Is This A Fake Lamy Safari?

[Laura N]

Perhaps you could email Lamy with pictures of the pen and the cap, and ask them. But I've never seen a Safari with an Al-Star section.

 

Was that how it was pictured when you bid on it?

[JPZ]

This was the image. I hope Nosilauk doesn't mind and that it's allowed.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=160778464303

[Sailor Kenshin]

If they'll fake $2 Hero pens, then why not Safaris?

I think there is a difference though--no one makes copies of hero pens---they make copies of parkers.....etc...and those copies aren't dubbed as parkers.

 

Marshsall

 

Yeah, they do make copies of Hero pens. Strange as it may seem. Anyone who complains their 616 won't write probably got a fake.

 

The Safari is probably either a rarity or a Frankenpen.

[Jimmy James]

I agree it's not a fake, but it isn't what you purchased. My best guess is one of the following:

 

1) Whoever this guy bought the pen from liked to monkey around and made this Frankenpen

2) Along the way, somebody messed up their lime section and clip and this Frankenpen is the result of the barrel and cap getting paired with parts somebody had

 

It's difficult to tell if it's the seller intentionally scamming, but it doesn't really matter. If the listing didn't reveal these modifications payment should be refunded. If the listing included photos that accurately depicted the pen I think the buyer is stuck.

 

ETA: I got some fake Hero 329s from Nepal once. They were terrible and once I had them in hand very obvious knock offs.

Edited April 16, 2012 by Jimmy James

[cbbp]

So what colour would this model Safari be called?I just call it la lime or lemon-yellow green.edit- Oh blast.. I just looked at the image.. and notice that I took a shot of the side that does NOT have Lamy on the end of the barrel. Doh. Btw, the nib is Medium.

 

I saw that auction! Was intrigued... Another unusual detail is the black clip. I have a lime safari bought either here or on eBay - can't remember! It also has the smoke section but the clip is chrome. I think it's a frankenpen. But yours? Not sure! I couldn't bid on it as it was UK only IIRC... Unfortunately!

 

Please check This thread

(One of the best safari threads IMO! )

Post #65

 

Sure looks a lot like your pen! Interesting story behind it too!

 

Ah, that safari bug...

 

Enjoy it! It's a nice pen.

 

Edited because of iPad typos!!

Edited April 17, 2012 by cbbp

[pen2paper]

wait.. stop.. don't ink it, or return it, yet.

I'm not your expert here, but DO Read the thread link just above.

IF, you can backtrack this pen, As positively ThE specific pen that a Lamy rep brought to test market Lime color, then it may be one of a kind.

 

But, if it is a FrankenLamy, it needs to be returned for full refund.

You have some quick reading, and verification to do.

more on the black clip, smoke sectioned lime:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53602

it would seem that wege had the singleton?

Edited April 17, 2012 by pen2paper

[Nosilauk]

How much did you pay? Does it write?

 

£32.44

I haven't inked it - the ebayer was selling a lot of Lamys and said they were selling their collection..

I bid on that pen!

 

I bought another pen off the same person though in an earlier auction. Seemed fine.

LOL you just beat me in that one!

[Nosilauk]

Perhaps you could email Lamy with pictures of the pen and the cap, and ask them. But I've never seen a Safari with an Al-Star section.

 

Was that how it was pictured when you bid on it?

 

The cap was on so I couldn't see the barrel section and no mention of the barrel section in the description, only the black clip

[Nosilauk]

wait.. stop.. don't ink it, or return it, yet.

I'm not your expert here, but DO Read the thread link just above.

IF, you can backtrack this pen, As positively ThE specific pen that a Lamy rep brought to test market Lime color, then it may be one of a kind.

 

But, if it is a FrankenLamy, it needs to be returned for full refund.

You have some quick reading, and verification to do.

more on the black clip, smoke sectioned lime:

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53602

it would seem that wege had the singleton?

 

Very interesting. From emails it looks like the seller bought a Lamy collection from someone and has sold it on. They appear to be genuine in their responses as at first they didn't understand why I was questioning the Lamy...

[Laura N]

Wow. It sure looks like a prototype lime green Safari, as unearthed by cbbp.

 

As for value or desirability, I've got no idea. Perhaps some collectors will chime in.

 

But it sounds like you received what was listed. Since, as you say, the listing had no picture of the section. I don't know the ramifications of that. And perhaps you actually benefitted from that omission? Which I do not think, in any way, was deliberate.

 

This sure adds a new wrinkle to the issues of buying online.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Laura N

[Nosilauk]

Wow. It sure looks like a prototype lime green Safari, as unearthed by cbbp.

 

As for value or desirability, I've got no idea. Perhaps some collectors will chime in.

 

But it sounds like you received what was listed. Since, as you say, the listing had no picture of the section. I don't know the ramifications of that. And perhaps you actually benefitted from that omission?

 

This sure adds a new wrinkle to the issues of buying online.

 

I've emailed Lamy to ask them.

To be honest, I was expecting a normal Lamy - so I just assumed it was a fake.

It has a black clip on the top with a black cross on the top. It also has that slight misalignment of the "inside bit" where the converter sits that shows through the clear area.

[sirksael]

I've only seen one of these before in real life, but they were definitely a few in circulation, as the one I saw was owned by someone in Europe.

On the other hand, it is just as easy to make one of these with a black clip and a Al-star section. So, not much collectible value...

 

In summary, according to me:

 

- Not a fake, possibly original, possibly frankenpen

- No specific financial value, as unable to prove that it is an original

- Not what you paid for

[nickapos]

Interesting thread. Let us know if Lamy responds...

[pen2paper]

As an observer only, (not Lamy expert or rep), of these early discussions, will ditto sirksael's summary.

IF, you are able to determine, and document via Lamy, or Lamy rep that This pen Is thE pen used to promote the new Lime, it has some historical, but undetermined value.

From prior discussions, Safari is made up of color components, which might be mixed, even by special order of at least 200, would factor. Also understanding that some parts (top/ clip/body colors), have altered by date..

There is some possibility that this is a singleton, but this may be of more interest to a Lamy Safari historian, than someone seeking a Lime, or to complete the basic colors.

[Garageboy]

Is the ring part of the barrel or part of the section?

(Safaris have it one way, Al Stars, the other)

[Nosilauk]

The ring is in the same place as my other safaris - I've attached a couple more photos

 

http://www.somuchbetteronlinemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/pen2.png

 

http://www.somuchbetteronlinemarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/pen.png

 

Apologies, the top pic is a bit fuzzy, on the one below though you can see the misalignment through the pen window [i photod the side without the Lamy stamp]

Edited April 17, 2012 by Nosilauk

[Scrawler]

If they'll fake $2 Hero pens, then why not Safaris?

I think there is a difference though--no one makes copies of hero pens---they make copies of parkers.....etc...and those copies aren't dubbed as parkers.

 

Marshsall

 

Wrong on the first count; right on the second. Hero styles their pens on others' designs but doesn't label them so.

However, there ARE counterfeit Hero pens. Search the forums here and you'll find info, including ways to tell real Heros and fake Heros apart.

Well, thanks! I never would have imagined they would do that. I learned something new!

 

Marhsall

Yes indeed. I actually have some counterfeit Hero 616 pens. I think I have 5 left. They are dreadful and have many fit, finish and filling problems. They usually come in packs of 10 for $1-$2. You can recognize the fake bubble packs by printing problems, misspellings etc.

[JustinJ]

I question why the seller did not post a picture of the pen uncapped. There is no difference in fees for two pictures instead of one.

 

I would have to look at some of the seller's other auctions to see how many pictures are usually taken. If the seller usually takes more than one picture or a picture of the nib, then she may have been deceptive in her advertising of the pen.

 

I would not call the pen a Lime Green Safari Limited Edition. The Safari Limited Lime green edition had a green section. It could be another Lamy pen, but it was not the Limited Edition pen. If you are not happy with the pen, send it back.

[Garageboy]

The black clip and the cross top intrigues me

My Lime Green is in storage, but I can't remember if it has a cross top (I thought all LEs had the dimple)

Don't dismiss it as fugazi yet

[sirksael]

The black clip and the cross top intrigues me

My Lime Green is in storage, but I can't remember if it has a cross top (I thought all LEs had the dimple)

Don't dismiss it as fugazi yet

This site gives a good summary.