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I am very new to this hobby from a hobby perspective, but I have used and had a preference for fountain pens for years. I have never before now actually taken the plunge and purchased a nice pen, so all of my previous experience has been with very cheap pens. I started out with a "Franklin Covey Freemont" which was made by cross but branded as private label. It was nice, and was enough for me to fall in love with fountain pens, but it just didn't hold up as a daily writer. I used it for several months, and then the cap got loose and whatnot, so I now leave it in a drawer. I have since used those super cheap Pilot Varsity pens, which are great for $3 but they are still cheap. Today my brand new Lamy 2000 EF came in the mail. With much excitement I purged it and then filled it with Noodlers Black ink and grabbed a sheet of paper. I want to like it, really I do, but I think something isn't right. The pen is BEAUTIFUL, (in a minimalist, understated kind of way) and it feels amazing in my hand, but it doesn't write like I think it should. It keeps skipping mid-word, and feels like I am scratching the paper with a sewing needle. Is it possible that I am just doing something wrong? Do you think I have gotten a lemon? How can I tell if the nib is messed up? I am an engineer, and would love to BECOME a nibmeister, but I currently have NO experience, and no idea where to start. Eventually I want to be skilled enough to work on my own pens, but I have a few years to go yet. Can someone help me out with what to look for, before I simply send it to Lamy and risk $10 and the embarassment of them telling me that it is fine? I love the pen, but I think my varsity pens write smoother... That shouldn't be right! Thanks guys!

Hello all, I recently received my first Lamy 2000 with a broad nib that is much more wet than I expected. As I'm a rather quick writer I don't mind that characteristic a bit, but the broadness diminishes the flourishes in my penmanship (what few I have) and I think it could be improved with customization. I have outfitted once of my Vac700's with a Goulet 1.1 stub and have been having a blast with it, the line variation improves the appearance of my script signficiantly and it is still a viable everyday user. That being said, I am interested in having my 2000 stubbed. I am leaning towards the Pendleton Brown Butter Stub treatment, the no-rush $40 fee seems very reasonable and I have read much positive feedback about his work. Does anyone know if he allows walk-in appointments? He doesn't live terribly far from me and I would love to see the process. Without disparaging any particular services, I would love the input of the community of who their "go-to person" is for such modifications. As I am a relative newbie, I know there are many services out there, Indy Pen Dance, Mottishaw (sp?), and Pendemonium, all come to mind, but I want to hear all about your experiences, approximate cost, etc. Many thanks in advance, my fondness of this board has grown as quickly as my cache of pens, no small feat. -Gump

Hi there, I've managed to snag this Lamy 2000 at a really good deal, and I was pleasantly surprised by the pen, despite a huge crack on the cap. The thing is, when was it made? The current lineup from Lamy includes nibs from the sizes EF, to BB, and a few oblique nibs (OM, to OBB). Now, I think that oblique nibs are really nice, being able to lay down lines with width variation without the fuss of holding the pen at the right angle, etc. This one, it seems, came with an OF nib, if what I deduce is correct. Note the angle of the tip. It is an oblique nib. An OF engraving on the underside of the front section, "OF". An oblique fine? When was that from? Nib doesn't want to disclose much information, only that it is from 18C gold. Digging around hasn't told me much about the date of manufacture, in fact, it seems that many have never heard of an oblique fine nib on a Lamy 2000 before. While I'm pretty certain it's not a fake, I'm really interested to know the time period during which it was manufactured. Help me, please? Could anyone tell me when it was manufactured? Thomas

Dubious! *It's big for my budget. Preference: Stubs So, I have five (inexpensive) stub nibs right now. I'm ready to try new things, like flex or a gold nib or a more expensive stub! (I've tried twsbi EF, Lamy F, and Pilot M, but never a german M or B.) My best stub is my twsbi 1.1mm. Lamy 2000?! But that's not a stub! I was thinking M or B nib, and I'm leaning toward the B. I've read that it's "a bit stubbish" and I've been looking at writing samples all night and morning (Not as wonderful as it sounds) but I'm just not convinced this is the right next pen for me. I could get it ground stub, but I don't know where I'd do that, or how much that would cost, either. Money is a factor. Pros: cool pengold nibground stub? Cons: expensive*sweet spotnot stubgrind cost? Maybe the sweet spot won't be a problem since I use stubs which are a bit harder to write with(?) My second option is a Pilot Prera Demonstrator, calligraphy M nib, light blue accents. Hopefully it writes better than my current pilot calligraphy M nib... What do you think? Should I look at flex fountain pens instead? Dip pens? Sell a kidney and buy a black nibbed Aurora?

Here is another review of the Lamy 2000. This is after one year of use. I bought this at the end of February, 2013, from Todd at isellpens.com and I'm a very happy customer. Since there are so many other review, I'm skipping the usual format and jumping straight into my ratings. Below is a photo guide to the pen. Value: It's a piston filler that's cheaper than a Pelikan M400 but rivals it in features. This competes very well with the other ~$150 pens (Sailor 1911m, Pilot VP, Pelikan M200, Visconti Rembrandt, etc.) Wetness = 8/10 Smoothness = 9.5/10 Daily user? This is an excellent daily user. The clip doesn't hold too tightly in a shirt pocket so don't bend over too far. The resistance to dry-out is key to making this useful for notetaking. F nib is perfect for squeezing everything onto a typical bank check. Would I buy it again? Absolutely. Enjoy the photos. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2636/12993824144_1b8491b18c_h.jpgNo loupe, just for a full body shot. (that sounds weird) http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/12993555723_c151c2ed4c_h.jpgI hadn't flushed it yet since I was still going to do the writing sample. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3059/12993822164_8ddfc769b3_h.jpgTight tolerances all the way around. Very good feed. The semi-hooded design helps to keep it wet and protect it from drying out. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/12993821934_db4ab276a3_h.jpg The nib is 14k gold, platinum plated. Note the slight taper at the end of the section. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/12993428985_96b846186f_h.jpgThe seam where the section meets the body is clearly visible but perfectly flush. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7333/12993820294_9372a71c1a_h.jpg One of the "ears" that allow the cap to clip in place. Some people complain about them, but they are not sharp and not very large. They depress easily into the body. I haven't noticed them when I grip the pen. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2024/12993820244_cab6aa3853_h.jpg The piston knob unscrewed. This is the point where it begins to engage the piston so I stopped in order not to spill the ink. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/12993552253_fb12f2f3d6_h.jpgAnd here is the piston knob tightened again. It's almost impossible to see where the knob meets the body. The seam is in the dead center of the photo, if that helps. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3323/12993818804_04f075732a_h.jpgClose tolerances again. This is how the cap meets the body when closed. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/12993817504_d23cc280a4_h.jpgOne side of the spring-loaded clip. The small gap below where the clip attaches gives it room to move. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/12993549783_dfe9a9126a_h.jpgThe other side of the clip, which bears the brand name "LAMY" http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3316/12993424325_cbc4b0282b_h.jpgThe finial of the cap is polished smooth. It's almost a mirror finish. You can see the mini blinds on my window in the reflection. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/12993424155_b9d3a3a57b_h.jpgThe top of the piston knob has a brushed steel insert. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2344/12993815724_642e4d6b4f_h.jpgThis is what the brushed makrolon finish looks like after a year of use. The micro pieces of a mint finish wear away within three weeks of use and looks like this after about five weeks. The grooves from brushing are still very clear. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/12993422845_bd0f47662e_h.jpgAnother view of the finish. This is where the piston knob meets the body. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2747/12993813634_cdcd4c3f22_h.jpgWriting sample on a standard Staples legal pad. Edit: All photos taken with my iPhone 5c. The first and last photos were taken directly. The 14 photos in the middle were taken through a loupe (attached to the case with scotch tape) using the phone's HDR camera mode.

I was just on a two week vacation where I wouldn't do much writing, but would need a pen for the occasional form, etc. I took a recently acquired Lamy 2000 and the first couple of days were fine. I should note that I did use this pen for a couple of days before I left and it wrote fine. I did have the pen carried in a shirt pocket daily and after about a week, I had to make a note and found the nib to be dry even though that I could see ink in the ink window. I used the piston to expel a drop of ink and made the note. My thought was that maybe the feed was starved due to the ink not touching the feed. The ink level was about a half. However, the same thing happened at the end of the trip. Only this time expelling a drop of ink didn't let me write anything more than a letter or two. I had to finish the form with a back up rollerball. This morning I quickly flushed the pen at my desk and filled it again and it's been writing fine since. Any thoughts on what happened? Ink issue, pen issue, freak occurrence, nasty paper clogging nib?

Hello, Everyone. Many new posts about a particular new pen complain about something or another... scratchy nib, poor ink flow, etc. So, I thought to counter those negatives with my new Lamy 2000 experience. What a great pen! I bought it from the Goulet Pen Company, and they are very good people to deal with. Along with the pen, I bought a bottle of Rohrer and Klingner Verdigris. When I got the pen, I immediately disassembled it to clean it thoroughly. I soaked the nib in cool water with a drop or two of dish soap. I took the piston out and cleaned the barrel. I rinsed the nib, shook it dry in paper towels, siliconed the gaskets, and re-assembled the pen. The nib tines were aligned perfectly; no issues there. All working as advertised. I inked the pen with the Verdigris, and experienced a match made in Heaven. Sweet! The perfect pen-ink combination. Good flow, the nib has great character, and the color of the ink has a quality that keeps you marveling at its subtle gravitas. No negatives. It fits my hand well. The hooded nib and piston filling mechanism provides, for me, some nostalgia, and the Balhaus design provides a futuristic design that is eternal. And, I even like the color. My new Lamy will never replace my modern Aurora 88; that is my favorite pen, and, for my money, the best pen made. I use it every day. But I have to tell you, I really like this new Lamy 2000.

I'm torn! What are your thoughts on these two?

Hello All, I forgot my Lamy 2000 F at home today and at work we only have ball point pens in the cupboard. So after the usual grumbling I remembered the backup but only used once every 3months Pilot varsity that I had filled with Noodlers Black. It's a wonderfully performing pen. The nib is great and the handling isn't bad at all. It looks the all of $3 it costs, but writes and handles way above that price point. I wonder what other pens are unsung heroes that are at lower price points. I think that for me the lower price point would be <$35 and the normal, need to think for a month or two before dropping that on a pen, price point is $150. If only they mad a better looking varsity.

So, I was writing with my favourite pen today, the Lamy 2000, when suddenly the section popped off from the barrel!The pen was ful of ink, red ink, and it went everywhere. I tried futilely to screw it back on - only to discover that the threads were worn down so badly that it was impossible. Probably the reason it popped off like that. I have had this pen for two years, and have never unscrewed the section, so I have no idea how it was so worn. i thought maybe ink had gotten in somehow and corroded it, but the only traces of ink were from the current red fill and the purple from a few days ago. Now I have a broken pen and no idea what to do! The section is stuck in the cap too, and I can't get it out. Help!

I recently became the owner of a new Lamy 2000 in stainless steel. :-) I got a request on my blog to do a post about my thoughts on the pen, and here is a copy of it: In case you can’t read my handwriting, here is a transcription: Lamy 2000, Stainless Steel Nib: M Ink: R&K Salix + a few drops Verdura Bought from Goulet Pens I could not give this pen a score, because for me it is a grail pen. Thus, here are a few thoughts: * this pen is heavy! Not something I would use to write a novel, but I write unposted so it’s okay * the nib is smooth, once you get on the sweet spot… * speaking of the nib, this seems a bit fine for a M? * the legendary nubs happen to be right where I hold the pen, but they are so small and dull I barely notice * the pen can get a little slick if you have sweaty hands, but so do most pens (esp. metal ones). Gives you a chance to take a thoughtful pause and wipe off the moisture. :-) If you want a more technical review of the original (Makrolon) version of the Lamy 2000, you should probably read this one by FPGeeks. They also did a nice review of the stainless version, and if you are really ambitious you can start on this five part essay about the Lamy 2000… Overall, I really love the pen. I like that it writes fine enough so that I can use it for my classwork, and thus it has become my EDC. A bit pricey choice for an EDC, I know, but I personally think it would be ridiculous to spend a lot of money on a pen that I don’t want to use. The large ink capacity, indestructibility, and sleek design are everything I could hope for and more in a pen.

IN A WORLD... WHERE BALLPOINTS DOMINATE... (CROWD GASPS IN HORROR) ONE BLOG... GOES FORTH to compare two very well-known pens. The Lamy 2000 is “modern vintage.” It has been in production since the 1960’s and was around at the same time as when the Parker 51 was still being produced! The TWSBI is newer to the fountain pen scene (relatively speaking). Both are piston fillers and commonly recommended to people looking for reliable pens! (I should note that I have the TWSBI 540, an older generation of the now available TWSBI 580 so there might be some slight differences.) http://31.media.tumblr.com/9b486fb7685b437e2f018d4984406c12/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso1_1280.jpg http://24.media.tumblr.com/7e085312158bab37c4f46c4e2193422b/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso2_1280.jpg http://31.media.tumblr.com/1ca9c9272c09f64337d202d95336dfa9/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso6_1280.jpg http://31.media.tumblr.com/c6730830a07e01252092065d0a87cb47/tumblr_mof4wb6X2L1rxfugso1_1280.jpg Appearance & Design (1-10) I think both of them are gorgeous and modern looking, but that’s my l opinion. The two pens are very different, so take a look at the pictures (or try to see both in person!) and judge for yourself! Lamy 2000 (8/10)-The Lamy is very minimalist in appearance and still looks modern despite its age (it’s older than me!). It only comes in one color too: black. People around you probably wouldn’t be able to tell it was a fountain pen at first glance. I’m a fan of the understated appearance. The only branding on the pen is a very subtly engraved “LAMY” on the side of the clip and “GERMANY” underneath the clip. My camera doesn’t capture this at all though. The only thing I don’t like about it is the ink window. It’s too small to really be useful (I guess you can tell when the pen is out of ink?) and for dark inks that cling to the walls it takes too long to see if your supply is running low. The body is very rounded so be careful if you leave it uncapped- it WILL roll! For those of you who prefer a grip on a pen...the Lamy doesn’t have one as the body is tapered. If you don’t like narrow grips you’ll have to hold the pen up higher. It should also be noted that there are two little nubs on the pen that keep the cap on. Personally, I find them completely unobtrusive since they are TINY and blunt but some people can’t stand them. http://31.media.tumblr.com/70680e9da7855c005b5817953c161777/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso5_1280.jpg(tiny silver "nub" mentioned- there are two of these) TWSBI 540 (8/10)-The TWSBI is a beautiful pen. I have the clear model and I find it extremely eye-catching. The clear body really shows off your inks. It also comes in Amber, Sapphire, and Smoke (all are still translucent). One thing I love about demonstrators is that THE BODY IS YOUR INK WINDOW. Unlike with the Lamy’s tiny window, you can tell right away how much ink you have in your TWSBI. The cap of the TWSBI has the red logo, which I think looks rather cool. The only branding I could find was on the silver accent on the cap (not the clip)- it says “TWSBI.” http://31.media.tumblr.com/2bf4037550511bacfb7f572290e5ffc6/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso4_1280.jpg(the words don't show up in the picture well) The body is faceted (think diamond) so it won’t roll off your desk uncapped unless there’s a steep incline. Speaking of the cap... I don’t like it. The cap seems to be made of glass. It’s ridiculously heavy in proportion to the pen and I’m afraid of dropping it on a hard floor. It doesn’t post... well. (I think this pen doesn’t/shouldn’t post at all, but I’ve seen some people swear they love the way it feels when it’s posted so YMMV.) Posted the pen becomes very top heavy and too long and you have to jam the cap on to get it posted securely. Be careful though...the cap has a tendency to get stuck on the piston and create a mess when you remove it. If you don’t post your pens this isn’t a problem. I should also note the cap has an inner cap that works perfectly with keeping a good seal on the pen when closed. I’ve never had drying out issues or hard starts after leaving it capped for extended periods of time. The grip on the TWSBI is round. I thought I would have problems with the grip being slippery since it’s plastic, but there’s a very well-designed grip stop (slight upward curve) that prevents your fingers from slipping down to the nib. (On other pens I sometimes find the grip stop too shallow to prevent slipping but on the TWSBI it’s perfect.) http://31.media.tumblr.com/d926dedb66abf4ed5d6f27017f7949cc/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso3_1280.jpg (both "posted." You can also see the grips on both.) Construction & Quality (1-10) Lamy 2000 (10/10)- The Lamy is made of Makrolon. I don’t know too much about special polycarbonates so I’ll just say THE FINISH FEELS LIKE WOOD AND IS EXTREMELY DURABLE (see torture tests). The pen has a brushed finish so it isn’t slippery. The pen has just the right weight. It has enough heft to feel substantial but so perfectly balanced you don’t get fatigued while writing for extended periods of time. There is so much attention to detail on this pen- the piston is so seamless I wouldn’t notice it if I didn’t know there was a piston. The cap is spring-loaded stainless steel. It’s by far the best cap I’ve seen in terms of functionality since it really grips whatever you’ve clipped it to and can hold a lot. (Did I mention IT’S SPRING LOADED?great if you love to fiddle). TWSBI 540 (8/10)-The TWSBI body seems to be made of some kind of plastic. It’s softer and feels more expensive than your typical ABS plastic. The cap is heavy and made of glass(?). The piston also fits with the pen nicely. The reason I’m taking two points off this section is that with the 540 model there were numerous cases of the grip sections cracking. This never happened to me, but it did to some of my friends. Although TWSBI is known for its excellent customer service and new parts will be sent to you if you experience problems, I still don’t like that I have to use extra care when screwing on the section so I don’t overtighten it or expose it to any pressure that could cause it to crack. With the Lamy 2000 I never worry about throwing it around. I don’t have a 580, but the cracking issues were supposed to be resolved on the newer model. Weight & Dimensions (1-10) Lamy 2000 (10/10)-I think this pen has the perfect weight both posted and unposted. I prefer to post my pens though. It’s neither a featherweight nor bulky. It’s the most well-balanced pen I’ve held. TWSBI 540 (9/10)-I love the feel of this pen unposted. Unposted I find it a little lighter than the Lamy, but it still is one of my favorites for long writing sections. The grip on the TWSBI is thicker than that on the Lamy (unless you hold the Lamy far up the pen) which I find more comfortable at times. One point off for terrible weight and being cap/back heavy posted. (If you NEVER post your pens this should not be a problem for you.) Nib & Performance (1-10) **I should note it’s a little hard for me to compare the nibs on these two pens. I have a Lamy 2000 in EF which is the FINEST nib I have ever used. My TWSBI 540 has a F nib but it writes like a western medium. So the smoothness of each is going to be different and I get more flow (and feathering) out of the broader nib. The TWSBI has easily interchangeable nibs too while with the Lamy you’re stuck with whatever you bought. The material each is made of is different too. The Lamy is made of coated gold while the TWSBI is steel. ANOTHER thing to mention is both pens are known for being inconsistent with their nibs. Lamy has a poor QC reputation and I’ve read reviews describing their nibs as too fine/dry/scratchy and others that have called it wetter and wider than the Amazon river. I haven’t seen many complaints about scratchiness from the TWSBI- just their nib sizes. Their nib sizes can be inconsistent as well. I’ve read of medium TWSBI nibs being the same size as EF nibs. If possible, always try the pens before you buy them or buy from a good dealer who won’t mind testing the pen before shipping to make sure you get a good one. http://31.media.tumblr.com/a173d6b7965bdf71c98a1889e972b38c/tumblr_mp8w2p9aZu1rxfugso1_1280.jpg (Lamy EF and TWSBI F both with the same ink: Noodler's North African Violet on a graph composition book. You can see the huge difference.) Lamy 2000 (10/10)-The nib is hooded on the Lamy and is made of platinum coated 14k gold. This is my first gold nib and I LOVE IT. It has a certain “spring” to it. There’s a softness when I write that I don’t experience with my other steel-nibbed pens. I would NOT call this flex and I don’t get line variation unless I use pressure. It feels like a cushioned ride. My EF is super smooth and extremely fine. It’s the finest nib I’ve ever used. It works perfectly on cheap papers since it lays down a conservative amount of ink. The hooded design works well for me since I have a tendency to pause while writing notes. I’ve never had problems with hard starts or drying out even with Noodler’s bulletproof inks. TWSBI 540 (10/10)-The TWSBI is a steel nib but writes super smooth! The nib is more traditional looking than the Lamy which some of you might like! The nib on the TWSBI feels “softer” than the steel nibs on my Lamy Safari and Parker Vector. I would describe the Lamy Safari nib as a nail while the TWSBI has a bit more give to it. It’s not as springy as the Lamy 2000, but much better than other pens I’ve tried. I have an F nib that writes like a medium. It’s broader than the Lamy Safari Medium I’ve tried and my Parker Vector Fine. I’ve frequently had problems with hard starts and drying out when I pause for a few seconds while writing using Noodler’s bulletproof inks. I solved this by using wetter, less saturated inks though. Possibly the best part of the TWSBI nibs is that they’re interchangeable! You can buy replacement nibs at from EF-B to Italics for around $20. They unscrew and screw on easily and without a mess. Filling System & Maintenance (1-10) Filling (10/10 both)-Both are piston fillers that hold generous amounts of ink. So 10/10 for both on that part. I don’t know if one of them holds more ink than the other, but I honestly think it’s negligible considering the large volume they already hold. Lamy 2000 Maintenance (6/10)- To me, it doesn’t seem like the Lamy 2000 was designed with user maintenance in mind. It doesn’t come with instructions on maintenance/taking the pen apart. Truth be told, I’m a little afraid to take it apart and mess around since there are parts like the nubs and the hood complicates things. The GOOD thing is that Lamy has a lifetime warranty and is known for their excellent customer service. So if you ever do need maintenance you just have to mail it in and include a check for the return shipping (which is reassuring but I find it inconvenient since it could be weeks before you get it back). To clean it I suck up water (sometimes with a little bit of soap) and squirt it out. Rinse and repeat until clean. TWSBI 540 Maintenance (10/10) The reason I gave Lamy such a low score is probably because of how much the TWSBI shines in comparison in this section. Unlike the Lamy, the TWSBI was obviously designed with user serviceability in mind. It comes with a wrench and instructions to take the pen apart as well as a little bottle of silicone grease to lube the piston! I haven’t taken it apart since I haven’t had to, but it’s nice to know it’s perfectly serviceable at home. I HAVE, however, greased the piston myself when it started getting stuck. It was easy and the bottle of grease included was appreciated since I’ve used it on my other pens as well (a little goes a long way!). It’s not a pen you have to tinker with out of the box (like the Noodler’s pens are known to be). But if you do need to perform maintenance on it, it’s perfectly doable at home with the help of a few youtube videos! http://24.media.tumblr.com/a9adc82cf63721cc4b37bcffc5a0c206/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso7_1280.jpg(underneath the TWSBI case- the metal wrench and bottle of silicone grease) Out of all my pens, the TWSBI is easiest to clean. I credit this to the fact that the nib section easily unscrews. You can unscrew the section and rise out the nib, feed, and grip section (even scrub them if you want to). With the grip/nib section removed it only takes a few rinses with the piston to get it completely free of ink! Cost & Value (1-10) Lamy 2000 (7/10)- If it hasn’t been obvious from most of this review, I love the Lamy 2000. But when I consider the cost and value (and compare it to say...the TWSBI or other less expensive pens) I can’t say I’m super impressed. Is the pen worth it? To me, yes. It’s beautifully designed, durable, rugged, has great customer service, etc. But are there tons of other great pens out there I could get for the same price? Also yes. I got mine as a graduation present, but if I were spending my own money casually I would give it second thoughts. It would probably be on the list of “pens to buy eventually because they’re great but not right now because I could try so many other ones.” Back when it cost under $100 I would have had no qualms, but now at the almost $150+ price tag (depending on where you buy it from) I find it a tad expensive. The Lamy 2000 costs 3x as much as the TWSBI, but it isn’t 3x as good. TWSBI 540 (10/10)-I think the price is perfectly reasonable for what you’re getting. Even more so now with price hikes on other pens. You’re getting a modern PISTON fill that writes great out of the box and has interchangeable nibs! Not to mention the fancy display case. Winner The TWSBI wins, in my book. http://24.media.tumblr.com/2548464ec40ed4ffa93fd729159bf31e/tumblr_mrcbh3Psb21rxfugso8_1280.jpg (sorry for the glare) The main thing that stuck with me while reviewing both these pens was the last section- cost and value. While I love both pens dearly, the TWSBI won because it’s user serviceable, easy to clean, has affordable interchangeable nibs (with a variety of sizes!), and has an affordable price. For more reviews and posts, visit our blog: penguinsandpaper.tumblr.com

INTRODUCTION Last weekend I was searching for a Lamy Pico to gift it.While I was waiting the seller searching a box to prepare my present, my eyes fell over the tray where stay other Lamy pens.Among these pens one of them catch my attention: a slim pen, dark and rough, with a little red dot in the cap. Typical 80's age like design, similar to CP1 model, but more prestige. Was the first time that I seen this pen, I'm a lover of Lamy pens so I know almost all models produced but this one was unknown. It wasn't cheap, but I wanted it! So, now, this pen is mine. At home I done a research and now I can introduce the "Lamy Unic" (black edition). http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3729/11008528584_e9378f30d3_c.jpgunic_01 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2864/11008349035_1ecd49023f_c.jpgunic_03 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr First of all: there aren't many information about this pen in internet so I'm not able to tell you any history about it in addition of what it's wrote in the Lamy's web page: his designer is Gerd A. Müller, the same person how created the Lamy 2000, CP1, st. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/11008593683_68ce890440_c.jpg2000 unic cp1 st_02 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr Produced by 1984, won the Red dot Design in 1989, the IF Hannower in 1989, The Design Center Stuttgart in 1988. Out of production. APPEARANCE & DESIGN 8/10 I think exist two kind of consumers for the fountain pens market: the consumer which like the classic design (Waterman, Montblank, Parker, italian pens...) and the consumer which like the most modern design of Lamy.Lamy offers, in my opinion, the best design how link form to function, simplicity of industrial production, and price. So also this pen, like for the Safari, may appeal as no. The Lamy Unic is a essential matte black cylinder but, at difference of CP1, the body of Unic go to taper in the end while in the CP1 the size of the section body remain the same in every point.With this trick the cap can go for some centimeter over the body of pen, indeed in the CP1 this is not possible. The clip is similar at the clip of CP1 but in this case, the spring is external of cap and, in this particular model, the pivot is colored with a shining red.The bottom and the cover of pen are closed with two black stoppers texturized with concentric circumferences. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3818/11008531004_c767375d0d_c.jpgunic cp1 st_02 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr CONSTRUCTION & QUALITY 8/10 The experience that you feeling when you keep in hand this pen is the same of touch not a body in metal but in stone. Also the sound that the pen emits in opening and closing the cap is completly different with the CP1: sounds like a stone for the first, like metal for the second. As for the other Lamy pens also in this case the constructive quality is simply perfect.I think the metal used to build it is not the same of CP1; I looked in internet that other Unic are in titanium: I don't know in my case. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/11008580723_88b994382c_c.jpgunic cp1 st_01 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS 8/10 Closed the Unic is 2mm longher than CP1, open is 2mm shorter than CP1. The weight is little bigger than CP1 but, in difference with these, with the cap posed back gives a feedback of more balance. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7437/11008534764_f4f89f7bfe_c.jpgunic cp1 _01 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr NIB & PERFORMANCE 9/10 The nib that use this pen is the same of all popular Lamy's pens with interchangeable nib. My model have the nib completely back without writes.I tried it with the ink Aurora Black -that, of course, is the best ink in the world ;-) - and the nib run smooth without scratching: perfectly. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7325/11008367475_150509da5e_c.jpg2000 unic cp1 st_03 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr FILLING SYSTEM & MAINTENANCE 7/10 The pen has been sold me with the converter Z26 inside. Nothing of exciting.If you want you can also use the Lamy cartridge.If you dip the pen in the ink bottle and after you dry up the excess ink with a tissue, the body doesn't absorb the ink and remain perfect clean: this mean that the finiture don't keeps the ink. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7324/11008347855_cd46e52cff_c.jpgunic_04 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr COST & VALUE 7/10 Could be that I paid it too much, but this pen isn't economic, I found it new -never used- for 70€ and also I think are money well spent because this pen is out of production by some years, and I repeat: this in particular was new.Nonetheless, for me 70€ remain a lot of money for an object that makes the same work of a Safari for 18€. For who pays 400€ for a pen of course this pen is cheap. But all we understand that the passion have a price, proportioned to our pocket, often a high price..! http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/11008455576_4810b09202_c.jpgunic allstar_03 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr CONCLUSION 47/60 or 8/10 The particular design of this pen, his balance in your hand, the feel transmitted, the matte black color with a charming red dot, his rarity and the fact that is out of production, make this pen an interesting object to use and above all to collect.If are lucky to find it, in my opinion, buy it. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/11008457386_03f49ef682_c.jpgunic allstar_02 by Andrea Siviero, on Flickr

Sent my Lamy 2000 w/ med nib in for repair about a week ago...how soon can I expect it back? I've emailed Bob Nurin multiple times but he has not responded yet - is this normal? For those interested my nib had skipping problems and wasn't very smooth.

Hi all! Does anyone have any experience using Noodler's more permanent inks in a Lamy 2000? If so have you noticed any staining to the ink window? I regularly use Noodler's stuff in my cheaper pens but I'm considering buying a Lamy 2000 and wanted to make sure the ink window would stay useable. Thanks in advance, Badger

Hello everyone! If I could afford it, I would definitely get the Lamy 2000. To let everyone know, Amazon (at least in the US) has it on sale with a Fine Point and free (Prime) shipping for $121.75! Link: http://www.amazon.com/Lamy-2000-Fountain-Black-L01F/dp/B001D3PYT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1380602761&sr=1-1&keywords=lamy+2000 Tom

Here are my thoughts on the Vintage Pelikan 400 EF Tortoise I recently received. For comparison, I'll rely heavily on my experience with a modern Pelikan M600 Souveran and a Lamy 2000. First Impressions (10) The Pelikan 400 is absolutely gorgeous with the tortoise finish! I love the color variations. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3818/9689506858_0e1703f821_b.jpg Vintage Pelikan 400 & Modern Pelikan M600 Souveran by astrophoenix, on Flickr Appearance and Design (10) On first glance, the 400 looks just like a modern Pelikan Souveran, only missing some gold bands (which I personally think are a bit over the top anyway). The piston-turning knob, the barrel, the cap, and the section are pretty much exactly the same shape as the modern pens. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7313/9686271465_00018c3127_b.jpgVintage Pelikan 400 & Modern Pelikan M600 Souveran by astrophoenix, on Flickr as you look a bit closer, you can start to pick out some differences: the piston-turning knob on a modern Souveran has much "sharper" edges than on the vintage 400, and lacks the marking of the nib line width. The nibs look quite a bit different, even though both are 14K gold nibs. The emblem on the top of the cap is probably the most pronounced difference to the casual observer, with the modern gold emblem which relies on texture for contrast, versus the simpler etched design of the vintage 400: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/9688991580_0d232c738c_b.jpgPelikan 400 Tortoise by astrophoenix, on Flickr In general, I would never think to myself, "I want to add a pen in the color brown to my collection". but there is brown, and then there is this: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2871/9685752267_29efd694db_b.jpgPelikan 400 Tortoise by astrophoenix, on Flickr http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3680/9685751943_3659824876_b.jpgPelikan 400 Tortoise by astrophoenix, on Flickr This type of brown made me lose my mind with desire. I'm only exaggerating a little bit, here. I love the way different lighting brings out different elements of the stripes. There are some red patches in there. there are a few stripes which look like marble. and of course there are darker smoky-looking patches, as well as honey and yellow. The non-tortoise parts of the pen actually are a dark brown, so dark they almost look black (difficult to pick out in most of the photos). so ok, yes, I did add a brown pen to my collection! Another big difference between the vintage 400 and a modern Pelikan M600 is the material the pens are made from. The modern pen feels like sturdy and smooth plastic in the hand. the 400 feels much more textured. the smoothness of the M600's material makes the stripes on the barrel seem flatter; my mind says "a material that smooth can't have stripes, they must be under the surface somehow". The subtle texture of the 400, on the other hand, makes the tortoise stripes come alive, as if they are part of the "skin" of the pen. I think it could be best summed up as, the M600 feels modern, static, cold; the 400 feels dynamic, organic, and living, almost like it should be breathing. Construction and Quality (9) This Pelikan 400 is somewhere between 59 and 64 years old at the time of this writing (2013-09-06), so I think its construction and quality are very high. The Piston turns easily and smoothly. I was a little shocked at how smoothly it turned. I'd give it a 10, but the piston seal did leak a little bit when I was flushing all the old ink out of it. (inky water came out at the top, near the piston-filling knob) I need to pull the piston out and probably lubricate the seals or possibly re-cork it. This requires a special tool though, which I don't have yet. The modern pelikans' piston can be removed with the wrench TWSBI ships with their pens, which is a really nice bonus. http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2812/9685753045_f3e5a19417_b.jpgPelikan 400 Tortoise by astrophoenix, on Flickr Weight and Dimensions (8) The Pelikan 400 is a somewhat light pen, but heavier than I remember the Pelikan M200 Souveran being, which is good, since the M200 was too light for me. when I hold the 400 in one hand and the modern Pelikan M600 Souveran in the other, I think the M600 is just perceptibly heavier. which makes sense: the M600 has a larger nib, a larger section, a larger cap, a larger piston-turning knob, and the barrel of the pen has a slightly higher diameter than that of the 400. The barrels (at least the colored parts) of the 400 and the M600 seem to be the same length. The Pelikan 400 is noticeably lighter than my Lamy 2000 (again holding each in opposite hands). I can write comfortably with my M600 unposted, but I prefer it posted. the 400, on the other hand, was just slightly shorter enough to keep me from writing unposted. I'd probably be happier if the 400 were the size of the M600, but I don't mind its very slightly smaller size too much. Nib & Performance (8) This 400 has an EF nib. One of the reasons I wanted a vintage pelikan was to try out a flexible nib. Wow, does this nib deliver! I'm a total n00b at varying pressure to vary line size, but here is a shot of one of my first attempts, applying pressure on the downstroke, and no pressure on upstrokes: The ink is Noodler's Luxury Blue. the paper is a Clairefontaine spiral notebook. One of the loops in that picture looks like a skip; the pen didn't skip, I was trying to vary pressure and went so light that I wasn't touching the paper anymore. Here's a writing sample, trying to apply the same effect, with my M600 (F) ... I mainly tried it on the swooshy loops, not on the words themselves: The 400 nib has a readily-noticable springiness to it. apply some pressure, the tines spring apart. with no pressure, I get a very precise, thin line, certainly worthy of the EF marking on the piston-turning knob. the Modern M600 is much wetter but has no spring whatsoever to it. in the loops above, I can see some line width variation but it doesn't feel like the nib is flexing to me, certainly not the same way as the spring of the 400. I can't really explain the line variation I see with the M600. comparing to the flexiness of my Lamy 2000: when I apply pressure to the 2000, I can feel the nib changing shape a bit, but not with a spring like the 400. it feels like the 2000's nib is a bit softer, so it has some give to it. (The Lamy 2000 also has a 14K gold nib) The 400 nib doesn't feel soft, it's almost like it has two settings: tines together, or tines apart, with a spring to go from one to the other. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7371/9685751525_4db30550b5_b.jpgPelikan 400 Tortoise by astrophoenix, on Flickr the feed is ebonite, not plastic, and is impeccable. I've never had it skip or railroad on me, even though at least half the writing I've done so far is while applying pressure to play with the flex. http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/9685751059_8787631957_b.jpgPelikan 400 Tortoise by astrophoenix, on Flickr When it comes to smoothness, the 400 is fairly smooth. as it goes across the paper, it sings the whole time. at first I thought it was a scratchy noise, but it's not. the only time it gets scratchy is when I apply pressure, then try to switch from downstroke to upstroke; at that point, it feels like the nib is trying to dig into the paper. in reality, I shouldn't apply pressure on the upstroke at all, so the "digging in" might just be my lack of experience. The M600, on the other hand, is super smooth and wet. the 400 is not a dry writer, but the M600 is much wetter. I think the 400 nib has a decently-size sweet spot for such a fine line, but once a word or so I can "snag" it on the paper. also, I have a pocket notebook made by dodo case: http://www.dodocase.com/products/dodocase-notes-for-iphone-5 I think the paper is comparable to moleskine paper. even though the M600 is much wetter, it doesn't feather on the dodocase notebook, whereas the 400 feathers like crazy. (Note, a TWSBI 580 M also feathers on this paper, but not as much as the 400 does) One thing I did notice is that after I wrote a bit with the 400, then switched to the M600, was that anytime I wrote the letter e, the loop to make the e was filled in. My handwriting is naturally small, and getting used to the M600's wetness meant I was forcing myself to write larger. once I started writing with the extra-fine line of the 400, my handwriting snapped back to small, and if I didn't adjust back when writing with the M600, all my letters and loops were getting run together by the bigger line. The nib on the 400 is a lot of fun, when you try to vary the line width by applying pressure, but it's also hard work to use the line variation properly. and when applying low pressure, it's not as smooth as a modern nib. it probably needs a bit of tuning or alignment; I might send it off someday. Conclusion (9/10) I'm really thrilled with this 400 Tortoise. It's going to be the pen I use the most for quite some time. I'm a little concerned about the occasional snags I get with the nib, and I'm definitely going to investigate the piston leak, but since it's over half a century old, and not restored, I'd say this is to be expected. The 400 looks good, feels good in the hand, and is exciting to write with. for everyday writing, I can write softly and the pen lays down a nice thin wet line. and when I want to play with line variation, the 400 instantly responds.

I've been using fountain pens for about 6 months now, and I recently started using a Lamy 2000 with green Waterman ink. I found that when I push the pen forward(instead of dragging it) to write certain letters and characters, the pen doesn't want to expel ink. The lines made by the pen become light and thin, and eventually the pen won't write(when pushing the pen instead of dragging). I haven't had this problem with other pens I own. Is there anything I can do to fix this problem? I love this pen, minus the push-writing issue, and don't want to retire it or so to speak. Any comments or pieces of advice on this issue will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

So recently I was pen browsing, and I came across a couple of hooded nibs. I was wondering, what is the point (no pun intended) of these? What is the benefit of it, what are the drawbacks? And why did they start being used? Thank you!

I have three of Lamy's special edition Lamy 2000 ballpoint pens, the Lamy 2000 Jubilee (the first special edition Lamy 2000 ballpoint pen),the Lamy 2000 Ceramicon (the second), andthe Lamy 2000 Titanium (the third).None of these lovely pens was afforded a fountain pen mate as was the Lamy 2000 Steel (the fourth special edition). While it is great that the Lamy 2000 Steel came in both ballpoint pen and fountain pen, I wish that the other special editions had a matching fountain pen as well. These lovely ballpoint pens (see picture below) are deserving of a matching fountain pen as a mate. So, my pen wish for today is that my Lamy 2000 Jubilee ballpoint pen, my Lamy 2000 Ceramicon ballpoint pen, and my Lamy 2000 Titanium ballpoint pen each had a matching fountain pen to make them complete. : )