The Doric was Wahl Eversharp's Art Deco flagship, introduced in 1931 and designed by Robert Black under patent D81,742, its name taken from the fluted columns of Greek temples. Twelve facets run the full length of barrel and cap, capped at both ends by pyramid crowns. This is the Oversize, the largest of the three Doric sizes and the scarcest, a noticeably bigger pen in the hand than the Standard. First-generation production from 1931 to 1933 is marked by the larger Gold Seal medallion seen here, and this example came from the Wahl Eversharp Pen Co. of Canada, a smaller run than the US output that fills most collections. The black celluloid shows no shrinkage, unusual in a material that commonly crystallizes or ambers with age.

The adjustable nib is the Doric's defining feature, patented as number 1,980,159 and sold under the slogan "nine points in one." A slider above the nib slot lets the writer move from a locked manifold setting to a fully released flex. Locked, it lays a controlled, shock-resistant line of the kind 1930s clerks and ledger keepers wanted. Released, the same nib drops to a 0.20mm hairline and opens to 1.39mm at 350g, a 6.95x range with clean snapback, with the cursive italic grind giving 0.25mm vertical against 0.20mm horizontal. This is the #10, the largest adjustable nib Wahl built and fitted only to the Oversize, and the slider runs cleanly through its full locked-to-released range on this example.

Celluloid nitrate rejuvenated and polished, the twelve faceted edges resharpened crisp and surface imperfections removed, then sealed under carnauba wax for UV and moisture protection. Nib and feed heat-set and tuned, structure intact throughout. Fitted with a silicone sac, so please store upright just in case there is nib creep. This is a trade off to use all inks regardless if they are vintage-safe or not, and will not off gas (won't degrade celluloid nitrate).

Tested on Sanzen Tomoe River 52gsm cream with Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black.