Sheaffers, Modern

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Sheaffer 100

Color: Red
Material: Lacquered steel
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 2012-14
Nib: M Steel
Working? Yes

Nice looking pen, but as much as I love Sheaffers, this one disappoints. The seal between the section nipple and the converter is awful. It won’t even seal enough to fill properly, and if one uses a full converter, it leaks like mad (not surprisingly!). It’s a shame, because it’s a smart pen, but it’s pretty much unusable, and it’s sort of put me off new Sheaffers.

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Sheaffer 500 Desk Pen

Color: Burgundy
Material: Plastic
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1962-84
Nib: M Steel
Working? Yes

Another oddball from Sheaffer’s mid-century lineup: the ‘Dolphin’ nib. An odd mimic of the inlaid nib, the ‘dolphin’ nibs ranged from basic steel to 14K, both hallmarked and unhallmarked. Designed to appeal to a lower pice bracket, these pens didn’t stay in production long, and are now sought after by collectors of mid-century Sheaffers. This one is a desk pen, with a huge caramel swirl marble base. Seems to be unused NOS condition, as pen and base still have stickers, though they are faded.

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Sheaffer 550 (Quasi-Imperial)

Color: Burgundy
Material: Plastic
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1970s?
Nib: GP Steel M Inlaid
Working? Yes

Yet another of the seemingly endless variants on the ‘Imperial’ of the 60s-80s. This one is a cartridge/converter model, with gold-plated trim. I’ve seen 550s with the ‘arrow’ shaped cutout as well as the short diamond, so who knows? It’s a Sheaffer inlaid nib, and I’ve yet to find a bad one, so I’m content, anyway….

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Sheaffer Fineline

Color: Black w/GP cap
Material: Plastic
Filler: Lever
Date c. 1950
Nib: Steel F
Working? Yes

One of Sheaffer’s sort-of spinoff brands, Fineline pens use a replaceable threaded nib unit similar to (but not compatible with) the Esterbrook Renew points. This one has a lovely steel fine. The body and cap feel noticeably ‘cheaper’ than a full on Sheaffer, but it’s definitely holds its own as a mid-range writing instrument.

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Sheaffer Imperial 2797

Color: GP lined
Material: GP brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1994-1999
Nib: 14K F inlaid
Working? Yes

This is NOS from the Sheaffer factory in Iowa. Very similar to the Imperial 777, but the nib is longer, extending over halfway down the section, and has the more commonly seen diamond cutout. The barrel bears the Lifetime Crown imprint. It’s a solid, hefty feeling pen, but it’s not a big one, so it fits nicely in the hand. It has a fairly wet fine inlaid nib – which I adore! Gorgeous pen.

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Sheaffer Imperial 777

Color: GP Lined
Material: GP
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1980
Nib: 14K Arrowhead inlaid, M
Working? Yes

This is a later Imperial, c. 1980 or so, when Sheaffer started using the ‘arrowhead’ nib, previously only seen on the later Triumph pens, in its Imperial line. It lacks the crown imprint of the earlier model, but aside from that and the different nib shape, it’s essentially the same pen. A lovely writer, well balanced, and reliable. Great pen!

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Sheaffer Imperial VII

Color: Black w/ GP Cap
Material: Resin, GP
Filler: Touchdown
Date c. 1960s
Nib: XXF 14K Inlaid
Working? Yes

Beautiful vintage Imperial, some brassing to the GP cap, but otherwise great condition. Insanely fine point, one of the finest I’ve ever written with! I’d call this an accountant point, perhaps? (And too fine for me, so it doesn’t get much use.)

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Sheaffer Intrigue

Color: Petrol
Material: Chrome & Steel
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. c. 200-2005
Nib: M 14K/Palladium Inlaid
Working? Yes

I’ve been wanting an Intrigue since they were still in production. The weren’t around long, but I finally caught one. It’s a quirky beast, to be sure, with a very odd and proprietary filling system, but it’s gorgeous! The inlaid nib almost recalls the dolphin’ nib seen in the 1960s, but is fully inlaid. Since it’s a little fiddly, I don’t use it much, but I do love it! Has a ballpoint companion as well.

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Sheaffer Lady Sheaffer (Skripsert VIII)

Color: Gold Ballicon (Tulle)
Material: GP Brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1955
Nib: 14K M
Working? Yes

A gorgeous little Lady Sheaffer set, in fantastic shape. Has a nearly mint case with a box of cartridges (dried out, but there) intact. Both pen and pencil have a flawless finish, pen seems to write well. I do wish there was a reliable converter for the Skripsert line; they are some really lovely pens!

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Sheaffer Pen For Men III "PFM"

Color: Burgundy
Material: Plastic, GP band
Filler: Snorkel
Date c. 1959-68
Nib: 14K M Inlaid
Working? Yes

The only pen I own that is actually a family heirloom. I usually say my first Cross Townsend started my fountain pen habit, but really, it was this one. It belonged to my great uncle, Orville, and I found it after his death. No one else wanted it, so it became mine. I was maybe all of 12, and a fascination was born. Works very well, holds a load of ink, and a great writer.

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Sheaffer Prelude

Color: Tortoise
Material: Lacquer over brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1996
Nib: Steel M
Working? Yes

The Prelude is a nice mid-range pen offered by Sheaffer at the end of other product lines (like the Targa). They’ve drastically reduced the available finishes, though some are still in production, and I suspect the older ones will quickly become prized. While it lacks the grace of the inlaid nibs, the finish is gorgeous, and it’s a reliable and well-performing writer, roughly on par with Waterman’s Phileas (of which I’m also quite fond!), but with a slightly more substantial feel to it.

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Sheaffer Skripsert

Color: Black & GP cap
Material: Plastic, GP
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1960-64
Nib: F 14k / M 14K semi-exposed
Working? Yes

Two NOS Skripserts–though that’s. vague descriptor at best–both with chalk marked size & price on the barrel. Nice writers, but I either need to find converters for them, or get cartridges (which I probably won’t do).

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Sheaffer Targa

Color: Matte Black
Material: Lacquer over brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1980
Nib: 14K M
Working? Yes

I got my first Targa when I sent a vintage pen to Sheaffer for repairs. They sent it back, saying they were very sorry they no longer had parts to repair my pen, but would I accept this one as a gift? One helluva gift! Made me wish I had lots more old Sheaffers to send them…. I gave that one away (big mistake), but I have a few others now, and they are always pens I come back to. And of course, I really have never met a Sheaffer gold inlaid nib I didn’t like.

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Sheaffer Targa

Color: Flame Red Laqcue
Material: Lacquer over brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1990
Nib: 14K M
Working? Yes

Another Targa, and one of the pens that has gotten the most use. It’s compact, easy to hold, solid, writes like a dream. Inlaid nibs like this one have made me a Sheaffer gal for life.

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Sheaffer Targa Slim

Color: Black matte
Material: Lacquer over brass
Filler: Cartridge/Converter
Date c. 1980
Nib: 14K M
Working? Yes

Another inlaid nib that writes like a dream. The squeeze converter seems to have issues, and slim converters are notoriously hard to find. Someone recommended a MonteVerde mini-converter, but that leaked, so this darling doesn’t get much use. One day I’ll spring for a slim converter or (even better) find one in the wild)! Lovely, though!

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Sheaffer Target (or Imperial III)

Color: Evergreen
Material: Plastic
Filler: Touchdown
Date c. 1960-61
Nib: Palladium Triumph
Working? Yes

This is an odd bird; released right alongside the venerated PFM, first as the Target in 1960-61, then later as the Imperial III. Not a top of the line Sheaffer, but another nice TD with a Triumph nib that writes a fairly smooth medium line.

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Sheaffer Target (or Imperial III)

Color: Black
Material: plastic
Filler: Touchdown
Date c. 1960-61
Nib: F Palladium Triumph
Working? Yes

This is an odd bird; released right alongside the venerated PFM, first as the Target in 1960-61, then later as the Imperial III. Not a top of the line Sheaffer, but another nice TD with a Triumph nib that writes a very fine (a bit too fine for my tastes, unless i”m working on really cruddy paper), line.