We came all this way to go back to woodless?
 
As the name implies, these are solid sticks of graphite, the lead is about the diameter of a common pencil, which have no wood casing. Dipped in plastic, to keep you hands clean, they are used primarily for art purposes as the lack of casing allows for larger more free and interesting effects. They are available in the same darkness range as wood-encased graphite pencils. Don't drop them as they break easily.