I'm thinking about buying a Sheaffer Intrigue Seal (med. nib), but I'd like to know if anyone with experience of this pen can tell me anything about it. Would appreciate any info you can give me!

Thanks!

t!

As to the particular finish, no idea. As to the pen, see a previous post on the pen here. HTH, southpaw

Thanks for that link, southpaw. I'm a bit concerned about the number of Intrigues that seem prone to skipping, but...still might be worth giving it a chance. Seems that when the pen is not a skipper, owners are pleased as punch with it.

Hmmm...

t!

You may want to request that your dealer test the pen prior to shipping, if you are concerned about writing quality and skipping. Skipping is easy to test for.

I bought a seal rollerball for a going away present for a colleague. It is a nice design. Lighter and smaller than the Legacy which I have. Can't speak to the nib on this model, but I'm in love with Sheaffer nibs in general, soooo.... your decision.

Hmmmm, this is an ebay thing, though. I don't think the seller would be willing to ink a NIB pen. Which is ok, because in the mean time I think I've swayed closer to prefering the Whale Shark design.

But thanks PenHero, I'll keep it in mind to request testing of the pen.

t!

It's going to depend on the seller. Some (like us) will gladly pre-test a pen. If the customer matters, and all the risk is inking the pen, why not do it? I personally think people get way too concerned about pens being "mint". In the old days, your local pen counter would routinely ink pens for tryout and sell them afterward. I *do* think that proper disclosure is in order, "This pen was ink tested prior to sale." BTW - Many manufacturers ink test and dip pens. How are they mint?

I have a Black and Gold Intrigue with a medium nib. I love the way it writes. I have never had it skip on me. In fact, the more I have used it the better it seems to write. Very smooth.

But.... this little beauty is a leaker. I have not been able to figure it out. It leaks worse when I have the converter in, but it leaks with a cartridge as well. I do not notice it until I open the drawer to make a change -- and every change is a mess. I assume that it is not able to make a good seal when the drawer is screwed in. If I could make another 3/4 or full turn I dream it might make a difference, but no luck. When I take the nib off, the converter looks tight against the end of the drawer. The converter problem really gives me heartache, because I like filling from a bottle -- but what a mess.

Based only on the writing abilities, I love the pen. But I just ruined a good pair of pants when I unscrewed the pen to change the converter to a cartridge without thinking. Grrr....

Dear Fred,

It does sound like the drawer is not fully closing, so the cartridge or converter is probably not fully seating, and that would be where the leak is forming. Many don't know that the barrel of the Intrigue is actually plastic with a two piece metal overlay. If the threads of the drawer are not fully meshing with the inner barrel threads, then proper seating won't happen. I would recommend you return the pen to Sheaffer and ask them to replace the barrel.

Thanks for the advice Jim! I will be out of the country for a few more weeks, but when I get back I think I'll give them a call.

I have almost every Intrigue color they make (Just missing Black & Gold, but I have multiple Blues, Aburgines & Seals). I got most of my Intrigues from Pen Hero. I also have every nib they make for Intrigue except the BB (yet! I have to nib exchange for it). I have found that the gold nibs (Blue on Blue & Black and Gold) write wetter than the paladium plated gold nibs. The Fine, Extra Fine & Stub nibs tend to skip if with a palladium nib and a drier ink, like Noodler's black. I don't have that problem when using Waterman's ink or suprisingly, Sheaffer's cartridges. But that's not as fun as the unique converter. If I have a combo that often skips, like Noodler's black in my Silken Bark with stub nib, I point it nib up, pull out the tiny cap & twist until I can see the wet ink, twist it back a bit and it writes great for many hours. With the gold stub it will write great until it is out of ink. You might consider the Blue on Blue instead of the Seal or ask Sheaffer to swap for a gold nib if you have that problem. Nib Swaps are only $10.