A pencil mechanism replaces a ballpoint pen refill and has an actuator for containing lead. A point of the mechanism is slidably mounted to the actuator and has a shoulder to engage a step in the pen when an end of the point projects from a writing end of the pen. The point has an open end for projecting the writing tip of the lead and a bushing for frictionally engaging the lead in the point to allow for, but resist axial movement of the lead. A point spring between actuator and point biases them apart and a clutch is slidably mounted to the actuator and point. The clutch has fingers for receiving lead and the actuator engages the clutch to close the fingers and fix the lead.
