Mechanical characterization of the first generation of softwood kraft lignin-based carbon fibers (CF) was carried out. The single-fiber tensile tests of filaments with different diameters and length were performed to evaluate stiffness and strength of carbon fibers. The average mechanical properties were measured as follows: tensile strength of approximately 300 MPa, the elastic modulus of 30 GPa and a strain at failure within interval of 0.7-1.2%. The fiber strength data was evaluated by the two-parameter Weibull statistics and parameters of this distribution were obtained. Although strength of the produced fibers is still significantly lower than that of commercially available, the experimental results and predictions based on Weibull statistics show a fairly good fit. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3689-3697, 2013