Finish Durability On Lamy Cp1?

[yogalarva]

Hello! I need some advice/feedback on the CP1... I ultimately have my heart set on getting a stainless steel Lamy 2000, but alas that is a quite expensive pen and a bit out of my grad student stipend budget. I figure I'll save up and buy one when I get my PhD, but for now it's just unreachable (and I'm sick of chasing them on eBay and not exactly knowing what I'm bidding on).

 

However, I still want a nicer pen that I can use daily. I decided that I want a Lamy, since I really love my Safari. I also like the interchangeable nibs, since that way I can change up my writing style without having to invest in a ton of pen bodies. I had an Al-Star, but it just didn't speak to my soul the way I thought it would, so I passed it along to my older brother when he mentioned he wanted a nicer pen to use for grading (he is a grad student as well).

 

Thus I have looked at the Lamy pens around the $40-60 (USD) range and decided upon the black CP1. My question, then, is this: how durable is the black finish? Obviously I know it will get scratched up with rough treatment, but how does it hold up to daily use? Does the matte black take on a sheen from handling pretty quickly?

 

Also, I see on the Goulet Pens website that the CP1 weighs the same as the Safari. Does it feel more solid because it's a thinner pen?

 

Thanks! :-)

[doggonecarl]

The CP1, in black, is a nice pen. I've paired my with a black Lamy nib.

 

I haven't had problems with the finish of my CP1. However, it's not my everyday carry, so it doesn't see a ton of use. But even if it did, I'm pretty careful with my pens. View pens as instruments, not tools, and treat them accordingly and you should get a lot of use from your Lamy CP1.

 

As for the size, it is a slender pen, with some heft. Long if you write with it posted. I'm surprised it weighs the same as the Safari.

 

Have you thought about the Nexx M? Kind of funky looking, but my two are the best writers, better than my CP1.

Edited January 10, 2014 by doggonecarl

[Gump]

The CP1 in matte black was my second FP, after my initial safari. Reading this thread inspired me to take it off the shelf and ink it up! I consider it a great writer, mine is a very wet medium nib, interchangeable of course. I'm not sure how old mine is as I bought it secondhand, but the converter is not the proprietary Lamy unit. Is this irregular?

 

My only complaint, it's a bit too slender for me to comfortably write with for long periods. I see that the Nexx is mentioned above, a number of them are listed on discont at Goulet Pens currently (no affiliation).

[KrazyIvan]

I have daily carried my CP-1 for a few months and did not see any finish damage. I gave it away but only a week after, I bought a second. It has been in my EDC for the past month or so. No issues. Just for grins, take a look at the Lamy Logo in brushed stainless too. That is if you are worried about the finish.

[esteroids]

I've had two CP-1s. Both developed a loose cap. It was on the section end, as the cap still posted tightly, but was loose on the section.

 

The CP-1 , along with Waterman Exclusive, is the only really slender pen I've really liked to carry, but the cap issue is very disappointing.

[yogalarva]

I've had two CP-1s. Both developed a loose cap. It was on the section end, as the cap still posted tightly, but was loose on the section.

 

The CP-1 , along with Waterman Exclusive, is the only really slender pen I've really liked to carry, but the cap issue is very disappointing.

 

I was afraid of the cap loosening issue. I've heard of that happening on the Studio as well... *sigh*

[yogalarva]

Thanks for everyone's help. :-) I decided to put buying any more pens on hold until I free up some more funds (just had to put down $500 for books for this semester), so I ordered a new nib and some iron gall ink samples to play with and hopefully that will keep me entertained for a while...

[Gump]

Ah, the part of college that nobody misses. Keep an eye out on the classifieds and maybe you can nab a used one. I plan to post a group of offerings in the next week or so, to include my cp1.