The Dauntless is a wartime pen. As far as I have been able to
discover, it is a cut-rate version of the Commando (you'd be able to
guess there was a war on, wouldn't you?), the primary clue being the
rather basic fill-lever. In the Commando, this was one of
Waterman's standard fiddly lever-box designs (the sort of thing seen on this 52½ V) with gold rather than nickel plating.
There is apparently something about the cap bands that also
points out the difference, but it's extremely subtle and lost on me.
The Dauntless was also apparently more likely to be made in
Canada than the U.S., which is true of this set-- what with Canada
getting involved in World War II rather nearer the beginning, one
imagines skilled lever-box makers applying their skills to the innards
of weapons.
On a functional level, I don't expect there was a huge difference.
The point seems to be much the same as in other Watermans of this
and earlier eras, with a small but pleasing degree of flex to it.
The clips confound me a little, as they are rivetted on in what
for pen-making seems a slightly lackadaisical fashion-- I am assured
that this was the standard for Waterman at the time, as they were at
this time far from innovative in their designs. An advantage to
their clip, for the contemporary market, is that none of the pen
protruded above the top of the pocket, bringing it in line with
military regulations (for the U.S., at any rate).
This set as a set is something of a modern creation. The pen was
fitted together from two previous pens, neither of which by itself was
capable of function. The pencil was found in a third location,
lost and alone.
Specifications:
Fine gold point. Lever fill. Twist-style mechanism in pencil. 12.9mm long capped, 15.7mm posted.
Condition: Body smooth
but worn-- the impressions are becoming indistinct although currently
still legible.
Repairs: Cap and
section taken from donor pen. Sac replaced with silicon.
Some amount of flossing with yarn to clear unidentifiable icky
stuff from under clip. Tine disalignment and resultant scratchy
writing set right, nibs polished to address a pit in the tipping
material.
Location: My collection.
For sale?: I'm
not absolutely happy with the state of the point yet, and even once I
am I may not put it forward for sale. It's one of the prettier
pens I've got.
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