I just going to say it... I personally hate the look of the Lamy Safari and All TWSBIs.

[Estycollector]

There is a thread discussing the tinkering possibilities of the Wing Sung 601. Not to cause thread drift, but the mention of thinkering caught my attention. 

 

The only thinkering I have done with a Lamy is changing out the nib, which was, by the way, effortless.

[collectorofmanythings]

On 4/11/2021 at 10:56 PM, chromantic said:

I don't have any real problem with the plain Jane look of the Safari (in fact, I think the wire clip is a nice touch) but I really dislike the triangular section so no Safaris for me.

 

The Eco is another ho-hum plain Jane, neither here nor there. The mini-vac looks ok and I've been tempted to try one but haven't due to the persistence of the reported cracking problems. The Diamond is a big no, however, the faceted barrel just rubs me the wrong way.

I also find the vacuum filling system very interesting. Thank you for your response!

[collectorofmanythings]

On 4/11/2021 at 11:01 PM, bunnspecial said:

I go back and forth on the Safari(and Al-Star) and I have a few.

 

They were actually one of my first real life intros to FPs from people who used them regularly. When I was in graduate school, one professor who I admired greatly, a good native Kentucky fellow who I connected with on a lot of levels even though he was/is a well published and well respected synthetic organic chemist who my school had kind of hunted from UC Davis to get him to come back to his own state...but in any case he was a fountain pen guy, although nowhere near to the level I would eventually become. He was a frequent traveler to Germany, and Safaris were his favorite souvenir from a trip there. Before he told me about them, though, I'd seen another student who'd started the same time as me using a bright yellow BP, and I wondered what on earth the deal was with the big paperclip holding it in his pocket.

 

I bought my first Safari after I'd had several other pens. Basically, though, I found it to just be just a solid writing pen. Right now I have a read one with a broad nib and charcoal black in EF. Somewhere, packed in a box from moving, I have a blue one in M.

 

Back when I started on FPN, TWSBIs were all the rage. I honestly hadn't even heard of the brand, but I was looking for a nice "gift to myself" pen for passing my qualifying exams in graduate school. I was weighing a Lamy 2000 and a Vanishing Point, but said specifically that I was targeting a $100-200 budget and was adamant about it being a gold nib(I know that's another can of worms, but for this purchase that was one of my criteria) but soliciting other suggestions. A TWSBI was one of the first suggestions, and at the time I hadn't heard of them. I went and looked and thought "this thing is ugly", plus it failed my gold nib criteria. In general, I don't care for demonstrators, a preference that really hasn't changed even though I have owned a few. I came back and said that I didn't care for the aesthetics, that again I don't like demonstrators, and that it didn't have a gold nib, and that same person basically said "Get over yourself and your aesthetic and nib material preferences. It's the best pen you can buy and you'll be sorry you didn't." I'm paraphrasing, but that statement REALLY turned me off the brand. BTW, I bought the 2000. 10 years later, I still don't have a TWSBI. The aesthetics have grown on me a bit, but I'm still neutral on them. I've had a Vac 700R in my cart at Goulet a couple of times, but have never pulled the trigger, partially because I read reviews and get mixed opinions on that particular pen. Maybe I'll finally buy one sometime, but it's not a high priority.

Very, very interesting post. Very funny that you thought the clip on the pen was a paper clip! 😆. I feel the same as you about demonstrators, I didn’t like them, they they grew on me a little, but I am a student so I don’t have a huge amount of disposable income so I can’t really buy a pen that I don’t really like that much. Anyway, thank you for your response!

[collectorofmanythings]

On 4/12/2021 at 9:27 AM, Arkanabar said:

De gustibus non est disputandem.  That is, in matters of taste, there are no (rational) arguments.

 

I don't like the Safari either.  It's too long for my pockets.  The section is uncomfortable.  The rhino-hide, 90s computer keyboard finish on my first one (in Charcoal) was obnoxious.  The clip is actually wonderfully functional, but in my opinion, the rest of the pen's visual aesthetics are displeasing.

 

People who love the Safari (and its siblings, Vista, Al-Star, LX, and Joy) seem to love it for its durability (it is a school pen, after all), performance, easily swapped inexpensive nibs (shared among most Lamy pens), and comfort (which is personal).  I know that Lamy afficianados are numerous, and so when I talk about it, I don't tell people that they ought not to like the Safari, but that, like me, they may not, and should be ready for that.  For those who can't try one for a page or two risk free, I often suggest a Jinhao 599 or other similar Chinese knock-off homage, as they're available for less than 3USD if you look around a little.

 

Similar reasons seem to obtain for the Pilot MR line (Metropolitan, Retro Pop, Cocoon).  Many love it; it's reliable, tough (brass after all), affordable, and has a simple, classic shape.  But I dislike its weight, its narrow section, and the step between barrel and grip.

 

The potential pitfalls of these two pens are why I often pipe up in "What first pen should I get?" threads to recommend the Platinum Plaisir.  It has a noticeably wider section diameter, light weight, no step, and no facets.  The chrome cap lip ring is big and clunky, which is a turn off for some.  For a few years, Platinum was putting some horrible coating on the nibs to color-match the barrels that flaked off in use, but they seem to have learned their lesson and given up on that practice.

 

I really prefer the classic shape of (e.g.) Fountain Pen Revolution's Himalaya, with its soft tapers and rounded corners.

My favorite pen of the last few years is a sadly now-defunct red FPR Jaipur stub that one of my puppies got off my desk and chewed to smithereens.  I didn't like its straight-sided cap, pointed derby, and narrower piston knob, but I loved its balance, straight grip section, flow, and nib.  No pen has provided me with greater writing comfort.

 

Nothing in the visuals of e.g. a TWSBI 580 or Vac Mini offends me, but I've never held either, and would want to before buying.

Thank you for your response. I didn’t mean to criticize anyone for liking the Safari, I just wanted to appreciate it more. In fact, I wish I liked the Safari, because then I would get any color I could get my hands on! (Like I did with the Kaweco Sport)

[LuckyOne]

I just startet with the "better" fountain pens and purchased a TWSBI eco M.
After a while, i had the feeling that the M writes to wide and ordered the same eco in F. 
Now i like my writings better but the F nib is much more scratchy than the M. 
I found my old Lamy safari M and it writes like the eco F (same width) and less scratchy. 
I am a real fan of smooth writing. 
So i have spend money to get a better feeling only to realize that my really old Safari writes better. 
Ordered a converter right away 🙂
But instead of giving up i have spend even more money and bought a Lamy 2000 M. 
We will see in a few days...

 

[InesF]

As others already mentioned, the Lamy Safari / Al Star / Vista do not have the most elegant design. But they are workhorses like (almost) no other and, most importantly, you may switch nibs by yourself within seconds (even on inked pens) from EF to B and three different stub sizes.

I like the Vista the most for drawing: I can see the ink colour and the ink level any time.

While the TWSBI's have similar qualities, they miss the easy nib switch option and cost 2x the price of one of those Lamys.

Although I have beautifully designed pens and love to write with them, I will not fill any of them with waterproof ink nor will I throw them into my bag in a hurry.

Just for fun: I equipped one of my Lamys with a gold nib - haha, the same pleasing writing experience like many other gold nibs (except here the nib is 5x the price of the rest of the pen).

[Estycollector]

I’ve never picked up a good writing pen and exclaimed, it writes good, but it’s ugly. Just saying😂😂😂

[LuckyOne]

25 minutes ago, InesF said:

Just for fun: I equipped one of my Lamys with a gold nib - haha, the same pleasing writing experience like many other gold nibs (except here the nib is 5x the price of the rest of the pen).

 

There is a gold nib for a safari ?

[nm4]

After this thread I inked up the old gloss black Safari with a fine nib.  Looks fantastic to me: oversized, unique clip, nice ink window, unique nib appearance, etc.  After using it all week I feel kind of guilty for spending so much more on other pens that aren’t half as good.

 

NM. 

[InesF]

17 hours ago, LuckyOne said:

 

There is a gold nib for a safari ?

Yes - in all four sizes, mostly black finish with a small area left in gold colour.

I bought only one in F - extremely smooth and extreme overkill on a Safari!

[Carrau]

To the OP:  forgive my curiosity, however, after some 80 odd posts in your thread, what did you  learn about the attributes of these pens?

[Bo Bo Olson]

I'd avoid all black coated nibs, there has been a vast number of posts reporting the black flaking off and inside of weeks or months; not the years of gold plate.

[langere]

Back to the topic:  Lamy created a style unique to its brand, as @Bo Bo Olson mentioned.  It's kind of edgy, so not everybody's cup of tea.  And that's okay.  I don't really like Lamy style except for the 2K.  

 

On TWSBI, I have a 580, a 700 and a Micarta.  After that, I lost interest because for me the nib is so nail-like that writing with these pens became a bit boring.  I actually like the style of the newer TWSBIs as demonstrators, but then demonstrators are not what I am generally looking for right now.  I recently did buy an orange Leonardo Pura and am eager to try it, but it has to wait its turn.  

 

Erick 

[inkstainedruth]

4 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

I'd avoid all black coated nibs, there has been a vast number of posts reporting the black flaking off and inside of weeks or months; not the years of gold plate.

I have not found that to be the case (at least so far) with the Dark Lilac Safari -- bought new when that color was released as an SE or LE pen -- or the French Blue Safari (bought used, although I don't know how long the previous owner had it).  I actually hesitated on the Dark Lilac at first, because I certainly had that happen with the "matching color" nib on one of my first pens -- a Platinum Plaisir.  

But my understanding for the Lamy nibs is that it isn't just a "coating" but more like anodizing aluminum for for kitchen pots, and is pretty permanent.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[A Smug Dill]

10 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

But my understanding for the Lamy nibs is that it isn't just a "coating" but more like anodizing aluminum for for kitchen pots, and is pretty permanent.

 

As I understand it, no, the black surface layer on Lamy Z52 nibs is produced by PVD (physical vapour deposition), not by an electrolytic process like anodising.

 

It is not likely to flake off in pieces, but it is subject to discolouration or being “eaten” away chemically. Much of the black layer on the underside of my Z52 nib (installed on my Lamy cp1) is gone, and I attribute it to prolonged contact with Sailor Seiboku ink.

 

On 4/20/2021 at 6:33 PM, InesF said:

Yes - in all four sizes, mostly black finish with a small area left in gold colour.

 

Those are Z57 nibs. The 14K gold Z55 and Z56 nibs, which are silver-and-gold bicolour in presentation, fit the Lamy Safari just the same.

 

On 4/20/2021 at 1:06 AM, LuckyOne said:

There is a gold nib for a safari ?

 

To my knowledge, no edition of Lamy Safari was released factory-fitted with a gold nib, but you can fit any Z50 (which may be silver or black in colour), Z52, Z53, Z55, Z56 or Z57 nib on a Safari.

 

8 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

then I can look at the Lamy Imporium...

 

Not all Lamy Imporium variants have (black) Z57 nibs anyway. The Titanium-Platinum (standard edition) and Lx Rose Gold (special edition) Imporium pens are fitted with Z56 nibs.

 

Edited April 26, 2021 by A Smug Dill
grammar

[Bo Bo Olson]

Thanks Ruth....then I can look at the Lamy Imporium....I really admire that bendy soft 2 X nib; just don't admire the price.

[InesF]

14 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

I'd avoid all black coated nibs, there has been a vast number of posts reporting the black flaking off and inside of weeks or months; not the years of gold plate.

Although a bit late for a reply, my black coated Lamy nibs (I have two sets of all normal sizes) work well since ca. 7 month. I use them in my Vista and Joy with waterproof inks for drawing. Only once, so far, one of these inks dried accidentally in my Vista and I had to mechanically brush it. There was no problem with the coating, it is still there and has no issues.

I experienced, the black coated nibs are bit smoother then the width-equivalent in blank metal. It may be, because the Iridium ball is coated together with the nib body.

[InesF]

9 hours ago, A Smug Dill said:

Those are Z57 nibs. The 14K gold Z55 and Z56 nibs, which are silver-and-gold bicolour in presentation, fits the Lamy Safari just the same.

Thank you, I din't know about the silver-gold bicolour!

And to be honest, I fit my Lamy black-gold nib to my 1980's CP1, where it looks nice and is a great writer! It was a big improvement compared to the formerly steel nib CP1.

[Bo Bo Olson]

4 hours ago, InesF said:

1980's CP1,

Mine was a light pen & nail, in I don't care for nails, it and a Safari, I gave to someone to hook them on fountain pens....then they moved away, so I hope it took.

[YPwalt]

I may have missed some of the posts here, so I apologize in advance if I'm simply "re-hashing", but my experience with both TWSBIs and Safaris has been similar to those of several others posting here....

 

TWSBIs:  I have several. They feel "good" in the hand to me (especially the ones that post -personal preference) and they just. simply. "work: ... and work really well...especially for the cost. I've not otherwise been a huge fan of "demonstrators" so I probably don't reach for them as often as I do others, but always have at least a couple inked. They almost NEVER "hard-start".

 

Safaris: ahhh....For so long I WANTED to like them as "everybody else" seemed to. I tend to be mostly a black-pen (or occasionally copper ) kind of person myself, so the myriad colors never did much for me but I bought a couple and really struggled with not being able to comfortably align the grip and the nib to my liking. MY personal revelation came when I took a chance on a black Al configured as a (sorry!!!!!) rollerball ....and no longer having to worry about "aligning the grip",  I loved it .... and still do. I've since modified it to accept various refills and It frequently finds its way into a pocket. I still tend to gravitate to more traditional /muted colors, but have, since then, come to appreciate much more the FP versions as well.

 

Really like (most of) the rest of the Lamy line.