Parker 61 cap type

[CVR]

I just acquired a Parker 61 which has a converter, so I presume it dates from after 1970.

 

The cap is silver colored, but has lines, as one can see in the picture.

 

Would one call this type of cap a "Legacy" cap? What might the date on this pen be, roughly?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[USG]

  On 3/11/2025 at 3:47 AM, CVR said:

I just acquired a Parker 61 which has a converter, so I presume it dates from after 1970.

 

The cap is silver colored, but has lines, as one can see in the picture.

 

Would one call this type of cap a "Legacy" cap? What might the date on this pen be, roughly?

 

 

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That's a beautiful pen. 😀  Is the converter removable?  What nib?

[Beechwood]

The lighting doesn't help but my first guess would be the Heirloom cap which was from late 50s to early 60s, it may not be original to the pen but that is a common situation, so common that it really doesn't matter to many.

 

Rage Red is a great color for the 61.

 

The 61 is not the easiest pen. Never polish the cap, the plating is thinner than a politicians promise, the dart or arrow on the section often comes lose due to shrinkage of the section which leads to future cracking, luckily you can still buy replacement sections.

 

If the pen was mine I would park the converter and just use Parker cartridges to keep the dart away from water and ink, at some point you will lose the dart, it is just a case of pushing that date away from you.

 

The 61 is a great looking pen but flawed compared to the 51 which is almost bulletproof. There was a saying at Parker Bush House, marry the 51 but enjoy looking at the legs of the 61.

[jchch1950]

Your Parker 61 looks nice and the cap is an original  61. The cartridge converter model was the latest version of the pen and the caps in two colours first were in the capillary filling pens, but there are always exceptions, transitional pens or substitutions of parts in the life of a pen.

[joss]

That is a good looking pen indeed. Of the three rainbow caps only the Heirloom (green and pink gold) was available until 1967 (https://parkerpens.net/parker61.html) while the Parker 61 cartridge/converter appeared in 1969. 

Is the decorative ring between the section and the barrel missing? The barrel colour really pops, and looks like Rage Red indeed but was that colour ever available in the cartridge/converter version?

[Beechwood]

  On 3/11/2025 at 1:25 PM, joss said:

That is a good looking pen indeed. Of the three rainbow caps only the Heirloom (green and pink gold) was available until 1967 (https://parkerpens.net/parker61.html) while the Parker 61 cartridge/converter appeared in 1969. 

Is the decorative ring between the section and the barrel missing? The barrel colour really pops, and looks like Rage Red indeed but was that colour ever available in the cartridge/converter version?

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That is a good point, the cartridge 61 in red was just a rather dull red color. Perhaps the brightness was turned up to 11 on the OPs pic.

[CVR]

Thanks for your comments and feedback, everyone.

 

This is actually a pen/pencil set, with box and user manual, in pristine, never-inked condition. Everything seems to be in place, exactly as it should be.

 

Sorry about the lighting and the colors. It's a challenge to find the right lighting level and position to avoid reflections.

 

The cap is actually silver, although it may seem a bit golden in some pictures.

 

I don't know exactly what "rage red" is supposed to look like, but I've included a picture of this pen next to a Big Red and a maroon (I believe) "51".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CVR]

  On 3/11/2025 at 4:08 PM, Beechwood said:

 

That is a good point, the cartridge 61 in red was just a rather dull red color. Perhaps the brightness was turned up to 11 on the OPs pic.

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Yes, if I had to describe this red, I probably wouldn't call it "raging".

[Beechwood]

  On 3/11/2025 at 5:22 PM, CVR said:

 

Yes, if I had to describe this red, I probably wouldn't call it "raging".

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Rage Red by Parker is a very bright red, at least as bright as a Ferrari red. The Rage Red was discontinued in the same year as the capillary filler was stopped production. 

 

 

Not sure what I would do with a brand new 50 year old pen as in collect or use. In unused condition the set would attract a premium as compared to a perfectly usable 61 that had been used and loved.

 

[inkstainedruth]

I don't know about you, but as for me?  I'd definitely use.  I have a couple of pens that still have the nib stickers on them.  OTOH, I'm unlikely to buy a NOS pen even if I COULD afford it.  Of course, now I'm wanting a Rage Red Parker 61.... 

This site is just SOOOOO dangerous sometimes....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[baz666]

It's definitely rage red, is it Canadian?

What does the cap imprint and shield say?

[Beechwood]

I struggle with using a new and unused pen that is 50 years old when I have a perfectly good identical model, with a nib that is perfect for me. I think it is a personality defect or glitch.

 

 

[Glenn-SC]

  On 3/12/2025 at 6:52 PM, Beechwood said:

I struggle with using a new and unused pen that is 50 years old when I have a perfectly good identical model, with a nib that is perfect for me. I think it is a personality defect or glitch.

 

 

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Nothing wrong with that at all. 

[Sheptonian]

Four rainbow cap varieties for you - Heritage, Legacy, and two Heirloom:

 

 

The third cap from the left is English production - using yellow gold instead of the more customary rose gold. 

[CVR]

  On 3/12/2025 at 6:38 PM, baz666 said:

It's definitely rage red, is it Canadian?

What does the cap imprint and shield say?

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The imprint says "Made in USA".  There isn't a shield imprint above the "61".

 

This pen is the same color as another 61 I have (capillary filler), with a non-rainbow 12K GF cap. Perhaps both are Rage Red, then.

 

 

 

 

[CVR]

  On 3/12/2025 at 9:28 PM, Sheptonian said:

Four rainbow cap varieties for you - Heritage, Legacy, and two Heirloom:

 

 

The third cap from the left is English production - using yellow gold instead of the more customary rose gold. 

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What a great collection! Wow!

[joss]

  On 3/12/2025 at 11:43 PM, CVR said:

The imprint says "Made in USA".  There isn't a shield imprint above the "61".

This pen is the same color as another 61 I have (capillary filler), with a non-rainbow 12K GF cap. Perhaps both are Rage Red, then.

 

 

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If there is no shield, it means the cap is a Nickel & Silver Legacy cap. These were discontinued in 1959. This is a valuable cap, and it looks great on your pen, but is likely not original to a P61 cartridge/converter as also suggested above. One of the earlier pictures of the pen also shows that the barrel has a metal jewel at the top, which appeared on P61 barrels in the mid 1970s.

The picture above suggests that the colour might be maroon.

[Sheptonian]

In case it is any help this is the closest photo I can find to showing Rage Red as it appears in the flesh (well, on my screen, at least...):

 

 

  On 3/13/2025 at 7:06 AM, joss said:

 

If there is no shield, it means the cap is a Nickel & Silver Legacy cap. These were discontinued in 1959. This is a valuable cap, and it looks great on your pen, but is likely not original to a P61 cartridge/converter as also suggested above. One of the earlier pictures of the pen also shows that the barrel has a metal jewel at the top, which appeared on P61 barrels in the mid 1970s.

The picture above suggests that the colour might be maroon.

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Rage Red is not a full-on bright red (see Parker's Matador Red as used on Jotters etc for that) but it is distinctly brighter than Maroon (My Maroon pen shown below is from the last iteration of the P61 - the one with the metal "jewel" that Joss mentioned above:

 

 

You might also find this colour chart helpful:  The Parker 61 • RichardsPens.com       

 

As for the cap v pen age question, I am with the others. You have a very attractive and not that common early Legacy cap with a later pen. 

[CVR]

I really appreciate the helpful comments, and the pictures of those gorgeous pens!

 

The set came in a box with owner's manual, etc., and it looked factory-fresh, so I assumed it was all original. The cap and barrel jewels on this pen are both celluloid. No metal jewels.

 

I can see the difference between maroon and rage red in the pictures above. Displays do all show colors differently, so I won't jump to conclusions until I've actually seen a rage red 61.

 

I have a similar problem with a "51" that I suspect may be plum. It's hard to tell without having another plum pen next to it.

 

 

[TheRedBeard]

  On 3/11/2025 at 3:47 AM, CVR said:

I just acquired a Parker 61 which has a converter, so I presume it dates from after 1970.

 

The cap is silver colored, but has lines, as one can see in the picture.

 

Would one call this type of cap a "Legacy" cap? What might the date on this pen be, roughly?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expand  

Beautiful pen... Congratulations