Sheaffer Legacy 2

[sirach]

I know that I should never walk into a brick and mortar pen shop without an idea of what I am coming to look at...

 

Over the Easter weekend (end of March, beginning of April, 2013) my family was in Little Rock. I have a habit of visiting several places... not least of all, Vanness Pens. As much as I would like to make a plug for them, the reality is, they still exist because they do what they do so well, and their work speaks for itself.

 

Needless to say, there are a handful of pens that I have bought online, but I generally try out the more expensive ones... you never know... there are always little differences even within the same make and model.

 

I went in with some intention of test driving a sailor pen, trying to talk myself into a Parker Vanishing Point, pondering the Faber-Castell basic, I even thought about the Waterman Exception. I loved the nibs on the Sailors, not sure about the body... still can't get over the clip placement on the Vanishing Point... the Basic did not sit right with me... and I am still fascinated by the Waterman Exception.

 

I perused the cases... tried several pens...

 

Eventually, I made it to the Sheaffer case.

 

I had made an offhand comment to Mike Vanness several months ago about my perceived decline in the quality of Sheaffer products, he told me I shouldn't give up too easily on them, they still had several great products. Several months ago I tried a Legacy and I wasn't sure. I liked how it felt, I liked the nib... but I couldn't get over the "modern Sheaffer" hang up.

 

Shortly after I had tried the Legacy... I acquired a MontBlanc 149. I did a writeup here... Review of the MontBlanc 149 by a former anti-montblancite

 

Somewhere in there FPN's jar reminded me of the Legacy and of PFMs... That has stayed on my mind...

 

So THIS trip, after trying it once before, after writing with a MB 149 for several months... when Mike took the Legacy 2 out of the case... it didn't take much convincing. I haven't looked back.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mF4BRtUOqg/UV5OLyhnZmI/AAAAAAAAB28/TWIrx0gDMis/s640/IMG_0646+(1024x683).jpg

 

I got the black lacquer with gold trim. I have wondered if I should have gotten one with a silver cap... but when I see pictures of them all together, my eyes are always drawn to this one.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyLQPWNrwLc/UV5OMn5HnrI/AAAAAAAAB3I/HGn6MiFffGU/s640/IMG_0648+(1024x440).jpg

 

It is a hefty pen. Lite pens make my hand cramp. It is not in any way unbalanced. I am not in the habit of posting my caps, but I could if I wanted to, and it would not make the pen unwieldy.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3NeD8aqZOMw/UV5ON9499HI/AAAAAAAAB3U/EQkVffWEfkQ/s640/IMG_0656+(1024x683).jpg

 

I love the inlaid nib. I went for a medium, and I would say it is fairly true to that. The section is also very nice. I would say it has a very similar girth to a Lamy 2000, but it barely tapers. The cap is held in place by an O-ring on this model. I have tried several hand holds, and they are all comfortable. I wrote lesson plans and lecture notes with it and did not have any problems with fingers slipping on the lacquer or finding any annoying bumps, threads, etc.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wTUenYWlRUo/UV5OODsrMmI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/yV4sGaNcqxA/s640/IMG_0659+(1024x683).jpg

 

In my ignorance, I had glossed over the filling mechanism until after I bought it. I know the pen is a reincarnation of the PFM (Pen for Men) and I am aware of the touchdown filling system... but it really is a treat. It really works well. I also like the idea that I can swap out the touchdown adapter with a cartridge. I don't think I have used a cartridge in close to 15 years... but the adaptability is nice.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru185Gex-vY/UV5OOcGxP6I/AAAAAAAAB3g/Vd5kxnid4ig/s640/IMG_0661+(1024x627).jpg

 

I will admit to being mystified by the touchdown filling system. I understand that it compresses the chamber when you depress the plunger... essentially squeezing the sack inside the converter, and that a small grove in the end of the rod allows air back in, allowing the sack to return to normal and suck in ink... but how does it let air in when you are pulling the plunger out... The only thing I can figure is that the plunger rod tapers ever so slightly at the end...

 

Also, how difficult are these to repair if something breaks? I guess there is always the cartridge or squeeze converter options...

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guxGRHfykvg/UV5SDAestYI/AAAAAAAAB34/J6QZtUz2jZQ/s640/IMG_0673+(1024x879).jpg

 

Comparing it to other pens... from left to right: Noodler's Nib Creeper, Sheaffer 330, Lamy 2000, Sheaffer Legacy 2, Noodler's Ahab, Lamy Safari, MontBlanc 149. I thought about throwing a few others in there... but I had a black pen theme going... so I stuck with it.

 

I am happy with the pen. If you have been on the fence and can find one... go for it. I don't know about the Legacy 1 or the Heritage... but I like the Legacy 2...

Edited April 5, 2013 by sirach

[PS104]

I enjoyed reading it anyway

Thanks

[jar]

Repair is pretty much a snap like all Touchdown systems, a few o-rings and swap out the current filler for one of the old press fillers.

 

The differences in the three versions are pretty minor, the Legacy is just like yours except the endcap is squared off like on the PFM. Yours has a rounded conical end cap. The Heritage drops the TD system and is straight, simple, C/C.

[sirach]

Good to know. I don't plan on it needing repair anytime soon, but I like to know my pens... you never know. Now to find one with the Sterling Silver Barleycorn...

[vannesspen]

I know that I should never walk into a brick and mortar pen shop without an idea of what I am coming to look at...

 

Over the Easter weekend (end of March, beginning of April, 2013) my family was in Little Rock. I have a habit of visiting several places... not least of all, Vanness Pens. As much as I would like to make a plug for them, the reality is, they still exist because they do what they do so well, and their work speaks for itself.

 

Needless to say, there are a handful of pens that I have bought online, but I generally try out the more expensive ones... you never know... there are always little differences even within the same make and model.

 

I went in with some intention of test driving a sailor pen, trying to talk myself into a Parker Vanishing Point, pondering the Faber-Castell basic, I even thought about the Waterman Exception. I loved the nibs on the Sailors, not sure about the body... still can't get over the clip placement on the Vanishing Point... the Basic did not sit right with me... and I am still fascinated by the Waterman Exception.

 

I perused the cases... tried several pens...

 

Eventually, I made it to the Sheaffer case.

 

I had made an offhand comment to Mike Vanness several months ago about my perceived decline in the quality of Sheaffer products, he told me I shouldn't give up too easily on them, they still had several great products. Several months ago I tried a Legacy and I wasn't sure. I liked how it felt, I liked the nib... but I couldn't get over the "modern Sheaffer" hang up.

 

Shortly after I had tried the Legacy... I acquired a MontBlanc 149. I did a writeup here... Review of the MontBlanc 149 by a former anti-montblancite

 

Somewhere in there FPN's jar reminded me of the Legacy and of PFMs... That has stayed on my mind...

 

So THIS trip, after trying it once before, after writing with a MB 149 for several months... when Mike took the Legacy 2 out of the case... it didn't take much convincing. I haven't looked back.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mF4BRtUOqg/UV5OLyhnZmI/AAAAAAAAB28/TWIrx0gDMis/s640/IMG_0646+(1024x683).jpg

 

I got the black lacquer with gold trim. I have wondered if I should have gotten one with a silver cap... but when I see pictures of them all together, my eyes are always drawn to this one.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HyLQPWNrwLc/UV5OMn5HnrI/AAAAAAAAB3I/HGn6MiFffGU/s640/IMG_0648+(1024x440).jpg

 

It is a hefty pen. Lite pens make my hand cramp. It is not in any way unbalanced. I am not in the habit of posting my caps, but I could if I wanted to, and it would not make the pen unwieldy.

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3NeD8aqZOMw/UV5ON9499HI/AAAAAAAAB3U/EQkVffWEfkQ/s640/IMG_0656+(1024x683).jpg

 

I love the inlaid nib. I went for a medium, and I would say it is fairly true to that. The section is also very nice. I would say it has a very similar girth to a Lamy 2000, but it barely tapers. The cap is held in place by an O-ring on this model. I have tried several hand holds, and they are all comfortable. I wrote lesson plans and lecture notes with it and did not have any problems with fingers slipping on the lacquer or finding any annoying bumps, threads, etc.

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wTUenYWlRUo/UV5OODsrMmI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/yV4sGaNcqxA/s640/IMG_0659+(1024x683).jpg

 

In my ignorance, I had glossed over the filling mechanism until after I bought it. I know the pen is a reincarnation of the PFM (Pen for Men) and I am aware of the touchdown filling system... but it really is a treat. It really works well. I also like the idea that I can swap out the touchdown adapter with a cartridge. I don't think I have used a cartridge in close to 15 years... but the adaptability is nice.

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ru185Gex-vY/UV5OOcGxP6I/AAAAAAAAB3g/Vd5kxnid4ig/s640/IMG_0661+(1024x627).jpg

 

I will admit to being mystified by the touchdown filling system. I understand that it compresses the chamber when you depress the plunger... essentially squeezing the sack inside the converter, and that a small grove in the end of the rod allows air back in, allowing the sack to return to normal and suck in ink... but how does it let air in when you are pulling the plunger out... The only thing I can figure is that the plunger rod tapers ever so slightly at the end...

 

Also, how difficult are these to repair if something breaks? I guess there is always the cartridge or squeeze converter options...

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-guxGRHfykvg/UV5SDAestYI/AAAAAAAAB34/J6QZtUz2jZQ/s640/IMG_0673+(1024x879).jpg

 

Comparing it to other pens... from left to right: Noodler's Nib Creeper, Sheaffer 330, Lamy 2000, Sheaffer Legacy 2, Noodler's Ahab, Lamy Safari, MontBlanc 149. I thought about throwing a few others in there... but I had a black pen theme going... so I stuck with it.

 

I am happy with the pen. If you have been on the fence and can find one... go for it. I don't know about the Legacy 1 or the Heritage... but I like the Legacy 2...

Thank you for the vote of confidence in our store- and our pen knowledge!

[sirach]

 

I know that I should never walk into a brick and mortar pen shop without an idea of what I am coming to look at...

 

Over the Easter weekend (end of March, beginning of April, 2013) my family was in Little Rock. I have a habit of visiting several places... not least of all, Vanness Pens. As much as I would like to make a plug for them, the reality is, they still exist because they do what they do so well, and their work speaks for itself.

 

.................

Thank you for the vote of confidence in our store- and our pen knowledge!

 

 

You are most welcome. I will admit to occasionally buying a pen on-line... but I am of the opinion that you can't really get to know a pen from pictures and descriptions... every pen is different. Writing instruments are a fairly personal item and I think it takes a test drive to really pick out a pen. I am glad you guys exist. I hope you guys are still in business in 75 years.

[georges zaslavsky]

I have two legacy 2s and they are among my favorite pens

Edited May 9, 2013 by georges zaslavsky

[breaker]

nice review and pics!

thanks!

[Harlequin]

What are the approximate years of the Legacy versus the Legacy 2?

[jar]

What are the approximate years of the Legacy versus the Legacy 2?

The Legacy is mid to late 90s.

 

Legacy 2 1999 to around 2003.

 

Legacy Heritage 2003 through today.

[david6]

I have the Legacy 1, Legacy 2 and the Legacy Heritage. My favourite, and I don't know why, is the Legacy 1. The best finish in my opinion is the black lacquer with gold trim which my Legacy 1 & 2 both are.

 

Excellent fountain pens

Edited July 9, 2013 by david6

[bone215]

Nice looking pen and nice review.

We have a number of Parkers, albeit the inexpensive ones. The have been failure free over the years. Can't ask for much more than that.

[Mhawke7894]

Thank you for the vote of confidence in our store- and our pen knowledge!

You wouldn't happen to have any other Legacy 2s lying around would you?

[vannesspen]

You wouldn't happen to have any other Legacy 2s lying around would you?

Yes we do have more of the Legacy 2's - 3 color options

[Montblanc owner and lover]

Wonderful review...i love this pen.

[DM48]

Fabulous looking pen. I don't usually go for the modern looking pen but this one is exceptional.

[PatientType]

Thanks. I enjoyed your review and pics. I have a Legacy II and it's a keeper - one of the more under-rated fountain pens I'd say.

[mrchan]

Touchdown is an awesome filling system. I have a really beautiful Sheaffer Imperial IV Sterling silver with that filling mechanism too. Too bad the newer legacy pens are cc. I did consider getting that sheaffer that you had at some stage but some Montblancs got in the way..and they keep getting in the way!

[John56]

Does this pen use the Sheaffer piston converter, squeeze converter or can it use both

 

Thanks

[jar]

Does this pen use the Sheaffer piston converter, squeeze converter or can it use both

 

Thanks

The Legacy and Legacy 2 are touchdown models. If the pen need a new sac the squeeze filler is a direct substitute. I've never tried to see if a twist piston filler will fit in the Legacy or Legacy 2. It will in the Legacy Heritage.

Edited December 22, 2016 by jar