1941 Marine Green Sheaffer Balance Defender fountain pen - fine point

This Sheaffer Balance Defender is one of 4 models (Valiant, Vigilant, Defender, and Commandant) that Sheaffer introduced in the 1941 catalog to meet the US militar  dress code. This required that anything in the breast pocket be concealed by the pocket flap without making a hump in the flap. The regular Balance models have the pocket clip low on the cap and would violate the dress code. So Sheaffer essentially flipped the clip upside down and curled its end over the cap peak so that it hides completely inside the pocket.

This pen is personalized: Harold M. Miller, Hamilton, Ill., 42. A bit of searching turns up a Harold M. Miller that was a gunner's mate aboard the USS Iowa.

Condition

This pen is in very good to excellent condition. The celluloid has no flaws. The barrel color is lightly ambered but the clarity is excellent. There is no plating loss though there are a few small depressions on the surface of the clip.

Nib

A smooth, wet Feather Touch 5 with a soft-fine point. I think the Feather Touch 5 is among the best production nibs ever made.

Filler

Vacuum-Fil freshly restored

Dimensions

Sheaffer described this as a full size pen.

Length

Capped - 129 mm (5.1”)
Uncapped - 114 mm (4.5”)
Posted - 147 mm (5.8”).

Diameter

Cap - 13.2 mm (0.52”)
Barrel - 11.6 mm (0.46”)