Economy 0.5 mm mechanical pencils

Through the years, the quest for my current favorite mechanical pencil lead to me to also amass this small collection of inexpensive pencils (most retailing for under $5 each). Click on the photo above to check out the note tags and origin of each model. From this bunch, the two pencils on the bottom of the picture (Pilot 2020 and Pilot S3 Series) offer the best performance probably because they feature metal 3-jawed clutches that hold the graphite lead firmly in place for precise control.
The Pilot 2020 Shaker Super Grip Mechanical Pencil - 0.5 mm - Neon Color - Green is a fun inexpensive pencil that children are likely to enjoy. Of course not recommended for the little ones since it can pose several choking hazards as shown by the picture of its disassembled state.
Higher quality pencils often feature stronger brass metal 3-jawed clutch mechanisms that hold the lead securely in place while cheaper pencils tend to have plastic 2-jawed clutches that gradually wear down and loosen their grip allowing the lead to slide to various degrees while writing and drawing.