Batch 84-16 (5B or softer .046"/1.1mm, 3 1/2" long leads)
Amongst the hundreds of boxes in the Panda Pencil's archives was a small, unmarked box containing a few hundred gross of 4" long leads in the standard .046 inch diameter. The only identifying marks were the batch number -- 84-16 -- and the date of production in June, 1988. We put one in a pencil to see what it would do . . . and wow. We've graded it conservatively at 5B, but it might be even softer than that, and it's the smoothest, darkest lead we've seen. It flows onto the page almost like ink!
We packaged a trial batch for the 2017 Ohio Show, bringing twice as much of it as we bring in any other grade -- and everyone who tried it said "wow" too (we sold out on Saturday). That settled it -- we've added it to the permanent rotation, for as long as it lasts!
The original box of 4-inchers has since been exhausted, but we have now found several boxes of "CX-22" leads from that same batch, but in 3 1/2" length.
12 leads per tube, 3 1/2" each. Made in USA.