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Sheaffer Taranis (Stormy Night): A Review


Lyander0012

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The letter signifying the nib size is really neat.

 

It reminds me of the conical "Triumph" nibs on the Snorkels from the 50s. Sheaffer had a number and letter system engraved on the back of the nib. The letter was for the size (e.g. F meant Fine) and then a number for material and style (e.g. 4 meant a Palladium Silver Triumph nib).

 

I think the design looks great! One of the most interesting Sheaffers to come out in a while. I love the taper on the end of the barrel that recalls the Imperials and the semi-hooded nib looks really nice too. It has been a long time since Sheaffer sold a pen with a hooded nib. The feed looks quality too, like it is made from ebonite instead of plastic.

 

Great review, very thorough.

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The letter signifying the nib size is really neat.

 

It reminds me of the conical "Triumph" nibs on the Snorkels from the 50s. Sheaffer had a number and letter system engraved on the back of the nib. The letter was for the size (e.g. F meant Fine) and then a number for material and style (e.g. 4 meant a Palladium Silver Triumph nib).

 

I think the design looks great! One of the most interesting Sheaffers to come out in a while. I love the taper on the end of the barrel that recalls the Imperials and the semi-hooded nib looks really nice too. It has been a long time since Sheaffer sold a pen with a hooded nib. The feed looks quality too, like it is made from ebonite instead of plastic.

 

Great review, very thorough.

My two cents:

 

I'm loads more cautious with my Taranis now than I was when I first got it. I really like the way the nib indicator looks, so I'm afraid of rubbing it off accidentally rubbing it off again. That'll be a problem with me, since the Taranis picks up fingerprints like a smartphone screen, and I find myself wiping it down unconsciously :P

 

And thanks for the compliment! I'm afraid it may be a tad TOO thorough, though :))

 

 

Cheers!

"The price of an object should not only be what you had to pay for it, but also what you've had to sacrifice in order to obtain it." - <i>The Wisdom of The Internet</i><p class='bbc_center'><center><img src="http://i59.tinypic.com/jr4g43.jpg"/></center>

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  • 3 weeks later...

The first time I saw the pen, I thought it was a snorkel. They're harder to find, so having the look of one is a great close second. I've been on the fence about getting one, wanting it vs. needing it. The review was great and answered many of the doubts I was having, unfortunately it didn't make my decision any easier. The want is starting to out way the need. I just need to be sure to pick up the package before my husband does. Thank you Lyander for making the decision much harder. :D

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  • 3 weeks later...

kaejones— You are very much welcome! :))

Still, I got it at under 100 USD (there seems to be quite the price gap between the C/T ang G/T models here in the Philippines and abroad), so it was an easy decision for me. Given that it costs significantly more in other countries, I recommend that you get it if and only if the design is something that jives well with you. It's an excellent daily driver pen, but the c/c filling system only lasts about a day with my regular use.

 

... Then again, I did tweak the nib to be a very wet writer, so that's more my fault than Sheaffer's XD

OOTB, the nib is neither wet nor dry, and pairs well even with cheap, insubstantial papers.

 

 

Cheers!

 

Kevin

"The price of an object should not only be what you had to pay for it, but also what you've had to sacrifice in order to obtain it." - <i>The Wisdom of The Internet</i><p class='bbc_center'><center><img src="http://i59.tinypic.com/jr4g43.jpg"/></center>

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  • 2 months later...

Thanks! Haha, I feel a lot happier about that compliment than I probably should be, but yeah, it's nice to know someone enjoyed reading this. I'm actually working on a new review soon, though it's one on a fairly well-known pen; it'll be an exercise in my reviewing things rather than any significant contribution to the fountain pen community :))

 

Kevin

"The price of an object should not only be what you had to pay for it, but also what you've had to sacrifice in order to obtain it." - <i>The Wisdom of The Internet</i><p class='bbc_center'><center><img src="http://i59.tinypic.com/jr4g43.jpg"/></center>

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  • 1 month later...

I agree that the Taranis resembles the Waterman CF pens of the 60s, but up-sized for modern taste. I think the design is clearly mid-century modern. You could imagine Don Draper using a pen like this. I have the Stormy Wine (burgundy) version. The size is about the same as a Pilot Capless. The enamel on metal construction gives it heft, but posted it is one of the most well-balanced pens I've held. I think you could write with this pen for a long time. The nib needed a little smoothing out of the box. It is not in the least bit expressive. The medium on my pen writes more like a fine. What we have here is a business pen; simple and functional. The gold trim on the Stormy Wine gives it a little bit of flash. but its not a pen to start conversations. It's a pen meant to be used.

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The Taranis looks to me like a Sheaffer attempt to imitate the Parker 51, albeit a few decades late. They apparently made a worse hash of the C/C filler. If the pen writes well, you can thank heaven they didn't attempt to imitate the Sonnet. Oh, oops, they already that with the Prelude. Sheaffer did get that one right.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

In the time it would take me to read that whole review, I could earn the money to buy a Taranis, order it, try it out, and throw it away if I didn't like it.

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In the time it would take me to read that whole review, I could earn the money to buy a Taranis, order it, try it out, and throw it away if I didn't like it.

 

*shrug*

Sorry about that, I rarely get inspired to type anything nowadays, so whenever I do start work on a project, I almost always end up going overboard. And I'm also just really long-winded at times. There are a bunch of other reviews online that are a tonne more concise, if this one isn't to your liking.

 

Cheers!

 

Kevin

"The price of an object should not only be what you had to pay for it, but also what you've had to sacrifice in order to obtain it." - <i>The Wisdom of The Internet</i><p class='bbc_center'><center><img src="http://i59.tinypic.com/jr4g43.jpg"/></center>

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  • 2 years later...

The last post answered my question, but I'm hoping someone else has found a way to remove the nib. Would love to trade my paper-shredding fine for a medium.

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  • 1 month later...

I wanted a Taranis in the sleek chrome finish with a medium nib specifically to be my dedicated Baystate Blue pen. I thought the brilliant blue ink coming from the matte chrome pen would be an interesting combination. When I saw an online price of only $59.99 US I had to take the leap.

I love it.

 

Using the nib reminds me very much of the Lamy 2000... solid, no flex, absolutely smooth across the page. The medium nib is finer than a typical western medium, which suits me just fine. Ink flow is perfect for me... not dry, not overly wet.

 

As everyone knows the section is a very unique design. However, some may be surprised to learn that it is extremely comfortable to hold and use. The width of the section and very gentle taper to the nib is ergonomically excellent and I experienced no hand fatigue at all when journaling with the Taranis. The design of this pen also gets a lot of attention from non-FP users in the office.

 

IMHO this pen is underrated.

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  • 10 months later...

I'd bet good money that is the same nib/feed we see in all hooded chinese pens these days.

 

The pen looks super freaking cool in thumbnails and far away. But it's clearly just a nasty, gross, cheap imitation of an inlaid nib that scheaffer used to do so, so well.

 

I just don't get why scheaffer doesn't put out a bespoke pen with an inlaid nib and some kind of awesome filling system that they already own like a pneumatic or snorkel. I'd buy a modern snorkel in an INSTANT, even if it had a steel nib. Just give me an inlaid or triumph nib.

Edited by Honeybadgers

Selling a boatload of restored, fairly rare, vintage Japanese gold nib pens, click here to see (more added as I finish restoring them)

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  • 4 months later...

I haven't had my Taranis very long and haven't stored it upright, so that I can't comment on the leakage. The hood, or cowl, or whatever it is, seems to be useful as a guide on how to hold the pen, since the precise angle seems to matter with fine and extra fine points. Held properly, the Taranis is quite smooth.

 

But, I too wish that Schaeffer would revive the snorkel, or some other sophisticated filling system. On the other hand, in some respects, the Parker 61 was the ultimate filling system, but it had one flaw -- it had to be used every day. I had a 61 and it was fine with regular use, and I was young and didn't feel a need for more than one fountain pen.Now, if I tried to work the 61 into the rotation, it would be dry every time I reached for it. In that respect, the snorkel was a better design.

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I couldn't agree more.

Great price too. Well done !

+1

I have two of these, a black one and an amethyst one, both fine nibs. They work smoothly, no leaks and easy/quick starts after not using them for weeks. I am very happy with the pens and the smooth manner in which they write.

“Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today, because if you do it today and like it, you can do again tomorrow!”

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+1

I have two of these, a black one and an amethyst one, both fine nibs. They work smoothly, no leaks and easy/quick starts after not using them for weeks. I am very happy with the pens and the smooth manner in which they write.

 

Underated. I adore mine.

(bought another the same day I trashed my original grey one, couldn't be without one)

((watch out, some Sheaffer converters have a metalic base which when making contact with the metal section may become corroded :( ))

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Underated. I adore mine.

(bought another the same day I trashed my original grey one, couldn't be without one)

((watch out, some Sheaffer converters have a metalic base which when making contact with the metal section may become corroded :( ))

Thanks for the caveat. I'll check mine shortly.

“Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today, because if you do it today and like it, you can do again tomorrow!”

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