Initial Impression / Design

If people want to know what minimalism is all about then show them this pen. Clean lines and no ornamentation because frankly this pen doesn’t need it. Bauhaus at it’s best. I can see why the design of this pen hasn’t changed in 4 decades. Indeed, it continues to look as modern and futuristic now as it did back then.
The finish is good…actually I lie, the finish is excellent. I defy anyone to look at the pen and spot the gap between the barrel and piston. The fit is perfect.
But (weren’t expecting that were you) I have to admit to always being slightly unsure if the cap has clicked on properly as it’s not a very big click. On the other hand the cap has never come off in my pocket so I guess it’s held on tight enough.





Writing

Lovely smooth nib, hint of line variation. Reliable, no skipping, always starts and can sit uncapped for a few minutes (not too surprising for a semi hooded nib though).
However, here comes another minor niggle – those clips for the cap are exactly where I want to place my forefinger and thumb as it write and I can feel them. They don’t dig in exactly and it’s a nice pen to write with but you know they are there and it’s mildly annoying.
However, it’s a good size and weight which will be comfortable for many. My advice is to try before you buy.



Filling

Piston filler, so, good capacity. The ink window isn’t the best for seeing how much ink you still have but it does give you an idea. Also, the piston in mine does feel a little bit stiff compared to my other piston fillers but so long as it keeps working this isn’t a problem.

Overall

Excellent pen for the money but I do have to admit to having a few minor issues. I know lots of people are probably sitting there reading this aghast but hey, we’re all different. Now, must lock the door before the lynch mob getS here.

Nice review of a pen that has many fans.

I know what you mean about those clips: I can definitely tell they're there. I find them useful for guiding my fingers along the barrel grip, otherwise this is a seriously smooth and almost slippery pen to write with.

They certainly help the cap click shut though; it's when I post the cap that it's prone to falling off.

Some people complain about the metal 'ears' (I can't find a better word) on the section. No problem for me, as I hold my pens quite high related to the section: let's say, I hold my MB 146 above the threads. So, those thingies on the Lamy 2000 don't bother me.
My 2000 has a M nib, and is a wonderful writer, with a wet line. I love it. Great pen.

Thanks for the review. I did not like the metal "ears" on the pen I tested, and I am one of the people that find Namiki VP's clip to be "in the way". But I have always grinned when trying those smooth Lamy steel nibs.

Another "Ouch - what the hell were they thinking of with those pins?" vote, I'm afraid.

I am quite used to the metal ears. But a agree they are a bit odd. However, I have found the 2000 to be a very "wet" writer. I actually had my XF nib dressed/smoothed on the topside, (like Parker used to do with the old vacumatics) so it lays down a nice "thin" line..
Overall it is a workhorse of a pen that travels well and never misses a beat..

Nice review ACG. I really loved my first one, and I just recently purchased another to take with me for field research because I thought the first was pretty rugged. Also, I agree with the cautions about trying this out before buying if at all possible. I don't have a problem with the little "ears," but I could imagine someone hating them.

Nice review. Thinking about getting one soon. So what exactly are these ears? amnd is there a close up pictures of them that someone can share??

These metal ears, which are actually part of a ring-shaped metal spring inside the section, are the only parts which hold the cap by clicking in a metal ring inside the cap, as there are no threads or other things on the smooth body.
Also the ears mark the place where the section unscrews from the body. There is an independent section, but you can't see it normally! When unscrewed, you can remove the abovementioned little spring carefully and now have easy access to the ink reservoir in the body and to the section itself for cleaning etc.
/:)

KCkc posted a good "HowTo" on the Lamy 2000 - here's the link:

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...17&hl=lamy+2000

There's some good pictures of the "ears" there in that link.

For me, I love the Lamy 2000 - I have a black and a stainless steel one... Probably one of the best values in my book... and great design to boot.

The "ears" don't bother me at all.

Dudley - head over to WorldLux, they have one in the display case you can try.

Thank for the heads up Chainwhip!

Those ear were so discreet in all the pictures i've seen i didnt even notice till now.

I bought my Lamy 2000 from Tytyvyllus and the nib is a broad. I also had concerns with the "Ears" but I have to say that the more I use it, the less it is an issue!!! I thought at one time that this was an UGLY looking pen. Well, honestly, I still do but as with all the Lamy pens I have which is 4, they are indeed ugly but they are killer writers!!! They are as smooth as butter and these are one of the only pens in all of the fountain pens that I bought that do not need any modifications for it to write well with my style of writing.

I am also looking at buying another ugly pen, the Lamy Studio with the gold nib. Too bad it is a cartridge converter pen but that nib looks too nice to pass up.

BTW thank you for posting the the tutorial on disassembling the Lamy 2000. This WILL come in handy when the piston might get a tad sticky!!!

Great review and great thread!!!

Keep up the great work, yall!!!

TNS

LOL, savage....that's okay cause i think more than half the pens i see out here on the forums are ugly. at least you still buy the pens you think are ugly for thier quality. show's that you're not as superficial as the rest of us =P

Great review, my fav pen too.

Can one of you "experienced" 2000 owners comment on how well the cap posts? Also, is it balanced with the cap posted? I've seen a couple of places I know there are lots of theories on posting vs. not posting.... I guess I'm on the posting camp:)

The cap does not post "tight," although it does travel far enough on the barrel to ensure that it won't easily fall off.

The cap is very light, so posting doesn't change the balance of the pen, IMO.

I am, admittedly, not inclined to post when I write.

I've posted mine for over 20 years. The neat part is the Makrilon (Bosch's spelling) doesn't show a whit of wear.

Strange, the original is 'Makrolon', maybe some trademark issues, here?

Bayer patented Makrolon (a Polycarbonate) in 1953.

thank you all for your input.

your review does the pen justice, great pen one of my favorite. When I took it apart it furthur my appreciation for it's almost flawless design. It is only my dream to have the limited edition steel Lamy 2000.... I found it in HK for $300 plus should have went for it.

Anyone have suggestions for scratches on a Lamy 2000 metal clip. Just bought one a few weeks ago - and not how - i now hav a scratch on the clip. The plastic makrolon body feels bullet proof but the clip seems somewhat sensitive. Suggestions welcome

My personal answer to the scratched clip question is that this pen was built so that you don't have to worry about that. I see why not everyone would agree.

David - I'm not sure I understand your response. What do you meant that it was build so you don't have to worry about that?

I think that he meant that it was built for function, not form. Hence, a scratch or two doesn't really make a ton of overall difference, and most likely wouldn't hurt the pen's ability to write at all.

That is what I meant. Some pens are meant to be pretty, with fancy paint and shiny surfaces, and if I scratched one of those I would feel bad about it. The 2000, on the other hand, seems built to be the "takes a licking and keeps on ticking" kind of pen - getting a scratch on it is not like getting a scratch on Maki-e or something. (as if I owned a Maki-e pen - ha! I would scratch it and then feel bad.)

Gotcha. In fact I couldn't agree more. I've had a 2000 pencil for years and it has taken a lot of banging around but has no scratches. I was just taken aback with the cap on a fountain pen seemingly scratching easy.... But then again, god knows what I did with it.

Hi,

For the piston, it has the potential for being an extremely smooth-gliding piston if lubricated properly. It is a fairly durable mechanism as long as it is kept properly as with other piston-filled pens. Don't force the knob if it is really sticky.

Dillon

Dillon,

I really like my 2000 and want it to last a long time. Can you suggest the proper way to lubricate the piston? I recall, in a post long ago, that the section unscrews. Someone recommended taking a toothpick with a tiny bit of silicone grease, and wipe it around the circumference of the barrel. Then exercise the piston a little to spread the grease, and reassemble with section sealant. Is this correct?

Thanks.

I post my 2000 every day w/ no trouble, no signs of wear.

When was the Stainless Steel Lamy 2000 sold? Was it a limited edition run of a known quantity?

Well, the name says it all. The Lamy 2000 Stainless Steel was sold in the year 2000 as a limited or special edition. Maybe someone knows the numbers.

There is some additional information on Rick Conner's website:

http://www.rickconner.net/penspotters/lamy.2000.html

No mention of how many were produced

I purchased a LAMY 2000 F nib and FedEx delivered it to work today.

I work above Grand Central Station in NYC and there's a Joon store in Grand Central. I want to run and get a bottle of ink because I'm excited about using this pen.

I'm wondering if anyone can compare how Waterman Black performs in the 2000 vs. LAMY Black? I love the richness of Waterman, but I've never used LAMY bottled ink and I'm curious about the bottle (which sounds excellent for filling at my desk with the built in blotter paper.

I've never tried Pelikan. Would that be a good black in this pen?

Yes, I figured they started selling it in 2000... I just wondered for how many years it was available. I guess only a couple. Thanks for the link to the review!

I had read somewhere else that the Edition 2000 went for like 50% more than the standard version. That seems a bit excessive. I probably won't bother looking for one. The review indicated that it is a noticeably heavier pen. Ugg--they mucked with a good thing, as the Makrolon version has a perfect weight and balance. Perhaps they couldn't do the core in aluminum, so they used a heavier metal instead to bond with the brushed aluminum shell. Also, that chrome clip will attract a lot of fingerprints... I don't know why they didn't do a black adonized clip to complete the "reversal" look. There are a few other Lamy pens that featured black adonized brushed metal clips.

I saw the Stainless Steel model at Art Brown and they wanted $300+ for it.

I experimented with Pelikan, Noodler's and Waterman ink in my 2000 and on Moleskine paper, the Waterman is the best bet. Pelikan was my second choice and Noodler's was too dry for my taste. I love the pen. I'm trying to get used to it, though. I've been primarily using my LAMY Al-Star and a Parker Reflex (who knew I'd fall in love with THAT pen?) for months and they're both medium nibs and are very very hard and smooth. The 2000 nib has a smaller nib, being a fine (although it being a wetter writer looks like a medium) so it feels different than the larger Mediums and it SKATES along the page. On Clairefontaine paper it's super slick. The Moleskine paper gives it a hint of tooth so I can control the pen a little more.

I was in tech rehearsals for a play this weekend and I kept it in my hand the entire time. I love holding it and it was perfect for jotting down notes.

Bosch has been using Makrilon since the mid 50's for its mixing bowls. Owning a bunch of them, it's as remarkable in that use as in the 2000. They flex, sometimes a lot when kneading, but never break. My oldest bowl, which is now about 40 years old, has been through the dishwasher dozens of times and still looks like new. Amazing stuff. . .

Yikes! So apparently in the used market, it leaped to 200% markup of a reasonably priced new Makrolon (assuming $100 purchase price). Not a bad appreciation.

Bosch makes mixing bowls?? I thought they made automotive electronics. When did they go domestic?

I've spent a few days with the LAMY 2000 inked with Waterman Black. It's lost all toothiness in my Moleskine and it's skating across the page. This thing is so wet.

Definitely stays with me all the time now with my Al-Star and my Reflex.

........I purchased a LAMY 2000 F nib and FedEx delivered it to work today.....
........I'm wondering if anyone can compare how Waterman Black performs in the 2000 vs.

I'm using the lamy 2000 with EF nib with pelikan 4001 royal blu and parker quink blu
I'M COMPLETELY unsatisfated about the wet line that could be defined MEDIUM grade.

I like thin line so i've choosed the extra fine nib.

Do you have this problem ? Someone know if a correct lubrification of piston could be the right solution?

ps apart the thickly line the pen is fantastic.....

I like Medium nibs, so I bought a Fine, knowing the LAMY 2000 nibs ran wide and I am very happy with the line width I am getting.

Hi, you may want to look at this thread:
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...ndpost&p=214502

I have a new Lamy Accent with EF nib. I love the look of the pen, and even got a matching ball point. But I agree with you, the wet line is much to broad for an EF nib, and mine seems more like a typical Medium width nib. I find if I write on higher quality paper, it is more like a fine nib and writes very nicely. But on some other paper, that my other pens handle well, this pen writes so wet that it feathers more I think.

I've been using Noodlers Zhivago, but I may try plain old Noodlers black to see if it will cut back on the feathering.

John

Simo, have you tried different paper? An XF 2000 will put down a wide line on poor paper. Please experiment with different papers before you give up on the 2000. It's a great pen.

Simo, you could also try Noodler's black (a dry ink). If you end up still not liking your 2000, it'll be snapped up quickly if you put it on the Marketplace board.

It's a beautifully smooth writer, so if the thickness of line is your only problem, maybe you could send it to a nibmeister and they can whittle it down for you.

Thanks for everyone answer my post.
I've acknowledged your hints so:

1-I've ordered noodler's ink so i try
2-I'm trying other papers

consider my capacity to disassemble things i've used the informations in FPN for deassemble my NEW!!! pen.
I've lubricated the piston screw and i've washed completely the single components.
After the component were dried i've reassembled all and i've load the parker quink blu.

After some comparison with some old writtens i could say that the line is a bit more thin.
I'm now enough satisfied but i will try your hints and i will report the results.
Regards

Question: Is the medium nib like a stub?
Or, is it possible to have a medium stubbed?

The platinum plating may be an issue. Once ground off, it would need to be reapplied. Is this beyond the capability of current nibmeisters?

I'd love to have a 2000 in a stub. Just not sure if it's realistic.

The medium nib is not stub-like. It's got normal rounding to the iridium shape and writes more towards a broad size.

You can get an OEM oblique medium that gives some nice line variation. But if you're really after a stub, get a broad or double-broad nib and have a nib tuning expert shape it for you.

The shaping would be done to the nib tipping... a good nib tuner would be careful to guard against marring the platinum plating.

What is your general intent on the use of a stub? I find that the Lamy 2000 is, by design, a workhorse pen intended for prolonged daily use. It does tend to feed on the wet side, so a stub may give a generously wet line--perhaps more than you're interested in. But that's just my speculation as a Lamy 2000 owner. I'd consult with someone like Richard Binder or John Mottishaw (and several others out there noted about the board).

Russ: Have you tried a 2000 in broad? It may already write stub-like enough for you. (I've never tried, so I don't know. But it would sure be easier than waiting for work to be done.)

My Lamy 2000 I found at Siam Paragon, the most luxurious department store in Bangkok TH. You can also buy your Ferrari or Spyker there. I only get to the level of drooling in front of the window though... I got it at a reasonable price, not over but neither cheap. My findings are positive and getting better. Design is great, balance is great, filling is superb, writing had to get used to the nib but we're getting in a better relationship there (I'm a lefty btw and I think that has some slight effect especially on a little bit of more flex nibs). I love the piece.

Got my first Lamy 2000 about 3 weeks ago. I have to say, an excellent pen. The unassuming design and use of innovative material makes this indeed a legend among fountain pens. I would not have imagined this design to have come from the 60's. Amazing!

When I first used my Lamy 2K, I had to do some adjustments due to the weight ( I have been using a Rotring 700 EF as my sole FP since college). The metal "ears" also took some getting used to but a couple of hours on a project and they seem to help me orient the pen without having to look at it. A great workhorse pen and well worth the price tag. I actually won mine on ebay for 90.99 USD + $11 shipping. I believe it was a good bargain for a brand-new pen of this legendary acclaim.

For those in asia, lamypenshop.com is a great place to get a Lamy. They carry the full range and with prompt and secure services.