Going To Get A Sheaffer But Which One To Get? There Is Imperial Ii Or Iii (Medium) And 330 440 (Fine) Or A Targa (Medium)? Difference In Nibs?

[fezz4734]

I have found a new fountain pen I would like to get, I have so far 2 parker 45 (medium and fine), lamy safari, and a montblanc. I wanted to get a new pen and seems like sheaffer has gotten some good reviews. I don't know which to get though and how thin their fine nib actually is? Does their fine nib compare to parker 45 fine nib? The 330 and 440 have both fine nibs no medium option. The imperials III and II have medium and fine options and Targa medium as well. Is there a difference in how well they write at all? I think I read somewhere a fine compares to a lamy safari XF? I do like how my parker fine and medium write but I usually lean more towards my medium. Would anyone recommend an Imperial II or III medium over the fine 330, 440? I think the only difference between some of these pens are trims, any advice on which to choose would be greatly appreciated!

[Cryptos]

I would strongly suggest giving @Teri at Peyton Street Pens a call (or an email). She sorted me out in exemplary fashion!

[lisadan]

I prefer the Targa to the other models, but that's only my personal preference, not based on quality comparison. I just like the design. I have several Classic Targas with M and F nibs and one Slim with M nib. All are good and smooth writers, whether gold or steel nib.

[00Photo]

I fell for this one. Sheaffer Legacy Fantasy.

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

Beautiful pics!

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[zap210]

The Shaeffer imperial deluxe II's are really good writers and quite cheap. Available from Peyton St. Anything with their conical nib is usually very good.

[GUNGA GALUNGA]

Is there a term for a Fountain pen that has the nib attached to it in that fashion?

[fezz4734]

Is there a term for a Fountain pen that has the nib attached to it in that fashion?

 

I believe it's called an inlaid nib and many others have made pens this way

[Lou Erickson]

The Waterman Carene does a similar thing, and it's very attractive.

 

Love that orange pen!

 

Teri over at Peyton Street has a NOS Sheaffer pair of an Imperial II, with a touchdown filler and conical Triumph nib, and a, Imperial 440 with the inlaid nib. It's a tempting offer. I've personally managed to refrain so far, because I have several touchdown fillers with conical Triumph nibs - they're very nice writers, but I don't need more. The 440's tempting me on it's own, though.

 

No affiliation with Peyton Street other than satisfied customer and happy window-shopper.

[OcalaFlGuy]

 

I believe it's called an inlaid nib and many others have made pens this way

 

I am not aware of any inlaid nibs that looked like the Sheaffer one's.

 

Sheaffer even had a hard time making them outside of Ft. Madison, Iowa. After U.S.A. production was shut down, Sheaffer brought a number of the workers out of retirement to make a couple batches of I think Legacy nib sections as their new supplier of nibs was Unable to make acceptable inlaid nibs as Sheaffer had been making them.

 

I would go so far as to say the Sheaffer inlaid is as recognizable as a Sheaffer as the fully hooded nib is a Parker.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

[dali3464]

 

I am not aware of any inlaid nibs that looked like the Sheaffer one's.

 

Sheaffer even had a hard time making them outside of Ft. Madison, Iowa. After U.S.A. production was shut down, Sheaffer brought a number of the workers out of retirement to make a couple batches of I think Legacy nib sections as their new supplier of nibs was Unable to make acceptable inlaid nibs as Sheaffer had been making them.

 

I would go so far as to say the Sheaffer inlaid is as recognizable as a Sheaffer as the fully hooded nib is a Parker.

 

Bruce in Ocala, Fl

 

Just supplementing Bruce's excellent response. He's right, I don't think there are any other manufacturers of Sheaffer's unique inset nib. There are nibs that look very similar, but technically there is a distinction between the inlaid nibs of Sheaffer, and the inset nibs of say, the Waterman Carene. Richard Binder on his website explains that the main difference is of manufacturing: for Sheaffer's inlaid nib, the completed nib is placed into a mold cavity and the shell injection moulded around the nib to form an 'inseparable assembly'. With inset nibs, the nibs are placed into an opening of the completed shell and secured with an adhesive.