1961-2 Blue Sheaffer Touchdown Imperial VIII

Sheaffer has produced multiple iconic nib designs. In my opinion, perhaps the best performing and best looking Sheaffer nib is the inlaid nib on the PFM, Imperial, Targa and Legacy. In addition to looking like no other the inlaid nib performs like no other Sheaffer nib. The Sheaffer Balance, Triumph and Snorkel era nibs are well known to be rigid, stiff nibs with absolutely no line variation. There are exceptions, like the Balance era Feather Touch 5. The inlaid nibs perform more like that exceptional Feather Touch 5. Both are not to be described or used as flexible nibs or even semi-flexible nibs. But they both have enough softness to produce pleasing line variation with normal writing pressure. Excellent performers that are a joy to use. Similarly the Touchdown filler is one of Sheaffer's best. The Sheaffer Vacuum-Filler holds more ink and gets my vote for favorite. But the Touchdown is far easier to service. It will likely need servicing slightly more often that a Vac but it will no