Sheaffer Legacy Heritage Interrupted Barleycorn Gt

[jar]

When I first saw the Sheaffer PFM I will admit that I was not all that impressed and it was long after the PFM had ceased production and dealers were really begging folk to clean out the old inventory that I bought my first one.

 

Note that I said first because the design simply grows on you and you find that no matter how much you resist, somehow it's necessary to get just one more.

 

The 70s came and went and the 80s and most of the 90s, and Sheaffer introduced the Legacy, a modern interpretation of the 1959-1968 PFM and so I just had to add one more.

 

But there was no snorkel and it was heavy and it just didn't feel the same and how could Sheaffer screw up a work of art and the closest thing to the perfect pen ever made and ...

 

... time passed and I began to notice how balanced the pen was and that it wrote just like a Sheaffer is supposed to write and it was smooth and looked great and ... was being used more often then my PFMs.

 

Maybe this isn't heresy, maybe they did know what they were doing, maybe I do need another Legacy

 

and then Legacy 2

 

and then Legacy Heritage, and soon I found I had more Legacy series pens and used the Legacy series pens far more then my PFMs.

 

http://www.fototime.com/6A5F0711410A74C/orig.jpg

From top to bottom: PFMV, two Legacy and then two Legacy 2s.

 

So far in this series of reviews we've looked at the plain Sterling Silver Legacy GT as seen in the center above and the Legacy Heritage Sterling Silver Victorian and now let's turn to one that came out about a year before the Victorian, the Legacy Heritage Interrupted Barleycorn GT.

 

http://www.fototime.com/38CD169C3F7A779/orig.jpg

As you can see it is a simple design of barleycorn guilloche interrupted by sold plain bars. Like all Sheaffer pens the look is timeless and classic, simple yet never boring, changing with the light and surroundings, becoming more than just a tool.

 

http://www.fototime.com/6070413BCDCE9E3/orig.jpg

It has the classic Sheaffer inlaid nib, is a cartridge converter (still using the old press bar squeeze converter), is boringly reliable, utterly smooth, great control, balance and feedback, just another near perfect pen.

 

http://www.fototime.com/36015CC36218B4B/orig.jpg

The nib on this one is a medium and like most Sheaffer mediums, very close to true width and a moderately wet writer. Right now it's filled with some Sheaffer Blue/Black ink that may even be older than the pen itself.

 

http://www.fototime.com/E02CA22CEFB3F19/orig.jpg

So, if the Plain Sterling is too plain, and the Victorian too fancy, maybe the Barleycorn GT will be just right.

Edited March 21, 2012 by jar

[hari317]

Nice pen! thanks for sharing Jar.

[Koyote]

Jar, I have always wanted that exact pen, but have never been able to justify the price. I have an old Targa with a barleycorn silver-plated finish, and it catches any light in a most attractive way - it sort of sparkles, even after over 25 years.

 

Thanks for the review and beautiful pics!

[jar]

Jar, I have always wanted that exact pen, but have never been able to justify the price. I have an old Targa with a barleycorn silver-plated finish, and it catches any light in a most attractive way - it sort of sparkles, even after over 25 years.

 

Thanks for the review and beautiful pics!

 

Keep your eyes open for one of the Legacy Heritage versions used. I've seen a few of them show up. The earlier Legacy version seems to crop up really seldom. There is also a version with the Platinum or Chrome trim instead of the GT.

[raging.dragon]

I have a plain Legacy Stirling (with stub nib too ), and the interupted barleycorn (in Legacy or Legacy Heritage form) is tempting. I have mixed feelings about the two Victorian LE's. It's not that I find them too busy, rather while I like both the ornate victorian engraving and the mid century modern design of the PFM and Legacy series, for me the two clash when combined. Now put the engraving on a pen like the YoL Viceroy Grand or a stirling Conway Stewart... .

Edited March 22, 2012 by raging.dragon

[breaker]

nice review and pics!

thanks!

[Malcy]

I have never used a PFM but I have a Legacy I, the same model as the 2nd Legacy down in your first picture. It is one of those pens that are great to write with and which you know will start first time, all the time and can be relied on.

[jar]

I have never used a PFM but I have a Legacy I, the same model as the 2nd Legacy down in your first picture. It is one of those pens that are great to write with and which you know will start first time, all the time and can be relied on.

 

Is yours the Black Laque with the Brushed Gold cap or the Sterling Silver?

 

So far I've never had any problem with any of my Legacy, Legacy 2 or Legacy Heritage pens. As I said above, they are boringly reliable.

[Malcy]

I have never used a PFM but I have a Legacy I, the same model as the 2nd Legacy down in your first picture. It is one of those pens that are great to write with and which you know will start first time, all the time and can be relied on.

 

Is yours the Black Laque with the Brushed Gold cap or the Sterling Silver?

 

So far I've never had any problem with any of my Legacy, Legacy 2 or Legacy Heritage pens. As I said above, they are boringly reliable.

 

It's the black laque with brushed gold cap (model 842). The only thing that I am not 100% about is the brushed gold finish. I much prefer the rolled gold cap finish of my Imperial VIII which looks like a thinner cousin of this Legacy.

[jar]

I have never used a PFM but I have a Legacy I, the same model as the 2nd Legacy down in your first picture. It is one of those pens that are great to write with and which you know will start first time, all the time and can be relied on.

 

Is yours the Black Laque with the Brushed Gold cap or the Sterling Silver?

 

So far I've never had any problem with any of my Legacy, Legacy 2 or Legacy Heritage pens. As I said above, they are boringly reliable.

 

It's the black laque with brushed gold cap (model 842). The only thing that I am not 100% about is the brushed gold finish. I much prefer the rolled gold cap finish of my Imperial VIII which looks like a thinner cousin of this Legacy.

 

The Brushed Gold has kinda grown on me; there is also a Legacy Heritage that is all brushed gold finish and so far it's been just like all the others, just flat out classic Sheaffer reliable even though it is one of the ones made in the Czech Republic.

[IWantThat]

I just bought a Legacy Heritage in deep-cut palladium, and I'm loving mine They really are nice pens.

[dweit]

Very nice. On a visit to the most recent Fountain Pen Hospital Open House, I entered with a shopping/wish list of perhaps half a dozen pens, none of which was a Sheaffer Legacy, yet that is what I walked out with, and have no regrets. One dip at the Sheaffer counter (as a courtesy to the very nice Sheaffer rep in attendance) both surprised and sold me. Super smooth and, well, just nice. The way you hope every fp will feel on first try. And it hasn't let me down since. Well balanced and just a great nib.

[jar]

Very nice. On a visit to the most recent Fountain Pen Hospital Open House, I entered with a shopping/wish list of perhaps half a dozen pens, none of which was a Sheaffer Legacy, yet that is what I walked out with, and have no regrets. One dip at the Sheaffer counter (as a courtesy to the very nice Sheaffer rep in attendance) both surprised and sold me. Super smooth and, well, just nice. The way you hope every fp will feel on first try. And it hasn't let me down since. Well balanced and just a great nib.

 

Neat. Which version did you get?

[dweit]

Very nice. On a visit to the most recent Fountain Pen Hospital Open House, I entered with a shopping/wish list of perhaps half a dozen pens, none of which was a Sheaffer Legacy, yet that is what I walked out with, and have no regrets. One dip at the Sheaffer counter (as a courtesy to the very nice Sheaffer rep in attendance) both surprised and sold me. Super smooth and, well, just nice. The way you hope every fp will feel on first try. And it hasn't let me down since. Well balanced and just a great nib.

 

Neat. Which version did you get?

 

I guess it would be a Legacy 2, Palladium, same as your 2nd from bottom in the picture of 5, with a medium nib

[jar]

Very nice. On a visit to the most recent Fountain Pen Hospital Open House, I entered with a shopping/wish list of perhaps half a dozen pens, none of which was a Sheaffer Legacy, yet that is what I walked out with, and have no regrets. One dip at the Sheaffer counter (as a courtesy to the very nice Sheaffer rep in attendance) both surprised and sold me. Super smooth and, well, just nice. The way you hope every fp will feel on first try. And it hasn't let me down since. Well balanced and just a great nib.

 

Neat. Which version did you get?

 

I guess it would be a Legacy 2, Palladium, same as your 2nd from bottom in the picture of 5, with a medium nib

 

The color may be off a little in that photo I fear, the next to bottom is the Lined Gold Jim Gaston Special Edition and the bottom is a Black Laque with the bright Palladium cap.

[dweit]

Very nice. On a visit to the most recent Fountain Pen Hospital Open House, I entered with a shopping/wish list of perhaps half a dozen pens, none of which was a Sheaffer Legacy, yet that is what I walked out with, and have no regrets. One dip at the Sheaffer counter (as a courtesy to the very nice Sheaffer rep in attendance) both surprised and sold me. Super smooth and, well, just nice. The way you hope every fp will feel on first try. And it hasn't let me down since. Well balanced and just a great nib.

 

Neat. Which version did you get?

 

I guess it would be a Legacy 2, Palladium, same as your 2nd from bottom in the picture of 5, with a medium nib

 

The color may be off a little in that photo I fear, the next to bottom is the Lined Gold Jim Gaston Special Edition and the bottom is a Black Laque with the bright Palladium cap.

 

Ah, well mine sure wouldn't be that! Just a plain old silver palladium. Interesting though, I knew there were a whole slew of Jim Gaston special edition Bexleys, but wasn't aware of Sheaffers.

[sexauerw]

I'm rather fond of the black pens with palladium caps. Here is my set, a PFM-IV along with one each of the three Legacy series.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j66/sexauerw/PFMIVand3Legacies.jpg

[jar]

That is certainly tie and tails uptown.

[pelman]

jar

 

another great review of a very nice pen. I actually have one of these and have been using it for the last few weeks. Absolutely love the feel of the silver and a great writing instrument.

 

regards

[jar]

jar

 

another great review of a very nice pen. I actually have one of these and have been using it for the last few weeks. Absolutely love the feel of the silver and a great writing instrument.

 

regards

 

Glad you like it. Which converter are you using in it, the older squeeze or newer piston?