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Pen Pit Stop : Lamy 2000


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Pen Pit Stop : Lamy 2000

 

Welcome to the Pen Pit Stop. Here you will find reviews of pens that already have some mileage on them. More specifically, these reviews are of pens that are in my personal collection, and that have been in use for at least a year. I thought it would be fun to do it this way - no new & shiny pens here, but battered vehicles that have been put to work for at least a year. Let's find out how they have withstood the ravages of time.

 

fpn_1544829741__lamy_2000_-_title.jpg

 

The fountain pen that arrives at the pit stop today is the iconic "Lamy 2000". This pen - from a design by Gerd A. Müller - is a timeless classic. It has a body made from Makrolon (a matte black polycarbonate) combined with a brushed steel grip section, leading up to a hooded rhodium-plated 14k gold nib. The finish of the pen is first-class, with fluid lines all over, and not even a hint of ornamentation. This is pure industrial Bauhaus design, and I quite like the looks of it. I purchased this pen in December 2014, and it is a regular in my pen rotation.

 

fpn_1544829758__lamy_2000_-_cap_detail.j

 

Branding on the pen is almost absent. Only a small engraved "LAMY" on the side of the clip gives away the name of the company. A small but functional ink window is built into the design. The pen body ends in a very smooth piston knob, that is almost totally invisible in closed position. Remarkable craftsmanship! At the writing end, this pen has a very small hooded nib, which is the only part of the pen that I don't like. The nib has a very narrow sweet spot - angle it just a bit wrongly, and the pen won't write anymore. Given that the pen is totally symmetric, it's not always easy to find the right writing position. Because of this - during long writing sessions - I find myself constantly fiddling for the correct writing position, which cramps the hand muscles after some time.

 

fpn_1544829777__lamy_2000_-_ink_window.j

fpn_1544829793__lamy_2000_-_piston_knob.

fpn_1544829808__lamy_2000_-_hooded_nib.j

 

Pen Look & Feel
The design of this pen is top-notch! The Makrolon material still looks good as new after 4 years of use. I really like the matte black look of it, and the beautiful contrast provided by the brushed steel grip section.
The pen has a push-cap mechanism, and is meant to be used unposted. You can try to post the cap, but it's not really designed for this, and posting feels very unsecurely. The hooded nib on my particular pen is a Fine, that writes wet & smooth. My only complaint is the too narrow sweet spot, which makes it unnecessary difficult to find the right writing angle. Other than that, I can't find any fault with this pen's design.
fpn_1544829829__lamy_2000_-_capped.jpg
fpn_1544829846__lamy_2000_-_posted.jpg
fpn_1544829859__lamy_2000_-_uncapped.jpg

The pictures above illustrate the size of the Lamy 2000 in comparison with a standard Lamy AL-star. Capped, both pens are roughly equal in size. I prefer to use both pens unposted - where both are roughly the same size, and large enough to fit comfortably in any hand.
Pen Characteristics
  • Build Quality : build quality is simply superb - with almost invisible seams where parts of the pen blend together. E.g. the part where the brushed steel grip section meets the Makrolon body obviously has a seam, but I can't feel it with my hand. Likewise, the seam at the piston knob end is practically invisible in the closed position. I use the pen on a regular basis, and it still seems good as new. The pen really doesn't show its age.
  • Weight & Dimensions : this is a very lightweight pen, about the same size as a Lamy Safari when capped and uncapped. The pen is large enough that it fits any hand. The grip section tapers down towards the nib, and might be a bit too small in diameter for those who grip their pen close to the nib.
  • Filling System : this is a piston-filler, with a decent ink capacity. The Lamy 2000 has a small, but still functional ink window, that doesn't detract from the design.
  • Nib & Performance : the rhodium-plated 14k gold nib on this pen is hooded, and very small. It fits the design of the pen well, but has that annoying problem of the very constrained writing angle. When well-positioned, the nib writes wet and smooth. Unfortunately, it takes concentration and effort to keep the pen positioned correctly during longer writing sessions. This is the only negative experience I have with this pen.
  • Price : This pen is priced at around 200 EUR. For this you get a piston-filler with a gold nib, and an iconic design to boot. In my opinion, I got good value for money.
fpn_1544829872__lamy_2000_-_overview.jpg
Conclusion
My Lamy 2000 is a timeless classic, that is well constructed and that today - after 4 years of use - still looks good as new. I really like the design of this pen with the beautiful contrast between matte-black body and brushed steel accents. Totally fits my taste!
The big question is: would I buy this pen again? To this, my answer is a resounding: YES. This pen is a beauty - not of the vibrant Lara Croft type, but more mysterious and subdued like Arwen in Lord of the Rings. I use my Lamy 2000 on a regular basis, and it's part of my top 5 fountain pens. Definitely a keeper.

 

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Nice! Thanks for sharing your insights. I've had several occasions where my initial exuberance gradually wore off, but also the other way around, where a so-so pen grew on me and became a personal favourite.

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Regretably Lamy's refusal to provide a stub option for this pen prevents my purchase. No. I'm not going to pay an additional fee, plus postage and packaging, to have it ground.

Add lightness and simplicate.

 

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Regretably Lamy's refusal to provide a stub option for this pen prevents my purchase. No. I'm not going to pay an additional fee, plus postage and packaging, to have it ground.

 

If I were Lamy, I would be quite wary of mass producing stub nibs since we don't know the demand in general for them.

For hooded nibs, they would require to invest in new tooling and machinery and if they are reluctant to do that it means that they just aren't convinced by the demand currently.

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Regretably Lamy's refusal to provide a stub option for this pen prevents my purchase. No. I'm not going to pay an additional fee, plus postage and packaging, to have it ground.

I respectfully suggest that you look for a first generation 2K. The nibs were 18k, and the Bs were quite stubbish, like vintage Pelikan's Bs used to be.

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Regretably Lamy's refusal to provide a stub option for this pen prevents my purchase. No. I'm not going to pay an additional fee, plus postage and packaging, to have it ground.

I have read different and in part contradicting reports, many say, especially in the finer nibs, there is no stubbiness, others point out broader downstrokes than sidestrokes. I'd suggest trying out multiple broads if you have access to a store. Maybe you are lucky and find one which is stubby enough.

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If I were Lamy, I would be quite wary of mass producing stub nibs since we don't know the demand in general for them.

For hooded nibs, they would require to invest in new tooling and machinery and if they are reluctant to do that it means that they just aren't convinced by the demand currently.

 

They could ask all interested parties and do a pre sale, thus reducing risk to zero: people commit and are charged only once the nib or pen has actually been produced.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

 

B. Russell

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Thanks for this review, this series is really informative. It's a shame I don't like hooded nibs merely on aesthetic grounds, this pen otherwise checks many boxes for me.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt."

 

B. Russell

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If I were Lamy, I would be quite wary of mass producing stub nibs since we don't know the demand in general for them.

For hooded nibs, they would require to invest in new tooling and machinery and if they are reluctant to do that it means that they just aren't convinced by the demand currently.

 

Lamy makes Z50 stubs, which suggests that there is a market, no?

Add lightness and simplicate.

 

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My first 2000 was too stingy with ink and it didn't love it and sold it. My second one is just perfect and I became a big fan. The sweet spot is small and since there is no indicator of the center spot on the section I do have to hunt sometimes to get it positioned right. The biggest improvement I would like to see is a positive indicator of the centerline of the nib etched in the section.

PAKMAN

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I like this pen in terms of its overall design, construction, filling system, etc. However, I have to say the nibs produced by LAMY are almost consistently disappointing...Especially for their F and EF nibs...To me their F write like a wet M, and their EF are just like jokes, Medium sized jokes...

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Hi

I have one of the year 2008 and it is the one that I use more next to the multipen of the same series.

You have made a sublime presentation

Thx

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Lamy makes Z50 stubs, which suggests that there is a market, no?

 

True, but those Z50 are applicable to many of Lamy's models.

Would they risk mass producing it for one hooded model in the Lamy 2000?

I am not quite sure they would, hopefully they do though since I also am getting into the world of stubs

 

 

They could ask all interested parties and do a pre sale, thus reducing risk to zero: people commit and are charged only once the nib or pen has actually been produced.

 

I think there is a possibility that Lamy would do this since they are globally available. Maybe they could start regionally first.

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I have an incredibly average hand position and grip and find the sweet spot issue completely moot on both my F and EF. I got the F because of all the worrymongering people instilled about the sweet spot but once I realized it was massively overblown, I buckled down and bought an EF and sold the F. I adore my 2000. It's probably the second to last pen I'd ever part with (first being my mom's old waterman)

Selling a boatload of restored, fairly rare, vintage Japanese gold nib pens, click here to see (more added as I finish restoring them)

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Thank you for the review. I like the idea to take a look at a pen from the perspective of having used it a while.

 

I agree. So many reviews are written in the first flush of enthusiasm.

 

I love how the Lamy 2000 looks, and when I borrowed one from a friend for a day, I had no problem with the sweet spot. However, the way the pen was weighted made it tiring for me to write with it. Maybe if I had kept it for a week, I would have discovered a workaround. Such a nice shape...

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I have mine the stainless steel version on M nib.

 

She is heavy, slippery section, and small sweet point.

But she is beautiful, beautiful and beautiful.

 

I love the heavy stainless steel feel on hand, not for writing long time ofcos.

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I adore my 2000. It's probably the second to last pen I'd ever part with (first being my mom's old waterman)

 

 

Could you perhaps elaborate on that? I'm curious what the appeal of this pen is from a writing perspective, apart from the obvious build quality.

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My first 2000 was too stingy with ink and it didn't love it and sold it. My second one is just perfect and I became a big fan. The sweet spot is small and since there is no indicator of the center spot on the section I do have to hunt sometimes to get it positioned right. The biggest improvement I would like to see is a positive indicator of the centerline of the nib etched in the section.

 

Someone else on here suggested that if you turn the pen in your fingers until you feel the two clutch ears, and the nib is right side up, the nib will be on its sweet spot. I can now find the sweet spot in the dark. Of course, I can't see what I am writing in the dark.

"Don't hurry, don't worry. It's better to be late at the Golden Gate than to arrive in Hell on time."
--Sign in a bar and grill, Ormond Beach, Florida, 1960.

 

 

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