Hi can someone tell me what the Lamy 2000 "ears" are & what they look like ?

I've looked at loads of photos of the 2000 & can't make anything out that looks anything like "ears"

Thanks

The infamous ears are two tiny protruberances created by a very thin steel washer arrangement between the section and the barrel, and are that part of the pen which the cap clicks on to in such a satisfying way. The section has tiny slots which hold the ears but conceals the washer, and ensures that they are always in the same postition, just under your thumb and forefinger as you write, gently ensuring that the nib is held at the correct angle / irritating the hell out of you (delete as appropriate).

My first 2000, bought from The Pen Shop in Regent Street was completely earless, and after an evening spent unsuccessfully trying to keep the cap on, I had to go into the centre of London especially to get new ears fitted, which was quite as surreal as it sounds.

John

The "ear" is that tiny piece of metal between the ink view window and the metal section. There is another on the other side, they keep the cap snapped on securely. Some have complained that they feel the ears as they write, I've never noticed them except as a useful way of keeping the cap on.

Thanks John

So is it a fairly modern feature of the design ie possible that earlier versions of the 2000 did not have ears ?

In your case it looks like someone had them removed for some reason or the washer thing got lost

Would it be possible to rotate the nib so they were out of position & did not interfere with grip?

No, they've always had ears - I just liked the nib of the pen I tried, so bought the demonstration model rather than a pristine one from under the counter (the only advantage to buying from a shop, I think). Whether the ears had got lost or had been removed in case they put people off, I couldn't say. It was only when the cap wouldn't stay on and I checked out reviews here that I discovered the existence of ears and my lack of same.

As I expect you know, the pen has amazing build quality. Just as it is virtually impossible to see the join between the blind cap and the barrel, you cannot see any line between the barrel and the section. Two tiny slots keep the ears in the postion that Lamy intended - no fidgeting allowed . Having them under your finger and thumb is a definite design decision, and in spite of the mixed reception on FPN, I rather like them - they have a similar function to a Safari's triangular grip.

John

That would be a great option. I'm really interested in the answer of this question !

These "ears" still refrain me to get a Lamy 2000, because I don't wanna find out I cannot write with it, have to sell it and be disappointed. If there is a way to rotate the ears / the nib, Lamy 2000 will be mine some day ! I loooove its design !

Wish they had ears on the other end as well to keep the cap posted.

I was wondering on that point but having seen many photos with a scuffed ring I thought / assumed a good friction fit like their Studio design was adequate .. does the cap work loose then if posted?

No, the ears cannot be rotated; the slots for them are cut into the barrel. I think there are some pictures of the ears and how they are mounted in a dismantled pen in my review of the pen. You can avoid them by altering your grip, and they aren't as bad on the fingers as some threads, but they are an annoyance. My cap posts fine, but I have heard that some people have trouble posting theirs because it slips off. Apparently, there's a kind of art to posting if you get one of these pens; you have to push the cap on firmly, but not overly vigorously.

Funny... that thing looks just like the two little "latches" I noticed on my Carene that serve the same function, too... though on the Carene it's quite subtle and if you hold the pen in such a way that those latches are under your fingers, then the separation by difference in girth between the barrel and the section would be under your fingers, too, so you'd be bothered no matter what.

I purchased the pen. Although the "ears" are at the position where I hold the pen, they don't annoy me in the least. Still would rate this pen extremely highly. In fact, I'd recommend that this pen be included in the stable of everyone's FP daily users. Great pen for meetings and occasions where you don't want to attract attention to your writing instrument, yet, when seen -- you'll get some questions.

My best,

Paul

Good thread, all. ;-)

That said, I've never been bothered by this at all. It just works.