As of this date, they are currently listed on the Staedtler North America web site (http://www.staedtler.ca/norica_na.Staedtler), among other Staedtler sites. They are fairly widely available in Canada (all three major office supply stores–Staples, Office Depot & Grand & Toy–carry them, among other places). But less so in the USA. Perhaps because the Staedler’s North American offices are now located in Canada.

Two grades are available, HB & 2H. They come pre-sharpened; mostly in plastic packs as in the above blog post, but also now on the official website there seems to be a cardboard package available. Have that unique dark-blue paint; not the same as a Mars Lumograph, but depending on your eye, a more “luxurious” color than standard pencil-yellow. “Break-resistant thanks to super-bonded lead”; likely the same lead used in the Noris Club and other second-tier Staedtler pencils.

Have a “latex-free white vinyl eraser tip”. Its not the same formulation as a genuine Mars Plastic eraser, though; it does not erase as cleanly as a Plastic on paper. But still better/easier on paper than most pink erasers. Nice weight, heavier than low cost pencils. Unknown wood, almost certainly not cedar. Basswood?

Still made in Thailand as of this date. The graphic near the eraser has changed as of this date, though. Instead of the pictured “HB2″, it now looks like “HB 2″ with the 2 having a square silver background with the number in the blue pencil paint raised off it.

From what I have seen in stores in Canada, they appear to be priced at an identical price point and compete directly with the two other widely available “higher quality” pencils: the Dixon Ticonderoga & PaperMate Mirado. Which means more expensive than low end pencils: house brands, Dixon Economiser (Canada)/Dixon No. 2 (USA) & PaperMate Canadiana (Canada)/PaperMate American (USA). Not anywhere close to the Mars Lumograph, though. About $2.70 CND average for a pack of 12.

Finally, the quality control on the packs seems good; no problems seen on any of several packs purchased so far. Which is more than I can say for recent Mirado packs.

So looks like a decent choice if you want to use woodcase pencils for basic writing needs. And/or you want some of that Staedtler pencil “mystique” at an affordable price.

The older Norica has no cap or eraser.

One other fact: the older Noricas are imprinted in the “left-handed” style, text written from cap to point.