The bullet pencil form was invented during the Civil War when soldiers put their standard issue pencils into cartridge casings to protect the points from breaking off. In modern times, they’ve sprouted erasers and their cylinders have turned into plastic. This plastic advertises manly things like grain elevators, soil testing, dog food, livestock yards, and oil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The guy below is shucking corn bare-chested. Note the knife-sharpened, chewed-up pencil point. Men who use sharpeners instead of pocket knives on their pencils are sissies.