Would A Lamy 2000 Be A Good Pen To Buy At Around $100 That Can Be Posted? Any Other Pen At That Price Range?

[fezz4734]

So I want to save up for my first big pen buy, I have 4 as of now 2 parker 45 (fine and medium) lamy safari, and a montblanc meiserstruck something like that. I don't consider the montblanc as it's a gift and I don't take it out of the house. I wanted a new pen that would really impress me from the pens I already have. Any other pen I could buy at around this price? I've been also considering the custom heritage 92 and the m200 but heard m200 price is too much for the quality and have heard good stuff about the custom 92. Something smooth and that I can write plenty with? Anything will be helpful.

[KBeezie]

I thought Lamy 2K were around $200

[Guest Ray Cornett]

Any other pen in that price range? Go vintage. They were obviously made to last and you can get some really nice ones for $100 or less.

[KBeezie]

I never used a Lamy 2K but someone in another thread said my MontBlanc 225 looks like a Lamy 2K, got mine for $50 but I seem to see the 220/225 etc going for around 100 if not a little more, like Ray said, vintage can be a good way to go, but only if you like that kind of thing.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/montblanc225/1.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/montblanc225/2.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/jinhao159/converter.jpg

(shown next to the Evergreen Touchdown above)

 

Edit: Looks like the Lamy 2000 are around $160 up to around $300 for the steel ones. Not sure how my MB225 "looks" like a Lamy, doesn't seem to have the same style of nib.

Edited April 19, 2014 by KBeezie

[fezz4734]

I never used a Lamy 2K but someone in another thread said my MontBlanc 225 looks like a Lamy 2K, got mine for $50 but I seem to see the 220/225 etc going for around 100 if not a little more, like Ray said, vintage can be a good way to go, but only if you like that kind of thing.

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/montblanc225/1.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/montblanc225/2.jpg

http://static.karlblessing.com/pens/jinhao159/converter.jpg

(shown next to the Evergreen Touchdown above)

 

Edit: Looks like the Lamy 2000 are around $160 up to around $300 for the steel ones. Not sure how my MB225 "looks" like a Lamy, doesn't seem to have the same style of nib.

 

I love vintage as long as it writes correctly, I love my parker 45's they are actually my favorite writers as of now, I do actually like how the montblanc looks. If you said you got it for that price range I might go on a hunt to find one!

[KBeezie]

 

I love vintage as long as it writes correctly, I love my parker 45's they are actually my favorite writers as of now, I do actually like how the montblanc looks. If you said you got it for that price range I might go on a hunt to find one!

 

The writing itself has never been a problem for me, it's encased nib can't be easily adjusted to my knowledge (since I have no clue how to remove the nib or feed), so if the nib or alignment was not good then I think I'd be screwed lol. It also seems to be one of the easiest piston fillers to disassemble for cleaning. It's nib is almost as fine as my Platinum or Touchdown, but is much smoother than both of them on various paper.

 

A 220 is almost identical (except I think most of them have a variety of barrel textures and such). Apparently if you see a 22x with the feed separated from the section, then that's one you can just push the nib out thru the back of the section. Otherwise if it's like mine where the feed isn't visible from outside the section then I have no clue how you'd get the nib out for adjustment if needed.

 

 

I've never unscrewed the ink reservoir portion (like he showed in the video), just the section from that part when I had to do some cleaning. I think mine is missing an o-ring at the base of the feed, because without some silicone gel on the threads the ink will creep to the ink window (but with some silica gel, or with the o-ring in place, not a problem). It's handy if you end up getting one and it has stubborn ink inside, you can just remove the second and go at it with a water bulb or something.

 

I originally won it for $66, but since it wasn't cleaned like the seller said (mentioned being sonic cleaned but that doesn't do much for the inside if you don't flush it), so it arrived inky with the cap filled up and the feed needing to be soaked for a while, for my troubles the seller was nice enough to refund me $15 (at 66 it was still a steal once I got it cleaned up). They seem to go for on average around 100-150 depending on the model and look (the ones with P at the end of the number are C/C cartridge/converter versions).

 

Some of them seem to be missing the snowflake on the bottom of the pen, it's purely cosmetic and seems common for them to fall out, eventually I'd like to replace it, but it's not needed, and is rarely noticed because I post the cap when writing.

 

A write sample on just some Arc Paper (the kind that comes with Staple's Arc Notebooks, basically it's a 24lb weight paper, not too expensive), so you can see what I mean bout line thickness. And what's nice is even on Rhodia the lines I draw with the MB seem to dry in under 10 seconds (as opposed to some of the wetter writer), but doesn't seem to too dry (keeps up with faster writing).

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/reviews/paper/house/arc_front.jpg

 

Not too shabby on el-cheapo Mead 5-star Notebook either:

 

http://static.karlblessing.com/reviews/paper/house/mead5star_front.jpg

Edited April 19, 2014 by KBeezie

[Guest Ray Cornett]

 

I love vintage as long as it writes correctly, I love my parker 45's they are actually my favorite writers as of now, I do actually like how the montblanc looks. If you said you got it for that price range I might go on a hunt to find one!

You can get all sorts of $100 or less good deals on pens on Ebay. I have yet to pay more than $50 including shipping and every one of them worked fine when I got it even it the sac was original.

[KBeezie]

You can get all sorts of $100 or less good deals on pens on Ebay. I have yet to pay more than $50 including shipping and every one of them worked fine when I got it even it the sac was original.

 

All of my Sheaffers restored completely were under $100, Snorkel Admiral for about 80, Touchdown Admiral for 50, Craftsman in Persian Blue for 21, but not everyone likes the look of them (And the one with the triumph nibs go for a tiny bit more than the open nibs like mine are). Don't get me wrong I like my Touchdown and Snorkel, but I'm liking the Montblanc over both of them.

[Cryptos]

Okay, that was me on the comparison with Lamy 2000 to MB 225. It was the combination of the brushed look MB and the Lamy Makrolon finish, and also the kind of industrial look to the nibs.

 

Anyway, if I could get my hands on a 225 like yours for 100 bucks, yeah I'd buy it, even if I cannot currently afford it. Though I would love for you to point me in the direction that you find 'em (must be a differnt Ebay to the one I'm looking at).

Edited April 19, 2014 by Cryptos

[The Blue Knight]

A paker Sonnet Checked GT. I was Initially going to go for a Lamy 2000 but I wasn't so sure how the section would feel in the hand as it is metal. So I went for the Sonnet as it is an ergonomically sound pen.

 

 

I paid £100 so it will be a bit more in dollars then $100 but it's a sound pen.

 

 

Edited April 19, 2014 by top pen

[The Blue Knight]

But honestly if I could get the Lamy 2000 for $100 I would go it as for $100 your getting a large bang for your buck.

[KBeezie]

Okay, that was me on the comparison with Lamy 2000 to MB 225. It was the combination of the brushed look MB and the Lamy Makrolon finish, and also the kind of industrial look to the nibs.

 

Anyway, if I could get my hands on a 225 like yours for 100 bucks, yeah I'd buy it, even if I cannot currently afford it. Though I would love for you to point me in the direction that you find 'em (must be a differnt Ebay to the one I'm looking at).

The listing where I won mine, the seller Pens-Hal appears to have a very good reputation for selling pens 'exactly' as they're described as.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Montblanc-No225-Piston-Vintage-Fountain-Pen-Silver-Black-14K-585-Germany-FP-/251483804907

 

I currently have this one on my watch list (but no plans to actually buy anything right now)

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261452521456

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NDgwWDY0MA==/z/grMAAMXQyY1TS7KC/$_12.JPG

 

Though I don't know what # that is, but like every other similar style to the 22x I've seen so far it tends to run around 20-30ish to the last day then within the final hours can jump up to around 80-100 sometimes 150 (the ones listed as 220 with the brushed body seem to go for that much). Mine has a brushed section area, but the pen itself is mostly a glossy black, and mine seems to have the platinum coated nib and cap which most don't seem to have (either the platinum wore on them or they were just straight gold).

[KBeezie]

But honestly if I could get the Lamy 2000 for $100 I would go it as for $100 your getting a large bang for your buck.

 

If I seen a new Lamy 2000 for $100, I'd wonder about it being too good to be true or not.

Personally the L2k doesn't suit my taste... but I've never held one either yet.

Edited April 19, 2014 by KBeezie

[MBFan]

I have a lamy 2000 and love it, and a 225 (same model as kbeezie) is on it's way to me as we speak. At some point you'll end up with both, I'm sure. But if you find a L2k for 100 usd, then I'd go for it. Bear in mind all the usually caveats about internet saftey etc. They are solid pens, and have a good reputation on the forum and beyond. Read some reviews, you'll find what you need.

[fezz4734]

Yea I do like the Montblanc 225 design a lot, if anything I would need a little push or some help as to which vintage pens to look at for $100 as I only know of a few like parkers. Also if there is something modern made that's just as good that would be helpful too but I don't doubt vintage either.

[discopig]

 

If I seen a new Lamy 2000 for $100, I'd wonder about it being too good to be true or not.

Personally the L2k doesn't suit my taste... but I've never held one either yet.

 

$100 wouldn't be too far fetched for a used one. I saw new ones retail for around $130-150.

 

I'm not a fan of Lamy 2000 and I'd probably not buy it even for $100.

Edited April 19, 2014 by discopig

[fezz4734]

I just went on a huge vintage spree on ebay, will be bidding on some of the pens I found hopefully get something good

[Buzz_130]

For your $100 you have a nice range of very good pens.

 

For modern, you could start looking to some of the Japanese pens. The Platinum #3776 is a fantastic pen that will impress you right out of the box. Get a M nib, and you will be pleasantly surprised at how good a modern pen can be.

 

For vintage, you are definitely in the ballpark for some Parker classics: "51" aero or vac, and the Vacumatic, I really like Sheaffers, and you have a great range of Snorkels, Lifetimes, and Balances. You can even look at the evolution of the Sheaffer nib with the Triumph and inlaid classics. With your budget, you might even get a set with a pencil.

 

I'm a very happy customer of Teri from peytonstreetpens.com. You don't take the risks of ebay, get some great prices, and experience excellent customer service. The pens are restored and ready to go on delivery, and she's always adding new inventory to her vintage collection.

 

I have a Lamy 2000 with a fine nib and like it. It has the feel and heft of a work pen, and that's where I use it the most with absolutely no complaints. But I enjoy many other pens more because they offer something different.

 

Buzz

[Scribblesoften]

Another place you might look is the vintage pens section at isellpens.com. Todd has been carrying a lot more vintage pens lately and sometimes you can get good deals. He has a number of the Montblanc 22x pens. I have a 220 as well but my favorite model is the 24 with the 22 as a close second. Standard disclaimer applies - i am a happy customer but not affiliated.

[martinbir]

As a practical, usable pen the Lamy 2000 beats them all (only my opinion of course). the cheapest you can get one in UK is £120. So if you can buy for $100 go for it!