Sheaffer Balance Oversize

[goodguy]

Sheaffer Balance, one of the classiest pens ever made.

About a year and a half ago I got my first oversize Balance, it was my black one.

Then a friend told me he has the stripped one and the Abalone Pearl was soon to follow.

I love the shape of these pens (maybe because they were the prototype to the MB 149).

 

The Balance truly has a fantastic Balance. This pen was designed with amazing precision to fit the hand of its user. With out a doubt one of the most comfortable pens ever made.

It is light weight, perfectly balanced and has the perfect lines to sit comfortably in the hand.

 

The nibs are a bit different between the 3 models. The black Balance has a big 14k single tone nib.

The other two has a 2 tone 14k smaller nibs.

I personally like the single tone nib because it is bigger but to be honest all 3 nibs feels very close related. They are nails with no attempt to be flexible. They are very smooth of course and nicely wet even though I personally like nibs wetter then that but I believe most people would love the nib as is.

The nib demands no pressure to write and that is very important for me. When a nib is so stiff then it has to float over the paper and these nibs deliver.

There is a nice feedback to these nibs, actually more feedback then most new nibs I encountered.

 

The black pen is my favorite to use simply because I like using black pens that draw little attention.

The stripped pen is beautiful and is a classic Sheaffer colour pattern.

It looks just like many other smaller size Balances Sheaffer produced at the time.

The Pearl Abalone on the other hand is a true looker and is also the most expensive one of the bunch. I understand Sheaffer put pieces of Abalone shell in the resin and they look like they are floating in the body, very stunning pen. The Abalone pen also has an interesting feature, it doesn’t has the white dot on the cap which makes it more rare and desirable.

 

The filling mechanism is the bullet proof lever filler. The pens hold a lot of ink for a non piston pen. Nothing much to add to this as this is a functional and reliable filler.

 

There are a lot of Balance pens out there but I never liked the standard size because I found them to be too small for my hands. These O/S size is perfect for me, the black pen is 5 ¾” capped (14.6cm) the other 2 are just a bit smaller. If you find the standard size a bit too small go and get yourself the O/S size and I promised you you will not be sorry. If you don’t want to spend too much money the black O/S Balance is easier to find and isn’t too expensive.

 

Bottom line

 

I think Sheaffer changed a lot in the pen industry with the Balance. I believe until today you can see the basic Balance design in many pens but very few really are as good as this pen.

Edited July 2, 2008 by goodguy

[DeaconKC]

Yup, the Balances are superbly comfortable to use.

[david i]

Sheaffer Balance, one of the classiest pens ever made.

About a year and a half ago I got my first oversize Balance, it was my black one.

Then a friend told me he has the stripped one and the Abalone Pearl was soon to follow.

I love the shape of these pens (maybe because they were the prototype to the MB 149).

 

The Balance truly has a fantastic Balance. This pen was designed with amazing precision to fit the hand of its user. With out a doubt one of the most comfortable pens ever made.

It is light weight, perfectly balanced and has the perfect lines to sit comfortably in the hand.

 

The nibs are a bit different between the 3 models. The black Balance has a big 14k single tone nib.

The other two has a 2 tone 14k smaller nibs.

I personally like the single tone nib because it is bigger but to be honest all 3 nibs feels very close related. They are nails with no attempt to be flexible. They are very smooth of course and nicely wet even though I personally like nibs wetter then that but I believe most people would love the nib as is.

The nib demands no pressure to write and that is very important for me. When a nib is so stiff then it has to float over the paper and these nibs deliver.

There is a nice feedback to these nibs, actually more feedback then most new nibs I encountered.

 

The black pen is my favorite to use simply because I like using black pens that draw little attention.

The stripped pen is beautiful and is a classic Sheaffer colour pattern.

It looks just like many other smaller size Balances Sheaffer produced at the time.

The Pearl Abalone on the other hand is a true looker and is also the most expensive one of the bunch. I understand Sheaffer put pieces of Abalone shell in the resin and they look like they are floating in the body, very stunning pen. The Abalone pen also has an interesting feature, it doesn't has the white dot on the cap which makes it more rare and desirable.

 

The filling mechanism is the bullet proof lever filler. The pens hold a lot of ink for a non piston pen. Nothing much to add to this as this is a functional and reliable filler.

 

There are a lot of Balance pens out there but I never liked the standard size because I found them to be too small for my hands. These O/S size is perfect for me, the black pen is 5 ¾" capped (14.6cm) the other 2 are just a bit smaller. If you find the standard size a bit too small go and get yourself the O/S size and I promised you you will not be sorry. If you don't want to spend too much money the black O/S Balance is easier to find and isn't too expensive.

 

Bottom line

 

I think Sheaffer changed a lot in the pen industry with the Balance. I believe until today you can see the basic Balance design in many pens but very few really are as good as this pen.

 

Very nice.

 

If you are not inclined simply to sell the pen to me, could i impose upon you to show a close up of the price sticker on the convertible black pen. Oblique lighting might allow the information to show. I'm curious how the code compares to typical black OS.

 

regards

 

david

[david i]

deleted

 

d

 

Edited July 2, 2008 by david i

[goodguy]

Pictures added

[georges zaslavsky]

I tried many balances but result was the same. The nibs were far to be smooth and that great. Too stiff and somewhat boring.

Edited July 6, 2008 by georges zaslavsky

[pmsalty]

I currently have three balances. On two the nibs are very smooth, one medium one fine. The third a recently acquired Military Clip vac-fill the nib is a medium and a bit scratchy. However they are very comfortable pens to write with comparable to my Parker 51's.

PMS

[R.ticle One]

I had the pleasure of trying an OS Balance once - were it a little bit fatter, it would have probably been perfect and I'd have kept it - the fine nib on it was one of the smoothest I'd ever written with.

[diplomat]

Wow, the black stickered first-year Balance is just great! And I love those early huge lifetime nibs.

The Mother of Pearl is possibly my favourite Balance colour. How strange the white dot is missing, when the nib is clearly lifetime.

Could it be a frankepen? Or a replaced nib?

[david i]

Wow, the black stickered first-year Balance is just great! And I love those early huge lifetime nibs.

The Mother of Pearl is possibly my favourite Balance colour. How strange the white dot is missing, when the nib is clearly lifetime.

Could it be a frankepen? Or a replaced nib?

 

 

Ahhh a late resurrection to a good (if old n' dead) post

 

Wow, the black stickered first-year Balance is just great!

 

Yep, but far better is that it's not just a first-year Balance.

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheafferconvertable850.jpg

 

 

How strange the white dot is missing, when the nib is clearly lifetime.

Could it be a frankepen? Or a replaced nib?

 

Not a frankenpen. Not a replaced nib. And... not a Lifetime nib. I of course can say these things in no small part due to being the fellow what snarfed up the pens after they appeared here

 

http://removed.xyz/penteech/sheafferOSebonizedNWD850.jpg

 

regards

 

-d

Edited December 22, 2008 by david i

[goodguy]

Indeed David is the new and happy owner of these pens now.

I am glad a true FP fan like him got these pens.And not someone eose that wouldnt appreciate them as much as David.

[diplomat]

:blink:

 

Strange things happens in FPN!

 

David, the new pics are just blowing the pens out.

So, I suppose the blind cap twisting out is some sort of prototype? There is any practical use for it? Like access to the rub sac?

 

Amir, do you still have the Greenstriped? You should have at least a Balance! On the other hand I am aware of your new direction and I agree with it...

 

Cheers and thanks for revealing the story!

[david i]

:blink:

 

Strange things happens in FPN!

 

No doubt.

 

David, the new pics are just blowing the pens out.

So, I suppose the blind cap twisting out is some sort of prototype?

 

No

 

There is any practical use for it?

 

Yes

 

Like access to the rub sac?

 

No

 

It is a convertable, allowing an end taper to be applied converting pen to phone dialer, or so it is believed.

 

regards

 

david

[diplomat]

It is a convertable, allowing an end taper to be applied converting pen to phone dialer, or so it is believed.

regards

david

 

Huh. I see. Interesting. Must have one for my mobile.

 

Thanks for your answer.

 

Best,

 

Andre