Hi All,

I wonder if I can impose on the collective wisdom of the community for some perspective on the Sheaffer Valor.

When this pen was introduced, I found myself slightly underwhelmed, particularly in light of the high MSRP. I handled one at a show shortly after its debut, and I was favorably impressed, but the experience did little to change my views.

Over time, as positive reviews have accumulated, my resistance has begun to soften. But recently, another consideration has begun to tip the scales even more: the desire to own one of the last nibs to come out of Fort Madison.

(In candor, with no disrespect to the new stewards of the Sheaffer brand, I'd be fibbing if I said I had 100% confidence in the ability of the new makers of the Inlaid Nib - whoever they may be - to turn out an acceptable product. So who knows? The Valor's could be not only the last Fort Madison nib, but also the last Inlaid Nib, period. Just sayin'.)

So what do you think? Does anyone else find this a compelling reason to pick up a Valor...or am I allowing sentiment to overcome common sense? (Because, honestly, the price of a Valor could also buy several nice vintage Sheaffers.)

And one more question, for Valor owners and non-owners alike: which Valor color(s) do you find most attractive?

Thanks,

Jon

I have never warmed up to this pen. To me, it is too large -- especially the cap and clip. It looks top heavy. I can't imagine carrying it in my pocket. And, I think it looks like a Frankenpen. I think the pen would have worked much better aesthetically if it had an open nib, rather than the inlaid nib. The cap portion and pen portion don't look like they really go together. I don't believe any Sheaffers with inlaid nibs have had screw-on caps, either, and to me that's another mismatch.

My other objection is the limited range of colors and finishes. I think there are a lot of interesting finish possibilities with this pen, and color combinations, but there are few choices. I'd like to see a much larger range of upscale finishes to match this upscale-priced pen. Then I think it might be a pen worth spending that kind of money for.

I've never written with this pen, though I understand they are very nice writers. So, that has to count for something.

The Valor with upscale, imaginative finishes and an open nib would work better. Then put the inlaid nib on a revised Targa -- maybe a pen similar to the old Targa but with a more streamlined appearance to make it different.

Dave

I don't have a Valor but suggest that if you want a new inlaid nib, this is probably the pen to get. I sincerely doubt that you will see these made again. It just takes too long to learn how to make an inlaid nib properly and I doubt that Sheaffer's new owners are willing to invest the kind of time and money to train someone to acquire the skills to meet standards set by now-unemployed craftsmen.

Dave,

I couldn't agree more, and I'm on record decrying the pitifully inadequate range of finishes and colors. Nor do I think the Valor is the most aesthetically pleasing design possible; to my eyes, the cap looks downright ungainly.

Maybe it's just that the notion of having one of the last nibs to come out of Fort Madison - together with the attraction of the pen's apparent writing ability - has overridden my reservations. I will likely never think the Valor is the most beautiful pen in the cabinet, but I'm not sure I want to pass up what I secretly believe will turn out to be the very last Inlaid-Nib pen.

Anyway - still mulling it over. If only they would introduce a Roseglow Striated version...!

Cheers,

Jon

In general, I'm not a fan of the inlaid nib. The burgundy pen is really beautiful, though.
I'm considering getting one (especially it being Italian and all).

Agreed.

I remember the stories, a while back, about how Bic tried mightily to outsource Inlaid Nib production to another manufacturer, only to encounter QC rejection rates that prompted them to stay - temporarily - with Fort Madison.

The closure of the Fort Madison facility suggests that Bic believes that those issues have been resolved. So I'm a little bit surprised that there hasn't been a leaked rumor about the identity of the new nib maker. Maybe Bic has built up a monstrous inventory that will last as long as the Valor and Legacy are in the lineup...?

Cheers,

Jon

Myself, I love the Valor. I think it looks much better than the PFM-style pens overall. The cap does seem a bit big, but I think the "v" design under the White Dot is lovely. For me, the Targa and the Valor seem to fit the inlaid nib the best aesthetically. Don't get me wrong - the PFM-style pens feel and write great - but I just like a more streamlined design of the Valor better.

I've only tested a couple of Valors. No qualms in the writing or feel departments. Then again, I mostly write unposted. I hope to own one soon.

Best,
Summer Greer

I tested a Valor at a shop and (apart from the price tag) I found a problem in our relationship.
Normally, I hold the pen quite high. For example, when using my MB 146, my fingers are around the thread. When using my Sheaffer Balances, they are always on the thread. The same with my beloved Pel M600.
Using the Valor, I realized there there is a difference in diameter between the body and the section, and so the pen became unconfortable in my hands. The same happened when I tested a Waterman Exception, witch boasts a superb nib at the end of a unconfortable pen. Other Sheaffers, with a much reduced price tag, have the same design (Prelude and Javelin come to mind): these pens "force" you to keep your fingers at the section, and so they are not that confortable to me.
Of the Sheaffers still in production, I still prefer the Legacy Heritage.

I found a great deal on both a Legacy Heritage and a Valor in fine point, about half of retail so I got both. Anyway, I hated the nib on the Legacy Heritage, it wrote like a broad nib. The Valor write like a true fine nib, with average ink flow, almost a bit scratchy. I prefer the looks and feel of the Valor, and use it almost daily. The Legacy Heritage, well it was sent off to have the nib reground to be an XXF. I do not have an XXF fine in my collection, and I figured I had nothing to loose since I hated the pens origianl nib.

My opinion, get a Valor if you want one!