A rare beast indeed. The Faber-Castell TK Fine Vario L pencil is a high-quality pencil precision-engineered for the discerning user. The grooved metal grip area gives a nice balance to the pencil. There's a long lead sleeve which makes it suitable for drafting; a lead degree indicator (which runs from 4H to 2B); a metal pocket clip and an extra-long replaceable twist eraser. The trick that makes the Vario unique however, is the lead cushioning setting. Switch to Hard via a simple twist of the barrel and the lead is unyielding - ideal for drafting. Switch to Soft for writing, and the lead becomes cushioned, giving slightly under pressure.