Abstract: A mechanical pencil sharpener including a housing with a cutter assembly adapted to receive the end of a pencil along its longitudinal axis. The manual force associated with inserting a pencil into the cutter assembly causes the cutter assembly to slidably move along its longitudinal axis within the housing. Engaging means responsive to the axial slidable movement of the cutter assembly translates such slidable movement into simultaneous rotational movement of the cutter assembly. A spring is used to return the cutter assembly to its initial position when the pencil is withdrawn therefrom. A coupling means responsive to axial slidable movement of the cutter assembly in a forward or backward direction or both is employed to selectively actuate the engaging means.