Recommendation With Character

[inopiz]

As I mentioned in my introduction post, for the last few months I've been using intensively a Lamy Safari and I love the way it writes. My writing is pretty small and the EF nib I've been using suits it pretty well. Despite running a bit dry at times, it's been gliding pleasurably on just about every kind of paper I've used it on so far.

 

On the other hand, it feels very light in my hand. Given the festive season, I would like to treat myself to a heftier pen with more aesthetic character. I went to my local pen shop and I've been looking through quite a few recommendation threads here, plus some reviews, but I have yet to find something that satisfies my needs. Here's what I would like in a pen:

 

• Price: no more than 125£.
• Material: probably some kind of metal. Should be heavier than a Lamy Safari.
• Nib: I'm open to suggestions, but definitely fine or extra-fine. Medium nibs are already too broad for me.
• Grip: I find the Safari's grip quite comfortable, if a bit on the small side. Definitely nothing smaller. I also tried a Lamy Logo and it's grip felt too small.
• I prefer to use bottled ink, so it should at least allow a converter.
• Aesthetically pleasing (see below).

As far as aesthetics go, here are my favourites so far, including drawbacks:

• Kaweco Liliput Fireblue: I love the look of this pen, but not being able to fit a converter is a showstopper.
• Levenger Aero D Carbon: I really like how understated, yet elegant this pen looks, but I've read pretty bad things about the nibs and colour from the metal parts chipping away. Plus, their "fine" nibs seem to be quite broad.
• Gama Airborne: From the few pictures I've seen, these seem quite nice. I fear that being made from ebonite they won't be any heavier than the Safari. Plus, I have no idea where I could buy one of these...
• Parker Sonnet matt black, with gold trim: A bit more character would be nice, but this is by far the most appealing Parker pen I've seen to date.

Finally, I really like the looks of a couple of Grifos pens, which of course are quite out of my budget... those are the Bog Oak & Silver, the Gaudì, and the Calypso.

 

I hope I was able to clarify what I'm looking for. Feel free to ask more questions or point me to some relevant threads I might have overlooked.

[OCArt]

Since you like your Lamy so much have you thought about a Lamy Studio. It has a very nice feel in the hand, just be sure to get the one with the black rubber grip--- the all metal is too slippery. Also Lamy 2K is another great pen.

[Arkanabar]

I'm going to suggest an Italix Parson's Essential by Mr. Pen. Well within your budget, 35g or so, international c/c fill, many nib options, and available with a number of finishes (including black with gold trim). You have to scroll down quite a ways on this page to see all your color options.

[Runnin_Ute]

TWSBI 580 is heavier, as is the Lamy Al Star. The 580 is a piston filler rather than a converter so it will hold more ink.

 

I have one of Levenger's True Writer pens, and can tell you the nibs are really good. I assume they get the nibs for the Aero D Carbon from the same vendor. Remember nib+ink+paper are all factors. If you use a EF and a wet ink on crappy paper you are going to get a wide line.

[SoulSamurai]

You can get a Pilot Capless (Vanishing Point) from Japan for around $100. The full-sized model is 30g and the slimmer Decimo is 20g. They are interesting and practical pens. I will say that mine dries out quicker than I would like, but most people do not seem to have this problem.

 

Maybe get a Sheaffer with an inlaid nib, like an Imperial. I've been thinking about picking up a 440 with steel inlaid nib from PeytonStreetPens (it's about $50 right now).

[mitto]

A Sheaffer touchdoun imperial IV or VI or VIII. Or a Parker 51 aerometric.

[michaelcockerham]

Another vote for the Lamy Studio in terms of weight, and you can swap your EF Safari nib into it. I personally don't mind the chrome finish for the nib section.

[sandy101]

Italix Parson's Essential, or the Captain's Commission.

 

Mr Pen's nibs are lovely, and you can get it engraved too.

 

Parker's Sonnet in my opinion is a bit meh.

 

I'd go for the Diplomat Excellence A (the Moroccan Brown can be had for less than most) or the Visconti Rembrandt.

 

The Diplomat and the Rembrandt are at the top of your budget - the Parson's is in the middle and well worth while.

[Mister5]

I'm going to +1 the Lamy Studio, stainless steel with the rubbery grip section. One of my favorite acquisitions this year. Extremely comfortable.

[inopiz]

Thank you all for some interesting suggestions. As soon as I can get to a shop (might be a couple weeks) I'll see if I can try out a Lamy Studio and a Lamy 2000. The 2000 looks out of my price range by ~25£, but it seems that online it can be found within 120£. Assuming good faith from the seller, of course...

 

In particular, I would like to thank Arkanabar and sandy101 for bringing the Italix pens to my attention. From what I can see, the Parson's Essential seems well worth of consideration.

[inopiz]

Finally, here's an update. In the end I bit the bullet and ordered a Lamy 2000, although I had to go slightly above my original price range. The things that played into this decision were the gold nib, clean and elegant look, and it being a piston filler.

 

I really like how the pen feels in my hand and I should say that it also looks a lot better in person than in most pictures.

 

I am, though, somewhat unimpressed with the nib. I can't say it's scratchy, but it's not completely smooth than I expected and it also seems to have very little spring. At least noticeably less than the Studio Palladium. Is this normal?

[Ian the Jock]

That's a shame.

In my opinion, a pen at that price should knock your socks off in every aspect.

Sorry to hear that your new pen hasn't blown you away, however, I have found that many folks "grow into" a new pen and it does become their all time favourite, from which they dread being seperated.

Hang on in there.

 

Ian

 

P.S Try smoothing the nib using one of the various successful methods found here on fpn.

Try tearing open a brown envelope and do some writing on the inside surface which can very gently smooth the nib.

[jar]

Finally, here's an update. In the end I bit the bullet and ordered a Lamy 2000, although I had to go slightly above my original price range. The things that played into this decision were the gold nib, clean and elegant look, and it being a piston filler.

 

I really like how the pen feels in my hand and I should say that it also looks a lot better in person than in most pictures.

 

I am, though, somewhat unimpressed with the nib. I can't say it's scratchy, but it's not completely smooth than I expected and it also seems to have very little spring. At least noticeably less than the Studio Palladium. Is this normal?

Yes, the nib should have no spring, Thank God! But that is also true of the Studio palladium.

Edited December 12, 2017 by jar

[SoulSamurai]

Before trying to smooth a nib, please check that the tines are aligned correctly.

 

If the pen is not as smooth as you had hoped, could that be because it is running a little dry with the ink you're testing it with?

[iruciperi]

Finally, here's an update. In the end I bit the bullet and ordered a Lamy 2000, although I had to go slightly above my original price range. The things that played into this decision were the gold nib, clean and elegant look, and it being a piston filler.

 

I really like how the pen feels in my hand and I should say that it also looks a lot better in person than in most pictures.

 

I am, though, somewhat unimpressed with the nib. I can't say it's scratchy, but it's not completely smooth than I expected and it also seems to have very little spring. At least noticeably less than the Studio Palladium. Is this normal?

 

Lamy 2000 is a hooded nib. It is normal a hooded nib is not that springy. Lamy 2000 is known to have narrower sweetspot than other pens. It could be an issue if you turn your pen when you write.

 

I recommend you to use it for at least a month if you are not familiar with adjusting the nib by yourself. So I think you should make a contact to the retailer you bought, to be sure that they will adjust the nib for you after a month since the purchase.

[senzen]

Lamy Studio as has been said, the steel version is a safer choice since it has a rubber section, although I'm getting along fine with a blue one and its chrome section. For a drop dead gorgeous pen, the Faber Castell Ambition in pearwood, you just need to accept the fact that there is no section. For a reliable pen that probably holds more ink, the Pelikan m205 could also work. At amazon uk prices they all leave enough money to splurge on paper and ink...

[sandy101]

My L2K has a medium nib, and isn't scratchy. I use Diamine's velvet blue in it, and it works fine.

 

Try a different ink, and different paper before sanding anything. If it's a new pen, you should be able to return it for a replacement.

 

Platinum's modern Make-i pens come with springy 18k nibs - and are jolly attractive too.

[minddance]

This might please you: Diamine Red Dragon or Chocolate Brown or Waterman Serenity Blue, take a toothpick, dip in some Kodak Photoflo200, smear some into the barrel of your Lamy2000 before filling.

 

What ink are you using?

[inopiz]

Thanks for all the replies. The inks I tried with it are Lamy Blue and Diamine Ancient Copper (interestingly, sort of in-between minddance's suggestions) and I also tried different kinds of paper. Consistently, my Safari EF nib seems to glide a bit more smoothly than the 2000 F nib, which also seems to skip a bit every now and then despite seeming a lot more wet. Might it just be that the sweet spot is much narrower? I should also say that I never write with the nib upside down.

 

I'm also a bit concerned that the 2000's piston squeaks a lot when filling the pen. I contacted the seller (I was unable to find one locally) and he suggested shipping it to Lamy for servicing.

 

By the way, I also tried writing on a coarse paper bag both with and without ink, but it didn't seem to help at all.

 

P.S.: The tines seem aligned to my naked eye, but I don't know how to actually check that.

Edited December 14, 2017 by inopiz

[minddance]

It took me quite a while to get used to the form of the lamy2000. I learnt that I haven't been holding the pen in a way that serves the sweet spot - quite elusive one at that. The writing skipped alot before I held it 'correctly'.

 

In such a case, Paper and ink choices become very important. Kodak Photoflo helped alot in smoothing things out and gave me an illusion of a wider sweet spot.

 

To me, Lamy 2000 form is nothing conventional and this changed my grip. And that elusive tiny sweet spot didn't help. If I were to suddenly switch to another pen, say Pelikan m800, I have to relearn amd get reacquainted with its form and weight all over again.

 

I have filled Lamy2000F with an unadulterated Ancient Copper and despite rumoured as a wet pen, it gave only light-mid values of the ink, depending on paper.

 

The nib is extremely malleable and please be careful with any nib adjustment: it is neither springy nor resilient, and wont go back to its original form.

 

Lamy2000 wasn't an 'easy' pen for me and that made things fun

Edited December 16, 2017 by minddance