Lamy Safari Grip Problem

[Fitzwilliam]

Hi, all,

 

I just received my first fountain pen, a charcoal Lamy Safari L17M. I was very excited to start using it, but when I tried to write with it, nothing happened. I've started to use the "triangle" pen grip in the past few months (holding the pen between by index and middle fingers, with my thumb underneath) and was told that the Safari's grip was tailor-made for it. What I've found, though, is that I have to turn the Safari 90 degrees to the left in order to write anything, forcing my hand into an uncomfortable "standard" grip, with the pen held tightly between my thumb, index, and middle fingers. As a result, my hand starts to cramp almost immediately after I begin writing. I'm wondering whether:

 

1) I've misunderstood the tripod grip.

2) I've misunderstood the method of holding the Safari.

3) I'm holding the pen at the wrong angle.

4) I have a somehow defective pen.

5) I have a left-handed pen.

 

The reason I asked the last is first, the "L17" bit of the name, and second, that if I hold the pen in my left hand, I can use the tripod grip perfectly. Except, of course, that the writing is nearly illegible because I'm right-handed. If any of you old veterans could help a troubled newbie, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Edited April 19, 2011 by Fitzwilliam

[USMCMom]

I'm right handed and have a Lamy Safari in rotation. The pen rests between the thumb and index finger (where they meet) and is held between my thumb and index finger with my thumb pretty much across from my middle finger, if that makes sense. My hand doesn't cramp when I write with any of my pens. Are you gripping perhaps too tightly? I write with just the weight of the pen, unless I'm practicing with a flex nib.

 

I'm not an expert by any stretch of the word. I'm sure our other more experienced members will join in shortly.

[RayMan]

I am a left handed overwriter (hook leftie). I find that the triangular grip is uncompfortable for me, because it forces the nib into a rotated position. As a result of my experience, I've assumed that this grip is ergonomic only for underwriters.

[mstone]

Here's a picture of a traditional tripod grasp. The middle finger is on the bottom, not the thumb:

 

http://www.drawyourworld.com/grip.html

 

The left handed safari nib has "LH" on it; there is no left-handed pen.

[writebyhand]

I've never found the Safari grip comfortable, so much so that I consider it a serious problem with the pen. But, I am a left-handed person.

[Splicer]

One right-handed person chiming in: I've never found the Safari's grip to be good for grasping. As far as gripping it too tightly, is there any other way to hold a pen designed to slip out of the user's grasp?

[rwilsonedn]

Another view from a right-handed person: I find the Safari's section useless unless I hold the pen with my fingers on the apexes of the ridiculous triangle. I have never been able to reconstruct what the designers of the Safari were thinking.

ron

[KrazyIvan]

They were thinking that you will hold the pen the way we want you to hold the pen.

[JOBPM]

Do you rest the back of the pen on top of your index finger or in between the middle and index? I find that with the grip you describe, it's easier to have the pen correctly oriented with it resting between the index and middle. When you use a "standard" grip do you use the the tip of your middle finger to really push up on the bottom of the pen? If this is the case you should try resting the grip on the middle finger, between the tip and the last knuckle. It should be less fatiguing and help with orienting the nib correctly.

[pmsalty]

I am a left handed overwriter (hook leftie). I find that the triangular grip is uncompfortable for me, because it forces the nib into a rotated position. As a result of my experience, I've assumed that this grip is ergonomic only for underwriters.

 

I'm left-handed and rub my hand straight over what I have just written. The Lamy Safari is the most uncomfortable pen I own. I have it filled with Waterman Havana Brown ink and just use it for a sketch pen now. No problem drawing with it. It just is extremely uncomfortable to write with. Dislike intensely the triangular section! Just my 2 cents.

PMS

[Chthulhu]

The reason I asked the last is first, the "L17" bit of the name, and second, that if I hold the pen in my left hand, I can use the tripod grip perfectly. Except, of course, that the writing is nearly illegible because I'm right-handed. If any of you old veterans could help a troubled newbie, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

All the current Lamy pens and pencils seem to begin with L; the 17 designates a charcoal Safari; the M is for a medium nib.

 

Place your index finger against the flat on that side of the section, and your thumb either on the other flat or on the barrel in line with the flat (depends on the length of your thumb; mine sits on the black ring), and the rounded underside of the section will lay on the first joint of your middle finger. The barrel (and cap if it's posted) will rest naturally on the web of your thumb, a little bit toward your index finger's knuckle. Don't squeeze the pen; you hardly have to grip it at all, just enough to support and steady it while you guide the nib around on the paper.

[Phormula]

I also hold the Safari (actually a Vista) the way beak suggest.

 

I know people have a love or hate relationship with the Safari because of the grip. It is a pen that can be held only in the tripod position it has been designed to. If this is also your position, no problem. If this is not, writing with that pen becomes a real pain. Many other German school pens share variations of the same triangular grip.

 

I have found the Lamy Nexx to be a little more forgiving, because of the larger, soft and more rounded grip.

[UltraMagnus]

It was designed as a school pen, so designed to make you use the right grip.

 

It works fine for me as a lefty underwriter.

[dexaco]

Just re-read your post - 'thumb underneath' sounds a little odd to me.  Try this...

 

Start by balancing the pen right way up on your middle finger, then just let the first finger and thumb come in naturally onto the pen.  Hope this is helping.

 

PS

Oh - and

 

I'm a lefty underwriter, and my grip is pretty much a mirror image of beak's. One thing I have done, though, is to sand off the sharp edges on the grip. Just a little, to round off the corners. Much more comfortable.

 

 

Derick

[USMCMom]

I hold my Safari as in Beak's picture.

[mstone]

One right-handed person chiming in: I've never found the Safari's grip to be good for grasping. As far as gripping it too tightly, is there any other way to hold a pen designed to slip out of the user's grasp?

 

I've never had a safari squirt out of my hand, so I'm having trouble picturing this. It rests lightly on the middle finger, and the other fingers just keep it from sliding off. No pressure required.

[FearNot]

Leftie over-writer here - I like the triangular grip and have no problems with it. I hold it like Beak, but with left hand, of course. What do you mean by, "nothing happened"? Do you mean no ink cam out? Maybe there is a mechanical problem, a problem with ink flow. Try screwing down the converter a half turn to force some ink into the feeder. Did you give the feeder and nib a cleaning before using it?

[joshk]

I write left handed and under. Have no issues with the Safari grip so far. I grip with three fingers like I'm pinching something equally with all three.

[RINGO]

Just re-read your post - 'thumb underneath' sounds a little odd to me. Try this...

 

Start by balancing the pen right way up on your middle finger, then just let the first finger and thumb come in naturally onto the pen. Hope this is helping.

 

 

- Yes, this is correct method. More about this method and how to hold better any cylindrical pen - in Professor Earl Owen article http://www.ringpen.com/ABCD

 

[ernestcow]

I don't find the Lamy grip all too comfortable even though I use the 'tripod grip'.