Fountain Pen: Sheaffer Targa
- whimsicaleccentric
- Dec 24, 2024
- 2 min read
VISUAL
The Sheaffer Targa was one of the first 'older' pens I acquired. This model would have been made in the mid-1980s. This thin, long pen is understated on the outside, but has an absolutely beautiful nib. I really like the diamond-shaped embedded nib.
This pen features a silver clip and accents that match the silvered steel nib. The pen has a matte black coating that is very nice and shows no signs of wear and tear.
TACTILE
The matte texture of the lacquer coating is very nice, though slightly on the slippery side. Given how thin it is, this pen is surprisingly heavy for its size. It's a great weight - I think I would have troubles with a pen this thin that didn't have some weight behind it.
The section is bullet-shaped and built of plastic. It's surprisingly grippy and even with the slope I don't find that I have troubles keeping my fingers where I want them.
PRACTICAL
I was blown away by this fine italic nib. It's a flat nib with very little tipping, giving it subtle line variation. I was prepared for it to write more like a stub nib, but I was surprised by how wet and smooth it was. It is such a great writing experience!
The cap posts deeply and comfortably, and the matte coating seems to grip the cap nicely without scuffing or scratching.
The one slight issue I have is that the barrel threads start to unscrew with very little resistance. There are enough threads that I don't feel like it will completely unscrew and surprise me, but I'm constantly having to rotate it back into place. Once it starts to unscrew, it also adds a slight rocking motion between the section and barrel that is noticeable during writing. It's such a minor thing, but it can be frustrating!
STATISTICAL
Pen Measurements:
Weight:35.6g
Weight of Cap: 14.2g
Length Capped: 131mm
Length Uncapped: 120mm
Length Posted: 147mm
Nib: Embedded 'Fine Italic' Steel
Body Style: Tapered
Fill Method: Converter
Fill Volume: 0.8ml
Comparison Pens: Pilot Metropolitan, LAMY Safari
OVERALL
Pros:
Love the look, style, and feel of the embedded nib
Quick snap-on cap and comfortable posting
Cons:
Loose barrel threads can be annoying
For as thin as this pen is, it doesn't feel thin in the hand. I think that's a factor of both the bullet-shaped section and the weight of the metal body. It's a solid, practical pen! It takes a little extra effort to clean the embedded nib and feed in between inks, but it's not the hardest pen in my collection to clean by far.
DISCLAIMER: Pens and inks purchased by myself. Photos and opinions are my own.
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