Lamy Safari Review

[DJJM19951998]

I like my Lamy Safari very much, and I thought I would share my feelings about it with everyone.

 

Appearance, Design, Durability, Comfort: The plastic it is made out of is nothing special, but is very hard and durable. Not fragile at all. The design is very different, and I think it looks nice because it is different. The pen is a very comfortable pen. The pen is featherweight, and has a special grip shape that makes it a pleasure to write with. (Look at first Picture)

 

Filling System: Well, it is nothing really special. Standard cartridge converter. Takes a piston converter from Lamy that is made specifically for that pen. It holds a lot of ink for a standard converter. It is a pretty wide and long converter. The charge lasts a long time. Not as long as my Lamy 2000, but longer than any other converter I have.

 

Size: It is a pretty large pen, but it still fits in my hand very well. (See Picture)

 

Nib: The nib is super smooth. Besides for my 2000, 149, and Vacumatic, this is the best writing nib I have. It is steel. I have mine in a medium, and it writes pretty thick. In general Lamy sizes are underrated. If Lamy says it medium, it is about a medium/broad, if they say it is fine, it is like a fine/medium.

 

Price: For about $30 this is the best pen you can get. A must have for any collection.

[silverjen]

Yup! I have more expensive pens, but I keep coming back to my "nothing special" Safari.

[MYU]

DJJM, can you please read the guideline on pen review submissions, especially the part about image sizing? Your images are way too large in both layout and file size. We request them to be within 800px wide and not over 300kb. A little over is OK, but those are the thresholds we try to maintain. Thanks.

 

~Gary

[darkgreen]

Nib: The nib is super smooth. Besides for my 2000, 149, and Vacumatic, this is the best writing nib I have. It is steel. I have mine in a medium, and it writes pretty thick. In general Lamy sizes are underrated. If Lamy says it medium, it is about a medium/broad, if they say it is fine, it is like a fine/medium.

 

Price: For about $30 this is the best pen you can get. A must have for any collection.

 

I agree - thanks for reinforcing the great value of these pens. One of my first FPs was a Safari many years ago - it didn't seem to be of much use. In retrospect I was using a nib that was too broad for my writing style. I have recently tried an Extra-Fine nib and it is a revelation. A crisp reliable line from a sturdy pen that works very well on standard photocopy paper; also a pen with character and color.

 

I notice that many FPNers recommend this pen for newbies and I can see why - it is great value and not a disaster if it is lost or broken. However, it is crucial to get the nib size correct at the start, keeping in mind the points that you outlined about the "over-sizing" of Lamy nib ratings.

[Parkermaniac]

I collect a lot of pens and I still think there is always going to be something pretty unique about my Lamy Safari. Even though I tried to dislike it once, it then became my daily writer for a while. Now I want to pick it up and start using it again.

 

-Nate

[Pen2009]

Does the Safari come with the converter? I am thinking about getting a Safari with an extra fine nib, as many others have already said Safari's nib size is rated conservatively. Does the cap get loose as you cap and uncap the pen as days go by?

[inkcoffee]

Normally it does not come with a converter, it comes with one blue cartridge of Lamy Blue. It can be bought for around $5.

 

On the oldest Safari I have that was bought in 2004, the cap does not click shut anymore it just sort of friction fits in place and it is secure.

[HenryLouis]

The pen is made out of ABS plastic I believe. I like this pen very much. I wish the converter could hold a little more, but oh well.

[mishugina09]

just saw the review through my schrolling. wanted to know if it takes international cartridges or only takes proprietary? Thanks!

[DJJM19951998]

just saw the review through my schrolling. wanted to know if it takes international cartridges or only takes proprietary? Thanks!

I am not sure but I believe Lamy fits only Lamy cartridges.

[inkcoffee]

I've only ever put lamy cartridges in mine but Steve at the bottom of this thread https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=122967 has put Parkers in with success.

[RINGO]

"Price: For about $30 this is the best pen you can get. A must have for any collection."

 

Thank you for nice review! Just will order together with Lamy Joy