#sheaffer targa

[syncallio]

Back to the modern era with a Sheaffer Targa Slim! This is a 1030S, "Laque Thuya Ronce".

This one's got 23k gold plated trim and a 14k gold inlaid nib. The finish gets its color from 14 layers of hand-applied and hand-polished lacquer. Thuya is a wood species native to Morocco, and "ronce" is French for "bramble", referring to the pattern. This particular finish was produced from 1982 to 1991.

The depth of color on this pen is hard to photograph, but I tried. Kinda has the effect of sunlight underwater.

This one came in its original box with some dried-out slim cartridges and a converter, a nice score of discontinued accessories.

It writes medium and a bit dry, not fancy but perfectly smooth. The gold and brown combo is quite handsome and has stood the test of time.

[syncallio]

While we wait for the green Screamer, have a Targa!

Hey look, a pen that's younger than me!

The Targa series as a whole was made from 1976 to 1999, and was one of Sheaffer's last big models before the company was sold. It came in over 70 different finishes. Mine has a steel nib, but high end Targas had 14k or 18k gold nibs. These days they're highly collectible.

This one is a Slim. Standard Targas were a bit bigger and wider. Slims don't take the standard Sheaffer cartridge, and I was a little worried about finding the discontinued slim cartridge. Fortunately my smallest International converter fits just fine.

There's a lot of wear on this pen. I'm willing to bet it was somebody's daily driver back in the day.