Originally introduced in 1929, the Sheaffer Balance helped define a new era of pen design with its tapered profile and rounded silhouette. Balance III brings that unmistakable shape into the present with a glossy black resin body. The overall shape and design of the pen incorporates a lot of iconic elements the original pen had, including the overall torpedo shape, the concave grip, and the Sheaffer clip with the white dot above it. The pen feels solid in the hand, and is light enough where writing for long periods of time will feel comfortable and not tire out your hand. 

This fountain pen with gold-plated trim features a smooth operating piston-filling system with a double-walled piston seal, transparent ink window and a #6 bi-color stainless-steel nib with heritage-inspired details, including a heart-shaped breather hole and Sheaffer’s founding year, 1913.

The Balnce III includes its own wrench so you can remove the piston mechanism for easier maintenance. It is possible for the piston mechanism to unscrew out of the back of the pen if you overtighten the filler knob. If this happens, use the included wrench in a counter-clockwise rotation to tighten the piston mechanism back into the pen firmly, and it should prevent it from unscrewing with the filler knob again.

This pen has a removable nib unit for easier cleaning and maintenance. It’s not swappable with any other nib unit apart from other Balance III pens. It looks similar to other #6 nib units and has an identical thread pattern to JoWo-made nib units, though they are different lengths and the nib can get damaged from hitting the top of the inside of the cap if installed. Because the metal nib is keyed and fit custom to this feed, no other nibs are swappable even if you remove just the metal nib and keep the feed and housing. Basically, just let the pen be what it is and enjoy it :)