Maker: Soyuz.
The front end of this pen is quite similar to the first sort of Soyuz I was able to examine; a hooded pen with an oddly flexible point. The main point of difference lies in the filler, as this variant on the Soyuz theme has a relatively standard screw-operated piston-filler concealed under its barrel. This is a rig which is frequently called a “captive converter”, in as much as the piston doesn’t actually contact the barrel. The only functional drawback to this set-up is a rather reduced volume of ink available, although this pen doesn’t suffer too much from that since this is not a true captive converter (in which a converter is in fact glued into what would otherwise be a cartridge pen).
Production Run: Due to the filler, I’m inclined to say newer than the accordion-filler, but I have no basis for that.
Cost When New: No idea.
Size: Desk version; 16.2 cm long.
Point: Steel? “Not gold” is all I can really say with certainty.
Body: Plastic.
Filler: Piston, capacity approx. 1.3 ml.
![Soyuz 0343](http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif)
This desk-mount pen is rather festively decorated, even without its amazing base - that band is 31mm across!
![Soyuz 0343b](http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif)
A pen shaped like a ROCKET! The plaque on the base is commemorative of the landing of Luna 2, which mean that this pen must have come from after September of 1959.
![Soyuz 0343u](http://dirck.delint.ca/beta/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/lazy-images/images/1x1.trans.gif)
The impression on the felt confirms it's a Soyuz product, but what the rest of it means (other than it was on Ms. Antonova's desk) I have no clue. There is a "Contact Me" link, if you're willing to inform me....
If you are relying on the preceding information to win a bet or impress a teacher, you should read the site’s scholarly caveat. Remember, this is the internet, and it’s full of bad information.