I bought a Sheaffer Copper Legacy from Jim Gaston early in my fountain pen collecting days. The pen is now with a dear friend, and Jim Gaston’s site has now been turned over to the family resort; nothing on the front page links to any of the beautiful Sheaffers he used to sell.
When Dennis B of Parkville Pen posted a Gaston special edition set commissioned from Bexley, I had to have it. How can anyone not want an Angel and Devil fountain pen set?
The clips are cast 6k gold, and the bodies are made of swirly white and red resin. Impressed on the barrels are “Gaston’s Angels,” “Gaston’s Devils” and the edition number. (It would have been so cool to have the Devil clip say 666K instead, accuracy be damned.)
Seeing the two together makes me smile. I imagine the conversations they have. “You’re so stuck up,” said the devil. “Well, so are you,” retorted the angel.
The Angel pen is so short, it can’t accommodate a modern converter. It uses cartridges. The Devil pen takes a converter. The angel said, “Does that mean I’m actually at a disadvantage?” “Puny pipsqueak,” giggled the devil. “Nya nya nya, you can only use cartridges, cartridges, cartridges,” he chanted. The angel glared at him, and said, “Stubheaded punk.”
The Angel pen is a touch on the short side, and could well be a favorite for writers with daintier hands. Posted, it is surprisingly heavy because of the angel clip.
The Devil pen is just the right length for me. As usual, Bexley nibs are reliable and write without complaint. I asked for a stub on the Devil, and a fine on the Angel.
I didn’t expect the touch of flex in the fine Bexley nib. Â The Angel stuck her tongue out at the Devil. “Hah. You don’t have a flexy nib.” “Damn me,” said the Devil. “You’re right.” “I guess we’re even, then.” “Yep.”
And thus the balance between Good and Evil was restored.
