My Official Lamy 2000 Review

[biffybeans]

One photo for here, the rest are on Flickr. Check them out below:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biffybeans/2421818192/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biffybeans/2421002949/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biffybeans/2421814592/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biffybeans/2420997513/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biffybeans/2421809356/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biffybeans/2421806634/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/biffybeans/2420988947/

 

 

Lamy 2000 Official Moleskine Review

 

This is my brand new, (new to me, as I believe I may actually be the third owner of this pen) Lamy 2000. I bought it as an Extra Fine, and I can only assume it is, because I can not immediately see any markings on it to distinguish it as an Extra Fine. The nib is as smooth as BUT-TAH. It's easily the smoothest nib I have ever used, more so than my medium nibbed Safari, and even the medium Vanishing Point I owned for 3 days.

 

Filled with Noodler's Black, it writes smooth & wet. No bleeding or feathering (typical for me with Noodler's Black)

 

The pen is nondescript, which I like. It reminds me of a Flair felt tipped pen with the texturing on the outside. It's easy to hold, and it's perfectly balanced in my hand. I would expect no fatigue from using this pen.

 

If I'm at least the 3rd owner, I wonder why other people didn't like/want it.

 

I'm very happy. It cost me $79 with shipping, and I'll go out on a limb to say that I'd pay full retail to replace it if I had to.

 

So...should I even bother having those 3 Parker 51's restored? LOL We'll see. For now, I'm Very Happy.

 

Stephanie

 

 

 

[el3ssar]

Nice review I definitely want to try one of these Lamy 2K one day.

 

(Maybe a moderator should move this review to the appropriate forum ? :embarrassed_smile: )

[MYU]

Congratulations on your 2000, Stephanie. I had heard from a few people that the extra fine was a little scratchy, so it's great to hear yours is super smooth.

 

The 2000 is not what I'd consider a mainstream pen. It has its own particular quirks that rub some people the wrong way. But for those who appreciate it, they stick with it for many years to come.

 

As for nib size, I that there should be a marking... I can't recall exactly. It might be a very subtle imprint on the section. Yours is extra fine but looks like a fine--this is typical of the Lamy 2000, as the nib usually writes one size larger.

 

Enjoy!

[biffybeans]

Whoops! I forgot there was a general pen review section. Thanks for reminding me!

[Fountainbass]

Great review! I'm really tempted to get one of these pens.

[biffybeans]

Thanks Bill. I'm learning that it's actually a little different than other of the pens I own. Like other people have said, it does actually write a thicker horizontal line than a vertical one, which kind of creates an illusion of flex. Someone mentioned that the nibs do flex, and I'm not sure that's true, because if I bear down on the nib, the "flex" isn't exaggerated. I think it's just the nature of the nib. I see more of the supposed "flex" if I move the pen to a lesser angle to the paper.

 

 

  Bill Grass said:

Great review! I'm really tempted to get one of these pens.

 

[ajaxline]

Great review! Thanks Stephanie for the write-up and the photos.

 

Cheers,

A.J.

[HesNot]

I can't really review my L2K since I've only had it for a few days - but upon my initial impressions at least I think it compares favorably to my beloved Parker "51"s as a workhorse pen. It does have it's quirks - the well documented cap pins for example (which thankfully don't bother me at all), and the materials and styling remain quite unique and distinctive

 

My new EF was not terribly smooth - not horrible but definitely had drag on one quarter of a circle indicating slightly out of align tines - which was confirmed by my view under the loupe. It was very slightly off, so a bit of the thumbnail working on it and I got it back in shape rather easily, and now it is really, really smooth and a pleasure to use. Nevertheless, I was a bit disappointed that I had to do anything to it out of the box, particularly since they are supposed to be tested at the factory before leaving. However, I think it is a bargain at the price so I'm a little more willing to do some tweaking to get it right than I would with, say, a $400 Conway Stewart.

[penWATCHfreak]

Thanks for your review. It is great.

 

Just bought 2 new Lamy 2000 pens, one stainless steel version( for collection) and one regular black(for use) version. Both with EF nib.

 

I will start to use the black version very soon.

Edited April 19, 2008 by penWATCHfreak

[oberon]

Glad that you like your Lamy 2000, I have a L2K with a double broad nib and I love it . Very smooth writes first time every time no leaks , smooth nib, bla bla bla yadda yadda yadda. A truly iconic pen. One could spend much more and not get a better writer.

Oberon

[el3ssar]

  penWATCHfreak said:

Just bought 2 new Lamy 2000 pens, one stainless steel version( for collection) and one regular black(for use) version. Both with EF nib.

 

A stainless steel Lamy 2OOO ?

[finalidid]

The Lamy 2000 is the one new pen I'm really itching to try, because folks all over FPN suggest it regularly as one of the "best" replacements for a Parker 51. I'm addicted to vintage pens -- I frankly own literally zero "brand new" ones right now; newest is a Waterman Laureat which I originally got from grandpa in the mid-1980s -- so I'd say two things.

 

1. I'll always be interested in a Lamy 2000 but I don't know if I'll ever let myself get a new pen.

 

2. You should definitely restore your Parker 51s despite how much you like your Lamy 2000.

 

[PAKMAN]

el3ssar "A stainless steel Lamy 2OOO ? "

 

Yep! Lamy 2000 Limited Edition.

 

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t154/MYU701/pens/Lamy/2000/Lamy2000LE.jpg

[Blade Runner]

  finalidid said:

The Lamy 2000 is the one new pen I'm really itching to try, because folks all over FPN suggest it regularly as one of the "best" replacements for a Parker 51.

 

With a tribute like that, it looks like I'm going have to try one , with all due respects to the Parker 51.

[Blade Runner]

  oberon said:

Glad that you like your Lamy 2000, I have a L2K with a double broad nib and I love it . Very smooth writes first time every time no leaks , smooth nib, bla bla bla yadda yadda yadda. A truly iconic pen. One could spend much more and not get a better writer.

Oberon

That stainless version is very attractive. Was it a lot more than the standard 2K, may I ask?

I think both versions look great as I prefer understated pens generally.

[aka]

I'm trying to hold out from buying the 2000, but reading your review only made it harder!

[el3ssar]

  pakmanpony said:

el3ssar "A stainless steel Lamy 2OOO ? "

 

Yep! Lamy 2000 Limited Edition.

 

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t154/MYU701/pens/Lamy/2000/Lamy2000LE.jpg

 

Wow, I had never seen that one before. It looks really good

[MYU]

The stainless steel version (made in 2000) was more than double the cost of the regular edition. I've been keeping my eye out for one across the years, as they seldom show up (and when they do, often way over priced).

 

Just recently, an FPN member put one up for sale at a ridiculously low price, maybe $10 over the going used rate of the regular edition on eBay. The pen was gone in 5 minutes. Talk about that buyer being a lottery winner! I discovered it hours later and... it took me a while to stop kicking myself.

 

The only down side of the stainless steel version is that there is no ink window. And I don't think you'd want to post the cap, as the body would likely develop posting scratches over time. Anyway... I saw one first hand at a pen show. Very nice looking pen, but not worth the market going rate for them, IMHO.

Edited April 20, 2008 by MYU

[chrisc]

Another incredibly satisfied EF 2000 owner here, I think that this is the perfect pen for me, relatively cheap, understated, and a joy to use. I bought mine on the day I got my new job about 3 months ago for use in the office, and it is perfect for this because of its rather stealthy nature and the ability of the EF nib when combined with Noodler's Black to write on copier paper without bleeding through or feathering.

[biffybeans]

Just a quick update after using this pen non-stop for 3 days. The nib is unlike any other I've used before. It does seem to have a slight flex. It seems more evident on crappy paper, (like Moleskine) and if you lower the angle in which you hold the pen. It writes very smooth, but since mine is a very wet writer, there is upon occasion, a letter that will come out a little thicker than normal. Not exactly what I would refer to as a "slplooch" but even still, I just thought I'd make note of it even though it doesn't bother me.

 

The pen is well balanced, and if I don't post the pen, it's almost like writing with nothing at all. I usually post all my pens, but for some reason, it seems easier to write with the 2000 cap off.

 

WARNING - One big thing to note - if you unscrew the top section, make SURE you line up the ring with the ears to the notches in the top part. Other wise, when you screw it back down and you don't notice that the ears aren't lining up, you will make two nice little blippy dents in the plastic that makes your heart drop that you just wrecked your new pen. {{{deep breath}}} After feeling my face turn beet red, I correctly reassembled the pen, and then used another piece of hard plastic to burnish the blippy nibs in the plastic back down until they are almost non-existent. {{{exhales}}}