Another One Bites The Dust

[sidthecat]

Is Mercury retrograde or something?

I took out my Waterman Commando this evening, only to find the barrel broken in two. It had seemed a pretty sturdy pen, and apart from writing with it, it was not being roughly handled.

What gives? Do these old darlings just BREAK?

[fernobre]

The Commando are known for the crazing and lather disintegration of the rear "transparent" end (I own 2 that I repaired), but not for breaking down. Have you noticed some hair cracks on the body? Take a look ath the brocken parts as see if you find ink on it. That could indicate a hairline crack.

[sidthecat]

It was utterly clean - the sac was undamaged and there was a bit of talc inside. Unnerving...but there was a repaired crack and a tiny chip at the bottom of the threads when I bought it. Maybe this accident was waiting to happen.