New Sheaffer Classic Calligraphy Pens

[Ashland]

While browsing in Barnes & Noble a week ago, I headed over to the writing section where all the stationery, pens, stickers, journals, and lapdesks can be found.

 

I was very happy to discover that Sheaffer has introduced another calligraphy pen.

 

http://www.sheaffer.com/calligraphy/pens/

 

The black-bodied pens have the same nib and section as the Sheaffer ViewPoint with the exception that the fine nib section is of red plastic. The medium has dark blue plastic, and the broad has green plastic. The color of the plastic makes it very easy to identify which nib is being used if one doesn't want to peer at the letter on the nib. If one purchases a Maxi Kit, the tops of the slanted caps have red, green, or blue labels to indicate when nib is in which pen. I was cheap and purchased the Mini Kit for around $12. I received one pen, three nibs, and four ink cartridges. As I use fine calligraphy nibs for everyday writing, I couldn't justify the extra expense of pen bodies I wouldn't use.

 

How do these pens differ from the ViewPoints?

 

Caps:

The cap of a ViewPoint will snap onto the new Classic pen and hold fairly well, but the cap of a Classic will fall off of a ViewPoint. The top of a ViewPoint cap is flat; the top of a new Classic is slanted, & some have labels denoting the size of the nib. The clips are similar, but the new one has a raised white dot instead of the word, "Sheaffer." The ring at the bottom of the cap is much wider on the new pen, and the word, "Sheaffer," runs around the ring several times.

 

Nibs & Nib Sections:

I believe they are exactly the same expect for the color of the plastic in the nib section. The ViewPoint sections are of black plastic. ViewPoint nib sections will fit into the new pens and vice versa.

 

The Classic Calligraphy packaging says the fine nib is 0.8mm, the medium 1.3mm, and the broad 1.8mm.

 

Barrels:

ViewPoint barrels are available in at least red, blue, and green translucent plastic. The new pen barrels are of black plastic that cannot be seen through. However, the new pens have huge ink windows. Unlike the ink windows on a Lamy Safari, these are not smooth. When I run my thumb from one side of the ink window to the other, I can definitely feel a bit of sharpness. This doesn't interfere with my writing, but I wanted to point it out the engineering difference between the Lamy & the Sheaffer ink windows. I'm still using my first ink cartridge, a black one, and I can easily see how much ink I have left. It's also fun to watch the air bubble in the cartridge flow back and forth like the contents of a floaty pen. Yes, I am easily amused. The end of a ViewPoint barrell is flat and scooped out. The new pen has a slightly rounded end.

 

Cartridges:

They use the same Sheaffer cartridges. The website says a piston converter is available.

 

Overall Appearance:

The new Classic Calligraphy pens are much more elegant than the ViewPoint pens. If someone wanted a Goth or vampire pen, I'd definitely recommend the Classic Calligraphy with the fine nib's red section.

 

Ashland

[artaddict]

I just bought that same set today!!!

Been using the fine nib. Great ink flow.

[jd50ae]

Here we go again. Note to Sheaffer, "enough already".

[andromedia226]

I got the larger kit for $12 clearance at Office Max (Depot?) - I love the fine tip, and use it in class for notes. As a lefty the ink smears sometimes, but I love the line variation! Instantly makes my writing look better (not "good", but "better").

 

The fine nib can be a little scratchy, but I hardly notice it. Definitely not a dedicated writing pen though - I use it when I'm bored.