The left needle is marked 1/2 and the right is just a Schmetz size 14 quilting needle (15x1). It's strange that the needles marked 1/2 don't skip and the 15's sometimes do. Not often, but just once in a while. Of course the 1/2 needles aren't marked with any manufacturer name or other info. More info on these 1/2 marked needles would be great.