The worst pen I've ever used: Sheaffer No Nonsense fountain pen

30 Dec, 2025

Now, I have not used an insane amount of fountain pens, so I don't have a massive amount of experience. But this, by far, is the worst pen I have ever used. (And that includes my Platinum Preppy, which I rage quit using.) I ordered this recently from an eBay seller for about $15: a red Sheaffer No-Nonsense vintage pen. It has a size B nib that just says "Germany" on it. I thoroughly cleaned the pen before using it. I like Sheaffers and thought, oh neat! A vintage one! I'll give it a shot! I bet I'll like it! (Narrator: She did not, in fact, like it.)

I just...sincerely cannot fathom how bad this pen is. The first time I tried to write with it, the words "Oh noooo" just leaked out from me like a deflating balloon.

• Body feels like a soda bottle. A plastic soda bottle.
• The nib has zero flex or give. It feels like I grabbed a metal chisel, dunked it in ink, and am attempting to carve into the page with it.
• The ink will not extrude from the nib. Hard stop. I have to actually dip it in the ink. Nothing will make it flow. I used Diamine Writer's Blood ink ¹, so it's not like I was trying to load this puppy with anything crazy.
• I don't use clips, but this one feels insanely cheap. In fact, everything about this pen feels like it was rock bottom cheap.

If you told me this was Sheaffer and it had no markings, I wouldn't believe you. If you told me that you made this pen in a back alley using a trash can fire and a home-crafted shiv to carve the nib, now that I would believe.

If I am missing something about how I should be using this, I would be honestly happy to hear. I have been using fountain pens since 2023 and while that isn't as recent as yesterday, I know I have a lot to learn. But so far this thing has just...woof.

Horrors yet to be unleashed are hidden beneath that cap

Behold: unveiled in its monstrous glory

Lay thine eyes upon this nib of trash

Rating : 0/10