1930s. It quickly became the trusted tool of legendary creators, like author John Steinbeck and animator Chuck Jones. For decades, it was the go-to pencil for those who made their mark on the world. When production was discontinued in the 1990s, a dedicated community of creators kept the Blackwing legacy alive.

In 2010, we brought Blackwing back, hoping to share this iconic pencil with a new generation. These days, we’re a small, family-run crew in Stockton, California, and our philosophy is simple: create tools that help people slow down and enjoy the process. We’ve found that living a little more analog lets you connect more deeply with your thoughts and the world around you.

Crafted with a Conscience

The quality of our pencils has always been at the heart of what we do. The pencil barrels are made from genuine Incense-cedar that comes from sustainably-managed forests in California and Oregon. The wood is PEFC-certified, which means it meets strict standards for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. In fact, more Incense-cedar trees are planted than are harvested each year.

The pencils are made in Japan using premium graphite, and each one is imprinted and assembled at our Stockton headquarters. We also work hard to minimize waste throughout our production process, from recycling pencils that don't meet our standards to compressing sawdust into natural fire-starter bricks.

Making an Impact, One Pencil at a Time

Every Blackwing purchase helps support our mission to expand arts and music education. A portion of every sale goes directly to the Blackwing Foundation.

The foundation's mission is to develop and support sustainable partnerships that positively impact arts and music education for K-12 students. We believe that a broad curriculum in these subjects is crucial for the academic and social development of youth, and your support helps us make a tangible difference in the lives of students across the country.

Ready to slow down and create something? Explore Our Collection.

Learn more about Blackwing.