How to Refill a Drehgriffel Nr. 1 or Nr. 2 Pen
By LEUCHTTURM1917 | Premium Notebooks, Bullet Journals ... | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: How-to Guides
Step-by-step instructions to replace the refill in your Drehgriffel Nr. 1 ballpoint or Nr. 2 pencil, plus how to pick the right refill size and avoid common mistakes.
Quick answer
To refill a Drehgriffel Nr. 1, unscrew the barrel, pull out the spent refill, and drop in a compatible ballpoint or gel refill before screwing the barrel back on. For the Drehgriffel Nr. 2, twist the top to extend the lead, then slide a 0.7 mm HB lead into the tip and twist it back in. Match the refill type to your pen model first, because Nr. 1 and Nr. 2 take different consumables.
Match the refill to your Drehgriffel model
The Drehgriffel Nr. 1 is a ballpoint pen, so it takes ink refills. The Drehgriffel Nr. 2 is a mechanical pencil, so it takes 0.7 mm HB leads. The two are not interchangeable, and ordering the wrong one is the most common reason a refill order gets returned. Check the number stamped on your pen before you buy.
Pick the right refill size and ink for Nr. 1
Nr. 1 refills come in two formats. Ballpoint refills are sold in packs of two and come in Royal Blue, Black, Red, or Green, with Flow F, Flow M, or Flow B stroke widths. Gel refills are sold singly in Royal Blue or Black with a 0.5 mm stroke. Flow F is the finest line, Flow M is the middle, and Flow B is the boldest. If you write on documents that need to hold up over time, choose a document-proof ink such as Flow Black; the Monocle Drehgriffel Nr. 1 ships with Flow Black and is ISO 12757-2 document-proof.
Stock the right lead for Nr. 2
The Nr. 2 takes 0.7 mm HB graphite leads in graphite gray, supplied in packs of 12. Keep a pack in your desk drawer so a broken lead never stops a writing session. Because the leads are standard 0.7 mm HB, you can swap in any compatible lead of the same size, but staying with the supplied pack keeps the line weight consistent.
When to replace instead of refill
Refilling is almost always the right move, but if the twist mechanism on your Drehgriffel feels gritty or the barrel no longer seats flush after reassembly, the pen itself may need service rather than a new refill. In that case, a replacement pen is usually simpler than repairing a worn mechanism. The Monocle Drehgriffel Nr. 1 is a precision-milled aluminum and brass option if you want a second pen for a different ink color.
Refill steps
- Identify your model: Check whether your pen is a Nr. 1 (ballpoint, takes ink refills) or Nr. 2 (pencil, takes 0.7 mm HB leads). The model number is marked on the pen. Checkpoint: if you cannot find the number, test whether the tip is a metal cone (Nr. 1) or a lead sleeve (Nr. 2).
- For Nr. 1: unscrew the barrel: Hold the lower barrel and twist the upper section counterclockwise until the two halves separate. Do this over a desk so small parts do not roll away. Common mistake: forcing the barrel when it binds can strip the threads — if it resists, stop and check for cross-threading.
- For Nr. 1: swap the refill: Pull the spent refill straight out of the lower barrel and slide the new ballpoint or gel refill in until it seats. Match the refill type to the pen: ballpoint refills are pack of 2; gel refills are pack of 1. Checkpoint: the refill should sit flush with no wobble before you reassemble.
- For Nr. 2: load a new lead: Twist the top of the pen to retract any remaining lead, then slide a single 0.7 mm HB lead into the tip opening and twist the top to advance it. Keep the spare leads in the pack of 12. Common mistake: inserting a lead while the mechanism is extended can jam it — always retract first.
- Reassemble and test: Screw the Nr. 1 barrel back together hand-tight, or twist the Nr. 2 top to extend the lead. Write a few strokes on scrap paper to confirm ink flow or lead advance. Checkpoint: if the pen skips or the lead slips, disassemble and reseat the refill or lead before writing further.
Refills and pens mentioned
- Refill for Drehgriffel Nr. 1: Refills for the Drehgriffel Nr. 1: ballpoint in Royal Blue, Black, Red, or Green with Flow F, Flow M, or Flow B stroke widths (pack of 2); gel in Royal Blue or Black with a 0.5 mm stroke (pack of 1). Lets you match ink color and line width to how you write, and buy the correct format for a ballpoint Nr. 1.
- .7 mm Refills for Drehgriffel Nr. 2, Pack of 12: 0.7 mm HB graphite leads in graphite gray for the Drehgriffel Nr. 2, pack of 12. The exact consumable the Nr. 2 pencil needs, so you can refill without guessing the lead size.
- Monocle Drehgriffel Nr. 1: Monocle Drehgriffel Nr. 1 ballpoint in precision-milled aluminum and brass, supplied with a document-proof Flow Black ink refill (ISO 12757-2), 5.1 in. long; refill also available in Royal Blue. A good reference point if you want a second pen or a document-proof ink setup alongside your refill routine.
