What Is "user Grade?"

[PDW]

Chew marks or large dents or deep scratches I consider to be cosmetic damage, not "use with care". Like a lower form of user grade.

 

 

 

My Duofold AF (all right, one of them ...) was described by the seller as having been owned by a 'thoughtful' person - the images also showed the teeth marks on the blind cap quite well. Despite the marks it writes very nicely.

 

 

In regards to "mint", the sac inside of a pen could be all disintegrate to dust inside, and non-functional, but will still be called "MINT" on an auction if the pen appears to be new and flawless.

 

Beware the 'I know nothing about pens but this looks mint' trolls. If you're unlucky all the boring metalwork in the barrel will have been carefully cleaned out ...

Edited August 25, 2014 by PDW

[Sailor Kenshin]

User Grade:

 

A pen that has substantial wear* or other issues..*such as discoloration, brassing, worn or missing imprints,

some parts may not be original or missing, dings scratches, damage other than normal wear should be

noted in detail in description of the pen. Pen may be mechanically sound in working order or only for

parts. Ask detailed questions if buyin' and give detailed description if sellin' and don't forget quality

photographs......

 

Fred

Billy Connolly's Route 66

I have a gray aero 51 Parker Special. Writes beautifully. The barrel is faded, but where the cap covered it, it is original color. Shows signs of normal wear. A collector probably wouldn't be interested but I love it. That, to me, is user grade.

[pajaro]

User grade indicates a pen good for daily writing, but not good enough to put in a collection of pens. It would be more worn than a collector would want, with some details worn and not visible. This is a pen you might also describe as good or very good.

 

A pen in fine or very fine condition would have all detail clear and no scratches visible without a magnifier.

 

Mint is new condition, no wear. Minty is nearly new but some slight wear to no wear, but some possible defect. I consider "minty" to be a nebulous term attempting to elevate a pen in "fine" condition to "mint" or new condition in the expectation of the buyer.

 

A "NOS" or "New Old Stock" pen might be mint or might have some slight microscratches from "drawer wear" in a display tray from handling and inspections. I would expect a mint or NOS pen to be never filled with ink, but many sellers would call pens dipped in ink to test their writing quality to be NOS or mint. I think if the pens are dipped the seller can shove "mint" or NOS descriptors in their ear. I wouldn't want dipped pens if I were wanting mint or NOS pens. You can tell ink traces by comparisons between genuine never inked or dipped and pens known to be dipped or inked. The feed looks different.

[Lyander0012]

You can tell ink traces by comparisons between genuine never inked or dipped and pens known to be dipped or inked. The feed looks different.

 

Pardon me, but as someone who's only ever bought one pen used (a vintage Waterman 52 1/2V), can ink traces be seen even after the pen is given as thorough a cleaning as possible? What I mean to say is, is there some sort of finish on the pen feed that just ups an vanishes after giving it an inking, like a gloss or a matte-like texture? I've yet to have the opportunity of A/Bing an NOS and used vintage pen, so I wouldn't know the difference; any elaboration would be of help.

 

 

 

Cheers!

Kevin

Edited August 25, 2014 by Lyander0012

[KBeezie]

 

 

Pardon me, but as someone who's only ever bought one pen used (a vintage Waterman 52 1/2V), can ink traces be seen even after the pen is given as thorough a cleaning as possible? What I mean to say is, is there some sort of finish on the pen feed that just ups an vanishes after giving it an inking, like a gloss or a matte-like texture? I've yet to have the opportunity of A/Bing an NOS and used vintage pen, so I wouldn't know the difference; any elaboration would be of help.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

Kevin

 

 

If the ink is saturated enough or staining, long term use of one specific ink could stain part of the pen to such a degree that a rigorous cleaning just won't get rid of it without taking some of the pen's surface material with it. .

[Mardi13]

"User grade indicates a pen good for daily writing, but not good enough to put in a collection of pens. It would be more worn than a collector would want, with some details worn and not visible. This is a pen you might also describe as good or very good."

 

So, Pajaro, how would you define a collector? Someone who collects but doesn't use the super nice pens?

Edited August 25, 2014 by Mardi13

[Brian K]

 

My Duofold AF (all right, one of them ...) was described by the seller as having been owned by a 'thoughtful' person - the images also showed the teeth marks on the blind cap quite well. Despite the marks it writes very nicely.

 

 

 

Beware the 'I know nothing about pens but this looks mint' trolls. If you're unlucky all the boring metalwork in the barrel will have been carefully cleaned out ...

 

 

My favorite warning sign is "pen is out of ink."

[Lyander0012]

 

If the ink is saturated enough or staining, long term use of one specific ink could stain part of the pen to such a degree that a rigorous cleaning just won't get rid of it without taking some of the pen's surface material with it. .

 

Hmm, that makes sense. Thanks!