A chuck (4) for grasping a writing lead and a rotor (6) arranged to be movable in a direction of rotation and an axial direction within a body cylinder (1). By axial movement of the rotor in conjunction with writing operation, the rotor rotates and the writing lead is also subjected to rotational movement. The writing lead can be inched out of the chuck by way of knock operation of the knock cover (26) arranged at a rear end port ion of the body cylinder. A separation part having a gap (G) is formed at any location along a knock operation transmitting path between the above-mentioned knock cover and the above-mentioned chuck, the separation part transmits the above-mentioned knock operation to the above-mentioned chuck and inhibits rotation operation from being transmitted.