Mechanical Pencil

The Rotring 600 has mixed repairability with one fatal flaw.

• •Durability issue: Multiple users report the non-retractable tip bends when dropped, rendering the pencil unusable with limited repair options.
• •Mechanism reliability: The internal mechanism is generally reliable with many users reporting 5+ years of flawless operation when not damaged.
• •Parts availability: Replacement erasers exist but are proprietary and small. Replacement tips might be available but evidence suggests most users consider a bent tip as a total loss.

Bottom line: Built like a tank but crippled by a single, difficult-to-repair failure point. Keep it at your desk - one drop can make this otherwise well-built tool unrepairable.

A tool built like a tank with one critical flaw. The rOtring 600 boasts precision engineering with its brass construction and perfect balance, but its non-retractable tip is a fatal weakness in a BIFL product.

• •Metal construction: All-metal body with knurled grip resists daily wear admirably. Many users report 5+ years of flawless performance and minimal finish wear.
• •Critical failure point: Non-retractable tip bends from drops, often rendering the pencil permanently unusable. Many users relegate it to desk-only use for fear of damage.
• •Quality control concerns: Numerous Reddit reports of shaky lead sleeves and internal mechanism failures after 1-2 years, suggesting inconsistent manufacturing.

Bottom line: A precision instrument built to last decades if babied, but one drop can end its life instantly. The Achilles' heel prevents a higher score for an otherwise exceptional tool.

Rotring offers a 2-year limited warranty covering manufacturing defects and workmanship issues, but with significant limitations for a premium writing instrument.

• •Coverage Period: 2-year limited warranty from purchase date, requiring proof of purchase for claims
• •Claim Process: Contact dealer or Rotring directly, provide proof of purchase and photos of the pencil
• •Key Exclusions: Does not cover normal wear and tear, damage from drops (the most common failure point), misuse, or unauthorized repairs

Bottom line: The warranty is adequate but not generous for a premium product. The biggest BIFL concern is that the pencil's most common failure point—tip damage from drops—is explicitly excluded from coverage.

The Rotring 600 has cult status among mechanical pencil enthusiasts, but quality control issues create a divide between evangelists and disappointed buyers.

• •Beloved features: Users rave about the knurled grip being best-in-class, the all-metal construction, and satisfying weight that makes it a lifetime pencil when it works properly
• •Quality control lottery: Reddit threads reveal frequent complaints about rattling refills, shaky lead sleeves, and cracking bodies on newer models — some get perfect units while others receive defective ones
• •Fragile tip achilles heel: The non-retractable metal tip bends easily when dropped, with users saying one fall from my desk rendered it useless and calling bent tips a writeoff

Bottom line: A premium desk pencil that collectors obsess over and professionals swear by, but inconsistent manufacturing and the fragile tip prevent it from being a true BIFL portable tool.