Bayard | Pocket Vest Safety | Black Chased Ebonite | #1 Black Glass Nib

A vest-pocket safety that never got carried, black chased ebonite with two cap bands and an ultrafine carbon-black glass nib.

The #1 glass point lays down a 0.25mm line, and the character changes as you rotate it, super smooth on some angles, a pencil-like bite on others. Really nice for sketching and shading, since you can pick the side that matches the style you need. Capped it's just over nine centimeters and disappears into a pocket; posted it's back to full writing length.

Bayard took the name from Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard, the French knight 'sans peur et sans reproche,' without fear and beyond reproach, and their early ads drew him with a nib for a shield and a pen for a spear. This one comes from their 1930s safety production, sized for a vest pocket.

A2, new old stock, minty. Crisp chasing end to end, both cap bands bright, no sign it was ever inked. It still got a full service, fresh cork seal and o-rings with fresh silicone grease, and the mechanism runs smooth through its whole travel.

Tested on Tomoe River 68gsm A5 white with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.