1. First Impressions 5/5
First impression? Curiosity actually! I have read so much positive opinion on Lamy and in particular the Safari/AL-star pen that I kept telling myself that I ought to try one at some point. My mother offered me a gift certificate to spend on pen related stuff and I ended up buying a Metallic Blue AL-star.

2. Appearance & Finish 3/5
As it was discuss in previous thread the color on this one is like a chameleon with some lighting it has a lilac overtone other times it looks simply blue. Very cool color. The aluminum is nice and pleasant to the touch. I was not too crazy of its appearance at first but it has grown on me.

3. Design/ Size/Weight 5/5
Lamy got a reputation for streamlined and functional design and I think it is well deserved. I was not convinced that I would like the grip for example but it feels right. I thought the ink window was ugly, but it works very well. The metal wire clip is not particularly beautiful but it does secure the pen well enough in my shirt pocket even during a short sprint to board the train All in all maybe not the most beautiful design but very practical! The pen is very comfortable posted or not.

4. Nib Design & Performance 4/5
Standard uncoated stainless steel. It originally came with a Broad nib which was very wet (and way too broad for my taste). That nib was reasonably smooth, “was” my spouse wrecked it in 5 seconds... She has written a bit with fountain pen previously so I was surprised (but relieved it did not happen with another pen!).
Back to the store I got a 1.1 Italic nib as replacement and I love it!!! I’ve played with some italic for years (Sheaffers and Rotring Art Pen) and I really like this little nib. I guess that’s what won me over to the AL-star. Whereas the B nib was gushy, the 1.1 Italic is medium wet and give nice shading.

5. The Filling System 5/5
No non-sense Cart/Converter which is perfect for this pen since I change color frequently! The converter despite looking cheap works very well, quite a contrast from my Visconti converter that looks great but has ink “sticking” to its side.

6. Cost/Value 5/5
Outstanding value for the price.

7. Overall Opinion/Conclusion 5/5
I tend to carry two pens everyday, this little pen is always part of the pair... Let say it is the “first” Lamy I get but not the last

Click to view attachment

Thank you for you review, clear and concise. I think the model name of the pen you have should be "Silverblue".

I have several Safaris/Al Star and I do agree that the 1.1 italic is just good. Compared in the same range with the Vector, there's no game.
While the Parker is slow, toothy, and it stumble on paper every two letters, the Lamy is wet and fast, a pleasure to write with.

Another thing you get right is the ink hole (more than window...). Ugly. But somehow have a character to the whole pen.

Thanks again and cheers,

Wonderful review! I just purchased an Al-star in Green! Your review is concise and to the point. I like to think of the Lamy Al-star as the workmans pen. Functionl and well put together!

stjim.

Hey, I like the inkview window! Else, when you play intergalactic hypertransport with it, what else could serve as the weapons deployment bay, or the ion propulsion warp drive, or the... etc.



Anyway, I like it. Gort does too!



Doug

Gort, Klaatu barada nikto...

Yes, the Al-Star (and the Safari) is a very nice pen. I've only had mine for a week, but I love it. I can't wait to use the converter in it! (I'm using up the cartridge that came with it at the moment.)

I've heard that the silver-colored nibs are actually nickel-plated instead of bare stainless steel, but I doubt that that's true.

In my opinion, the Safari/Vista/Al-Star is an excellent choice for a first fountain pen... it was for me, anyway!

Y'all are just about pushing me over the limit on this one.

I don't really like a big italic like that, but I don't want to buy this pen with just a standard nib either.

Can't decide. On one hand, it would be nice to have this model again in a color I actually like and be able to use it as a toss in the bag and go pen. OTOH, if I get the italic, even if I whittle it down to something narrower, will it still be quite as appealing to me as a pen for writing?

I mean - long term writing sessions which is the appeal of the grip on these pens.

never mind - I just saw the nibs on Pendemonium. I think I'm going to lose my grip here.

Now, Ocean Blue or the lilac blue? Both are appealing.

Well I won't help you here I find the 1.1 italic actually small, of course all things are relative my other italics where 1.5mm or bigger, but this one is small enough that it is comfy to write standard cursive with it. I never tried an "official" cursive italic but the corner are smoother than my Rotring Art Pen, but sharper than the stubs I tried so far so I like to think of the nib as cursive italic



I would think so I intend to buy another one with a M or F nib...



Lilac/Silver Blue!

So I can blame you for my ordering one of these and an addictional - additional - nib?

oh well. It's cheap and I'm feeling blue - it'll be a tiny pick-me-up.

I'll happily accept the blame

Will you pay for it, though.

I can't believe I bought another pen. I just bought my "last one before school starts again." I justified this one because it's inexpensive and a "beater" and I was in a bad mood and so I self-medicated with a pen and I wanted a dry writer for one of my inks and can't wait the x weeks for a nib adjustment by a nibmeister and...

argggg! Oh well.

Lol so you already got it? Which nib did you get and how do you like it?

not here yet. I have to wait on the ol' USPS. No pen stores nearby or I'd have gone down and bought it today.

Thanks for the review. Couldn't agree more. In fact, I just got three Lamys in the mail today, an Al-Star Blue xf, an Al-Star silvergreen xf, and a red Safari. Just inked the green with Noodler black and will spend the rest of the afternoon writing with it!

Thanks again

I'm afraid I'm going to have to order the metallic green, m'self. I think Diamine Umber would be purfect for it. Then I'd have two pens for long writing stints with one of my fave inks in one and a very serviceable dark blue (Black Magic Blue) in the other. Both good for transcribing, also.

Love the fine nib for fast writing. It's not too fine and not too broad so I don't even have to think about what I'm doing, just let the pen do the work. My pels are like that, just want a couple of cheapies (relatively speaking) to do the same. And these are purty.

At the price point I don't think there's a better deal in pendom. So far Diamine Teal, MB Violet and Platinum Black have worked beautifully. No performance or ink issues whatsoever. They are very lightweight and long enough to be perfectly balanced without posting. What's not to like?

um. that typo was totally unintentional. Really

Now that I know you'll be after a second one I feel even less guilty

I haven't let you off the hook yet!