Sheaffer Valor

[david6]

Just purchased a Sheaffer Valor in beautiful brown marble colour together with the rollerball. Delightful pen and a very good smooth medium nib that is great to write with I have this pen in black also but seeing the different colours at various pen shows made me look very carefully at them. Choice was between the brown and the burgundy - now I have the pen in my hand I think I have made the correct choice.

 

The pen writes perfectly 'out of the box' which is something that I feel is very important with a new pen.

[Mr Ink]

This is one of my best pens. It wrote magnificently out of the box and is a real pleasure to use. Mysteriously (for me), it appears not to have been such a success in FP sales.

[david6]

This is one of my best pens. It wrote magnificently out of the box and is a real pleasure to use. Mysteriously (for me), it appears not to have been such a success in FP sales.

 

That is a shame - the Valor is a really good pen and deserves to have good sales.

[OcalaFlGuy]

I seem to recall the retail pricing of them being north of $250. I suspect that had something to do with any less than stellar sales.

 

Also, think of the other inlaid nib Sheaffers the Targa and Imperial family. Both very classic and long running designs.

 

I was never that wowed with the Valor's styling, it was nice enough, but almost seemed like it was "working too hard at it" for lack of better wording. For some reason to me, the styling of the pen didn't work as well with the inlaid nib as it did with the Imperial family and the Targa.

 

So I think your lack of sales may have had something to do with a less than inspiring design and a higher price.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-it just screams ho-hum to me I guess

[gregamckinney]

I was going to mention the same MSRP issue that Bruce did. My recollection is that MSRP was near 400 when they were new. They were only offered in a few nib sizes as well- just F, M, B, and IIRC only M at the very beginning.

 

I'm a huge fan of the inlaid nib, so I picked one up a couple years ago for a fair price. Got a M, and then sent it to Greg Minuskin to be CI'ified.

 

Regard, greg

[OcalaFlGuy]

We all have our own *Wince* pricing points.

 

I start to grit my teeth around $150-175, by $300, I am past *Wince* and edging towards

full body tremor.

 

A year or so ago I saw the Valors on The Bay for $270-280. Like Greg I caught that inlaid nib winking at me and gave it a pretty close look over.

 

To me, it just wasn't a $300 pen. (It SURE Wasn't any $400 pen.)

 

(For $350-400 I think I could find one of the LE Classic Pen Sterling Legacies. IMO, the Valor isn't even in the same galaxy as those pens.)

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-beauty is in the eye of the checkbook holder though

[aawhite]

Just purchased a Sheaffer Valor in beautiful brown marble colour together with the rollerball. Delightful pen and a very good smooth medium nib that is great to write with I have this pen in black also but seeing the different colours at various pen shows made me look very carefully at them. Choice was between the brown and the burgundy - now I have the pen in my hand I think I have made the correct choice.

 

The pen writes perfectly 'out of the box' which is something that I feel is very important with a new pen.

 

I also have a Valor in marble brown. Mine is a medium (although no markings to indicate it) and writes very well. It is a long pen but is beautifully balanced posted or unposted. The section is comfortable to hold and the inlaid nib is smooth.

 

I have a feeling that it has been under rated and perhaps out shined by the Legacy Heritage (IMHO).

[Ray-Vigo]

I seem to recall the retail pricing of them being north of $250. I suspect that had something to do with any less than stellar sales.

 

Also, think of the other inlaid nib Sheaffers the Targa and Imperial family. Both very classic and long running designs.

 

I was never that wowed with the Valor's styling, it was nice enough, but almost seemed like it was "working too hard at it" for lack of better wording. For some reason to me, the styling of the pen didn't work as well with the inlaid nib as it did with the Imperial family and the Targa.

 

So I think your lack of sales may have had something to do with a less than inspiring design and a higher price.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-it just screams ho-hum to me I guess

 

 

I agree. I personally think the pen was overpriced. I also think that for that money people realized they could do really well with other inlaid nib pens (think PFM too, I would say, at least if you've got $250-$400 to spend). That's not to say the Valor was a bad pen, but they were asking too much. I'm seeing them retail for $250-300 now in many instances, which I still think is high. Many Sheaffer buffs seem to be into the vintage pen thing, while many of the modern buffs I see reserving that kind of cash for a high end Waterman or Pelikan.

[zal]

i have always admired sheaffer and feels a nostalgia for those old days when owning a sheaffer spoke of class and good penmanship.

 

sheaffer still maintains that feeling in the hearts of conservative blocks like me. in addition i love that inlaid nib, unfortunately it comes only on high priced models nowadays. i am sorry to note that sales of valor are not doing well, it looks alright to me though slightly long, which may be a good thing.

 

lets wish sheaffer and valor the best in future and hope that they shine bright in our hearts.

 

rgds.

 

krishna.

[chifeuse]

I seem to recall the retail pricing of them being north of $250. I suspect that had something to do with any less than stellar sales.

 

Also, think of the other inlaid nib Sheaffers the Targa and Imperial family. Both very classic and long running designs.

 

I was never that wowed with the Valor's styling, it was nice enough, but almost seemed like it was "working too hard at it" for lack of better wording. For some reason to me, the styling of the pen didn't work as well with the inlaid nib as it did with the Imperial family and the Targa.

 

So I think your lack of sales may have had something to do with a less than inspiring design and a higher price.

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-it just screams ho-hum to me I guess

 

 

I agree. I personally think the pen was overpriced. I also think that for that money people realized they could do really well with other inlaid nib pens (think PFM too, I would say, at least if you've got $250-$400 to spend). That's not to say the Valor was a bad pen, but they were asking too much. I'm seeing them retail for $250-300 now in many instances, which I still think is high. Many Sheaffer buffs seem to be into the vintage pen thing, while many of the modern buffs I see reserving that kind of cash for a high end Waterman or Pelikan.

 

And I do too, wish all the best to the Valor. My wife offered one to me for my BD recently. Up to now, of all the FP I owned this one is the best writer (fine nib). I also purchased for myself a NOS Triumph 444 with Fine steel nib, on Ebay. Nice writer too, though not as smooth as the gold nib of the Valor. At home I use the Valor (~250$), the 444 (50$) everywhere else.

[DrPJM1]

I had not realized that the price of the Valor had dropped so much. The Black model looks great, the inlaid nib has a very strong appeal, but the absence of a stub nib is a deal-breaker for me. Too bad that Sheaffer no longer has the brand cachet of old.

[david6]

I had not realized that the price of the Valor had dropped so much. The Black model looks great, the inlaid nib has a very strong appeal, but the absence of a stub nib is a deal-breaker for me. Too bad that Sheaffer no longer has the brand cachet of old.

 

You can buy the Valor for between £125 - £145 which is a lot cheaper than it used to be. The rollerball was on offer at £60. Nice pen set

[lovemy51]

congrats, david! i have one black with a med nib. it was a gift from a very dear friend. quite a pen and yes, quite a friend!

 

it's one of my best writers, http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n419/peterpaul_rguez/imagesqtbnANd9GcS94fsfRLGkXvU0VZJPdJpFt_rU1WDziYKxDNJNMAhFIZEERm1mzw.jpg

[Bill Wood]

Agree - One of my best writers. I picked one up for $175 from someone in Alaska and loved it from the start. Glad you're enjoying your's. Cheers to great writing.

[Andy Rothman]

The price of the Valor has dropped even more. I just picked up a new "deep blue" one for £99 (came to $140 including shipping from U.K. to U.S.).

 

 

[USMCMom]

I have a Sheaffer Valor that I was fortunate enough to receive as a gift and it's a wonderful pen. I have several "favorites" and my Valor is definitely one at the top of the list.

[raging.dragon]

When the Valour was priced similarly to the Legacy Heritage, I suspect most customers opted for the Legacy Heritage instead. If the Valour's price has dropped into the $150 range it looks a whole lot more interesting (though I still prefere the Legacy Heritage, Legacy, Legacy II and PFM).

Edited January 22, 2012 by raging.dragon

[ThirdeYe]

I have a Sheaffer Valor that I was fortunate enough to receive as a gift and it's a wonderful pen. I have several "favorites" and my Valor is definitely one at the top of the list.

 

Same here. I received one for Christmas in blue marble and I absolutely love the way it writes. It is very comfortable and reliable. Starts up everytime and I've had it inked for a month now. Mine is incredibly wet for a fine, though, but that's okay since I don't plan on taking it away from home. Thus, I know it will always be used on nice paper.

[USMCMom]

I have a Sheaffer Valor that I was fortunate enough to receive as a gift and it's a wonderful pen. I have several "favorites" and my Valor is definitely one at the top of the list.

 

Same here. I received one for Christmas in blue marble and I absolutely love the way it writes. It is very comfortable and reliable. Starts up everytime and I've had it inked for a month now. Mine is incredibly wet for a fine, though, but that's okay since I don't plan on taking it away from home. Thus, I know it will always be used on nice paper.

 

Mine never leaves my desk. I'd be crushed it became lost (a lot of sentimental value), so I take no risk of that happening. My Valor is black. They're wonderful pens.

[lovemy51]

I have a Sheaffer Valor that I was fortunate enough to receive as a gift and it's a wonderful pen. I have several "favorites" and my Valor is definitely one at the top of the list.

 

Same here. I received one for Christmas in blue marble and I absolutely love the way it writes. It is very comfortable and reliable. Starts up everytime and I've had it inked for a month now. Mine is incredibly wet for a fine, though, but that's okay since I don't plan on taking it away from home. Thus, I know it will always be used on nice paper.

well, it seems like the Valor is the pen to give as gifts.