The latest limited release from Baron Fig in their Vanguard and Archer lines were meant to be together. They are the Archer Number 2 Pencil set ($15 for a dozen pencils) and the Vanguard Composition Notebook Set ($14 for 3-pack of notebooks), known together as the School Set ($26 for the set, 10% discount for purchasing them together).
The Number 2 pencils come in Baron Fig’s signature paperboard tube and, to date, are my favorite pencils that they’ve done. Many have already commented on the distinctly John Deere color combination of yellow and green but the classic yellow paint and the green dipped end cap is also reminiscent of Ticonderogas sans the pink eraser. This is probably the smoothest, best writing Archer pencil yet. It looks good and writes well so if you’ve held off getting a set of Archer pencils, this is the edition to try.
The Composition notebooks harken back to the classic school notebooks with three covers in the sponge-speckled designs in black, yellow and green with a faux tape edge. Inside are lined paper with blue lines and the double lined margin. I would have loved if one would have been graph, one lined and one blank but I can’t have everything.
Inside the back cover is an array of handy, dandy conversions and info just like old school composition notebooks.
The Composition notebooks do what I was hoping the COMP notebooks on Kickstarter would do which is to provide a better quality composition notebook experience. I hope that Baron Fig keeps the black Vanguards as part of their regular line-up in a variety of rulings because I think they would be quite popular. I also think that the improvements to the Archer Number 2 bodes well for the future of their pencil pursuits.
DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Baron Fig for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
Good to hear that the pencils have improved. I seem to be the only person who thinks BF missed the mark by not putting a pink eraser on this pencil! Whoever saw an American school pencil without an eraser on the end!? I do like the color scheme, though.
Tina
I like the excuse that you still need a pack of Pink Pearl erasers!