Is It Weird That, After "moving On" To Higher End Pens, I Want A Lamy Safari?

[Arkanabar]

Like a lot of the other replies, I see nothing wrong with getting, using, and liking inexpensive pens, even when one has top-tier writers.

Now, I wouldn't have a Safari. I've never liked it, because I like pens with thicker sections, and with round, rather than faceted/polygonal sections. But certainly I see no problem with picking up pens in the $10-40USD range, even though I have an M200, an M205, an M400, and a Sheaffer PFM. But I generally am the sort who's looking for a pen that performs well on the cheap.

[inkstainedruth]

Lamy M-B-stub nibs are much better than their EF and F options.

 

If you want an EF or F, buy one of the knockoff lamy nibs on ebay that costs a dollar. I guarantee they're better quality than Lamy's in house EF/F nibs.

 

I'd agree with you on the EF -- I tried one at a table at Ohio Pen Show one time and found the nib scratchy. But my Dark Lilac Safari has an F nib, and I like it and have had no issues with it. Although I did read in another thread recently that someone thought the black nibs had better QC than the standard steel nibs.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[MissCellany]

 

I'd agree with you on the EF -- I tried one at a table at Ohio Pen Show one time and found the nib scratchy. But my Dark Lilac Safari has an F nib, and I like it and have had no issues with it. Although I did read in another thread recently that someone thought the black nibs had better QC than the standard steel nibs.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

 

I'm not sure- I have a black EF that came to me misaligned and scratchy. I was able to mostly fix the alignment, but it still scratches in a way that isn't pleasant. My black fine, however, is gorgeous, it's in my pocket on my CP1 every day!

[Pensei]

While we are talking about Safaris, does anyone know the secret for getting ink out of a Lamy converter? It drives me crazy the way it retains that little bit of ink behind the black ring near the opening. And I would like an answer other than "take it apart," which I find to be more difficult than some people seem to think.

[peroride]

Enjoy your new Safari

 

It's a great pen! Many material/color choices, interchangeable nibs, good balance, etc

 

I have pens half the cost and xxx more than a Safari but rarely does the cost factor translate to x more in enjoyment.

[City74]

I have moved up to nicer pens but still use my Lamy,Twsbi and Kaweco all the time. They have their place in the collection and always will.

[inkstainedruth]

While we are talking about Safaris, does anyone know the secret for getting ink out of a Lamy converter? It drives me crazy the way it retains that little bit of ink behind the black ring near the opening. And I would like an answer other than "take it apart," which I find to be more difficult than some people seem to think.

 

I haven't noticed that issue with either the Safari or the LX. But then, I don't tend to remove converters on c/c pens for flushing except for the Parker converters after I've used an iron gall ink.

Are you removing the converter? I just flush c/c pens the same way I fill -- drawing up distilled water and then either ammonia solution or (for IG inks) vinegar solution, then flushing and soaking in a small glass, nib down. Following that I flush with more distilled water and let the pen drain into paper towels in another glass (I use cheap glass votive candle holders because they have straight sides and are less top heavy than the shot glasses some people use). If I get color leaching into the paper toweling, the pen gets flushed some more.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[miwishi63]

Gotta say, while "expensive" pens are a joy to write with, generally speaking, some of my most "inexpensive" serve me well as workhorses. The cost isn't nearly as important, in my opinion, as is the performance.

[Misfit]

I have several Visconti pens, but still bought 5 Jinhao shark pens on eBay.

[perfaddict]

Nothing weird at all. When all is sliced and diced, it is the writing experience that counts. The cost of a pen doesn't translate to a good experience if the pen isn't well made, or designed for one's writing style. Lamys are almost perfectly designed for the way i hold a pen and write. The relatively low cost only make it more convenient to get them in several colours. a perfect win-win.

[tim77]

He reaches into his breast pocket and he pulls out . . . a bright yellow Lamy Safari.

Excellent! It shows an appreciation for foundation pens for what they are, rather than mere status symbols.

[bemon]

There’s definitely something about the Safari. I don’t like how they write but love how they look. That u shaped clip is something else!

[langere]

I always use a mix of high-end and not-so-expensive pens. Each writing experience is unique.

 

Erick

[miwishi63]

I always use a mix of high-end and not-so-expensive pens. Each writing experience is unique.

 

Erick

 

Indeed. I quite agree.

[Pensei]

 

I haven't noticed that issue with either the Safari or the LX. But then, I don't tend to remove converters on c/c pens for flushing except for the Parker converters after I've used an iron gall ink.

Are you removing the converter? I just flush c/c pens the same way I fill -- drawing up distilled water and then either ammonia solution or (for IG inks) vinegar solution, then flushing and soaking in a small glass, nib down. Following that I flush with more distilled water and let the pen drain into paper towels in another glass (I use cheap glass votive candle holders because they have straight sides and are less top heavy than the shot glasses some people use). If I get color leaching into the paper toweling, the pen gets flushed some more.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Thanks for making the effort to write this out. I may not be describing my problem well, but, to answer your question, I do take the converter off, then spray it with a syringe. Every other brand of converter comes completely clean by this method. For some reason, some odd bit of surface tension related to the shape of the converter, I suspect, a little bit of ink always wants to stay in the converter right behind the black insert near where the converter connects to the pen. I guess I can just ignore it, but I'm a little bit obsessive about having a clean pen when I change ink colors.

[ethernautrix]

I started divesting myself of my "cheap" (much less costly but still high performing) pens, because I used them as a crutch, wanting to preserve my expensive pens' more beautiful finishes. In order to kindv force myself (gently) to use my more beloved pens, I had to get rid of the totally fine but not so beautiful crutches.

 

My strategy worked, and I no longer fret about using my best pens.

[Addertooth]

A pen can be a tool, a vision of art, an implement to create art, a cherished and ancient collectable, a status symbol, or simply in a color you like.

For me, my Lamy Safari pens in Petrol color, are simply tools. I have two of them. One constantly sits at my work desk, and is filled with Faber Castell Garnet Red.

It is used when I mark up documents, or annotate technical drawings. It is a consistent starter which leaves a nice and precise fine line.

Sometimes you simply need a hammer, and a gold-plated hammer does not drive a tack any better than an Iron one.

In all fairness, it does not rest in my display boxes. It is a tool for me. It falls in the same category as my favorite #2 Phillips screwdriver, or a preferred soft-faced hammer.

It simply works, and does it consistently. It is the country girl, who can cook amazingly, but will never win a pageant.

Everything made by man has a purpose; I imagine a pen is most content when it finds its niche.

Now for my other itches, I reach for Waterman, Eversharp, Sheaffer, Parker, Wahl, Montblanc...….. but that is a different thread.

Edited August 3, 2019 by Addertooth

[almoore]

Dude

 

The heart wants what it wants, it's not enough pennies to worry about. Why not get a few extra nibs with the Safari and play around with it. I got a good deal on Amazon on some nibs.

 

Al

[kealani]

I have higher end quality writers that included Pelikans and vintage pens. Yet, the pen I've long used for a daily journal is a TSWBI Diamond 580Al.

 

As for the Lamy Safari. Dependable every day all day writer but the ink capacity is small.

 

j

[DilettanteG]

In the decades Ive been collecting my high end range pens keep getting higher. I doubt I will ever get into five figure pens, but for a long time a four figure pen seemed crazy. Im much more careful with pens that would be difficult to replace, but Im getting more relaxed about that, too.

 

Right now, Ive got my collection mostly where I want it and am focusing on the perfect pen-ink-paper combos. I enjoy experimenting with new trends: sheening inks at the moment, Japanese papers, exotic nibs I havent acquired yet, but the maybe Ive already found my Cinderella pens?

 

A lot of my collecting has been about chasing the perfect writing experience for me. I havent found a perfect linear correlation between cost and quality.