The Sheaffer Aspen Balance

[JonRis]

Hallo!

 

I have a Sheaffer Aspen looking exactly as the photo on the top of this thread but

with TWO gold bands in the cap instead of just ONE as in the photo.... Are these

different models, or?? Great pen by the way - use it a lot!

 

Jon

[georges zaslavsky]

Nice pen and thanks for sharing

[M@rtin]

very good looking pen. Enjoy.

[Hennypenny]

Hallo!

 

I have a Sheaffer Aspen looking exactly as the photo on the top of this thread but

with TWO gold bands in the cap instead of just ONE as in the photo.... Are these

different models, or?? Great pen by the way - use it a lot!

 

Jon

 

 

Mine also has 2 gold bands. Also, the trim is gold, not silver (as stated in the review). Are there different versions?

 

I bought mine several years ago, and it came in the Aspen box with a bottle of Sheaffer ink.

 

HP

[Heartsleeve]

I bought the Sheaffer ASPEN from Fahrney's back in 2000, and the lip of the cap cracked a tiny half moon chunk the very first time I posted it. Cleaned it up and put it right back in its fancy box and never touched it again. What a waste of a BEAUTIFUL PEN.

[Boston Brian]

I love these pens, but they are brittle and very fragile, easily broken, I,'ve had two of them, and despite my being careful, but pens cracked.

[Drone]

I love these pens, but they are brittle and very fragile, easily broken, I,'ve had two of them, and despite my being careful, but pens cracked.

 

The all black Balance-II's are much less fragile than the colored models, which tend to have (at-least) cracked cap lips. I have a black Shearffer's Balance-II - it's a work-horse in regular rotation. Zero problems except for one thing - the cap threads are not very smooth. But that's a common problem with most Balance-II's.

 

Balance-II's come with either two-tone or single-tone gold nibs. The two-tone nibs are very attractive provided the plating is done properly (often it isn't). But from my experience, the less expensive (and less visually attractive) single-tone gold nibs handle better - there's a some of flex and springiness to them. But that's just my experience - YMMV.

 

If you're going to buy a Sheaffer's Balance, avoid the Balance-II in any color except black. Preferably go for a full-size vintage Balance instead.