This Parker 51 Classic is immaculately finished in Black with a Lustralloy cap, chrome clip, and pearl cap stud.
The surface has a deep shine with no marks. The cap is totally ding free, and, unusually, the frosted finish has held up very well indeed. This is quite delicate and is very often worn to a shine, the fact that it is intact shows that the pen has seen little use. The original 'pli-glass' ink sac is also unstained.
Although the pen has clearly seen very little use, I did ink it up for testing. The 14Ct. Gold hooded nib is a fine point, not at all common in 51s. It is an excellent writer, producing a firm, fine line, perhaps a little towards medium. It is a very 'easy' writer, somehow Parker managed to get a smooth, soft feel, even with a fine nib.
The pen, made in the U.S.A., can be dated to 1961. A side vent hole was added to the barrel in 1960 and a 'finger clutch' was introduced in 1962, this pen has the side vent and the original clutch.
The Parker 51 is regarded as amongst the best pens ever made and this example certainly lives up to that claim. As a high quality, reliable and distinguished every day writer with a great deal of prestige the 51 is very hard to beat.