The Swan Snakeskin Pattern Thread

April 30, 2017

Swan Snakeskin patterns and trims.

Early in the run they have hard rubber levers. These seem to mostly be the mauve, bright green, blue, and silver (which often discolors a bit greenish as many gray celluloids do). The pattern is from a sheet of material wrapped helically (therefore, the end caps)

The pens shown that have model codes stamped on them are:

(shown: green, mauve, mauve, silver/gray, blue.... then the ones without names and model numbers)

84 green snake

85 mauve snake

86 silver snake

83 Blue snake (OK - this one is unmarked, but I have had one that was marked)

The light green with green veins and gray with red veins seem to come later and are seen with metal levers.

All are unmarked as to model number.

The "early" models and colors have black end caps on cap and barrel. The "late" colors with metal levers have inset black caps, not seem from the sides.

"Early" (I believe) is late 30's, probably 1938-40. "Late" model would be early 1940s. Again, as far as I can tell.

Other pen makers use nickel/chrome trim vs gold trim based on celluloid color. These, however, have nickel clips on the bandless and gold clips on the gold banded (maybe with exception of the silver color - mine is bandless and nickel, but I am not sure what is on the banded model).

The "late" colors deserve a close up to show the detail. I often wonder if the bottom two are different colors, or just discoloration of the silver that is unusually well preserved in the bottom of the three pens.