There are a few Ideal aficionados on the board, and I thought I'd get your input: It would appear that some later (post war) Ideals had monoblock barrels, quite a departure from the predominate demi, even on the lowest grades. Looks pretty clear in this photo:



The engraving on the barrels where the joint would be is of course the most obvious clue, another the break in the "plume." As Post Oak often says, "just when you think you know Ideals..."

Tolerance: the abolition of absolutes

Consistency is the currency of credibility