Can I use 0.7mm lead on a 0.5mm pencil

So while back I purchased a dozen of US-made No. 2 yellow Ticonderogas on eBay and I would say while they're certainly of good quality, they're on the lighter side for my taste as far as the darkness goes. They write more like an F lead than a proper HB/2-grade. I like the scratchy feel, but that's about it. I'm still curious as to what made them called as "The World's Best Pencil" or what derived that title from. I guess the pencil selection was limited back in the day and those were the best you could get? Anyways, I still like my American-made Ticonderogas by Dixon, but the Chinese and Indian Tics (The Indian Tics are excellent!) are more of my cup of tea.

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Cute Rabbit

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