The Pen Decumulation No. 5 - Sheaffer Targa

Of all of Sheaffer's pens that carry their signature inlaid nibs, the Targa is my recommendation. 

I must admit, I haven't tried a Legacy II or ony of the other recent homages to the PFM ("Pen for Men"), but I have tried the original, as well as several of the Triumphs and Imperials of the 60s and 70s. And to my mind the Targa beats them all into a cocked hat. 

Part of that is simply the no-fuss cartridge-converter filling system. Yes, it's proprietary, but Sheaffer still has sufficient presence in the market to ensure that finding converters isn't too much of a chore. And it's all much less bother than snorkels and touchdowns and the other Heath-Robinson contraptions that the company came up with of as ways of getting ink into a barrel.

The build quality on the Targa is also a world away from the PFM and its imitations. Those earlier models generally have polystyrene bodies that feel cheap and are soft enough to pick up dents and marks very easily. And I've never found the capping mechanism on them to be particularly satisfactory either. The lacquered or painted brass of the Targa feels more solid, with better fit and finish all round.

On top of that, the range of finishes is extraordinary, fully exploiting the possibilities that cartridge-converters opened up for lacquered metal pens from the 1960s onwards (see https://www.sheaffertarga.com/ for a full listing and description). All on a base profile that has a pillar-like appearance that, while not exactly minimalist, I find very appealing. Proof that even the the most tired of the US Big Three was still capable of producing something innovative and distinctive, while being in keeping with the times. 

Nonetheless, the Targa is one of those classics that I always end up selling after succumbing once again to temptation. And that boils down to the nib. Not because of nib creep, although I have heard others have occasional issues with that. But simply because, spectacular as they are to look at, they tend to be on the stiff side and, while smooth, not particularly wet - a lethal combo for me. Writing enjoyment is a prerequisite for me to keep any pen in my collection and Targas never quite make the grade. But, who knows, they may well do for you.

Stats

Length - 136mm (capped), 121mm (uncapped), 153mm (posted)

Section diameter - 9mm

Balancing point - 65mm from the tip (54% along the length of the barrel)

Weight - 29g (capped), 15g (uncapped)