Lamy 2000 - Best Pen Ever

[lurcho]

I held a strong allegiance to Pelikan for many years. On a recent visit to New York City, I picked up a M400 delivered to the hotel from Mottishaw, and it's a lovely writer.

 

But for overall wetness, balance, and precision, the L2K beats it, and every other pen I've ever used (including the Sailor 1911 Colors, MB149, OMAS Paragon (old-style), and a boatload of others).

 

I make this - for me - bold assertion, despite the L2K arriving with slightly misaligned tines, and requiring very slight adjustment for flow. But this is, very annoyingly, the norm, as you all know, with modern FPs.

 

The L2K is now incomparable.

 

The fact that I can even stick it in the same pocket as my keys and cash, because it's made of the same basic polycarbonate as car headlights and fridge doors makes it even better: A first-class writer that's actually not so delicate as to require a protective sleeve.

Edited October 14, 2012 by lurcho

[gks]

Fantastic pen for the price.

 

I'm not sure I'd say it is the best ever, as best ever is subjective. As I use my Edison pens more. I've actually found myself using my Vanishing Point a lot because of the ease of use to just click and use.

[lurcho]

Fantastic pen for the price.

 

I'm not sure I'd say it is the best ever, as best ever is subjective. As I use my Edison pens more. I've actually found myself using my Vanishing Point a lot because of the ease of use to just click and use.

 

I sold my VP years ago. Loved the look, the practicality, and the whole notion of it, but the flow wasn't up to it for me. Mottishaw told me that there was an ineluctable limit on its wetness potential.

 

I do think, by the way, that the blobbiness of the new Pelikan nibs is decisively negative. The two pens would compare very closely - the L2K and the M400, I mean - were it not for the tipping change.

[gks]

Fantastic pen for the price.

 

I'm not sure I'd say it is the best ever, as best ever is subjective. As I use my Edison pens more. I've actually found myself using my Vanishing Point a lot because of the ease of use to just click and use.

 

I sold my VP years ago. Loved the look, the practicality, and the whole notion of it, but the flow wasn't up to it for me. Mottishaw told me that there was an ineluctable limit on its wetness potential.

 

I do think, by the way, that the blobbiness of the new Pelikan nibs is decisively negative. The two pens would compare very closely - the L2K and the M400, I mean - were it not for the tipping change.

 

Purely subjective still. My VP is a pretty wet writer (it's only a Medium). I'd say pretty comparable to the VP in terms of wetness, maybe more so. The L2K is a tad more dry.

 

Both of these pens are un-adjusted and straight from the box.

 

Don't get me wrong, I think both the VP, L2K and M200 I have are all useful in their own unique way. But, what makes one person say it's the best ever may be for completely different reasons than another person.

[lurcho]

I'm surprised that your VP is wetter than I thought it could be, but I've decided not to invite you out to the car park to discuss it man to man.

 

I'm basically a pacifist.

 

Though I still think I could take you...

[gks]

I'm surprised that your VP is wetter than I thought it could be, but I've decided not to invite you out to the car park to discuss it man to man.

 

I'm basically a pacifist.

 

Though I still think I could take you...

 

 

Yea, I just used the Pilot cartridge in the VP since it was "easier" and if I didn't use them they'd just sit around. Plus I figured I could empty it and then use it to refill with a syringe. So using the Pilot blue that comes with it. The sucker is pretty wet. The L2K is a fair bit more dry and while I have no issues with that I just think they both have their merits. Same for the Pelikan, though I feel that it is my least used in the (small) collection I have.

 

I think writers have to try them all to find what works for them. I snagged the M200 for a steal when the Goulet's were closing them out. Something like $115 I think and they just raised the prices. So I snagged one while I could and figured if anything I could sell it if I really didn't use it and get what I bought back.

 

I was pleasantly surprised by the VP though. The click action is more useful than uncapping so I end up grabbing it readily on my desk when I need to jot something down. Sort of my defacto goto pen. If I'm going to do any longer writing I grab one of my Edisons. The L2K isn't inked currently, but I've been contemplating inking it up again.

[lurcho]

You are seriously making me contemplate getting another VP.

 

Bear in mind, I had to prise apart the tines on my L2K, albeit very, very minimally (and gingerly).

 

I'd bloody love a wet-enough VP.

[gks]

You are seriously making me contemplate getting another VP.

 

Bear in mind, I had to prise apart the tines on my L2K, albeit very, very minimally (and gingerly).

 

I'd bloody love a wet-enough VP.

 

Perhaps I will make a comparison page for you. I can't tonight, but I'll ink up the L2K tomorrow and write up a short little comparison page for you using the same ink. They're both Medium nibs (given Pilot M is more Western Fine) but it'll be interesting to compare them together.

[bphollin]

Another wet VP checking in, B nib and F nibs. B was a gusher out of the box; F was adjusted ever-so-slightly by yours truly.

[lurcho]

Another wet VP checking in, B nib and F nibs. B was a gusher out of the box; F was adjusted ever-so-slightly by yours truly.

 

Wow. 'Gusher'. I'm about to check out the prices based on both of your descriptions.

 

And, gks, since I now, recently, have a decent (phone)-camera, I may also post handwriting samples of my M400 and L2K. (I should say, a little irrelevantly, that when I said 'M400', what I meant was that I'd bought a M400 nib unit to stick in a M205 Pel, obtained from a UK (where I'm from) vendor, with rubbish (two swaps) steel nibs (medium).

Edited October 15, 2012 by lurcho

[gks]

Alright, here you go.

 

The VP is so much more wet that the color is different

 

Pretty wild. You can start to see the same color in portions of the L2K when it has moments of darker shading. But normal writing you can clearly see the difference I think.

 

The only difference in ink is that the Vanishing Point was using a cartridge of Pilot Blue (the one included in the box) and the L2K is using a bottle of it from my Pilot Custom 823.

 

[79spitfire]

My Lamy, M200, and VPs are seemingly of equal wetness, around 6/10. I find ink makes a huge difference in the VP, more so than the other two.

 

My Lamy and M200 are XF nibs, the VPs (I have 2) are both M, plus I have a F nib unit, which has never really clicked with me, not rough, but not smooth, and it is a very dry writer, 4/10 or so. Nothing wrong with that, just not me.

 

The European xf nibs are close to the VP's M nib, the widest being the M200. My M200 and first VP came from Richard Binder, and the second VP and the Lamy came from Todd at isellpens. The Lamy's nib is the most expressive of the bunch, having some nice line variation and enough spring to make it simply a pleasure to write with. The other pens are great, but the Lamy edges them out from the standpoint of just the nib's writing qualities.

 

Interestingly enough, I paid the least for the Lamy, as I got mine a year and a half ago, when Todd had them at $109. I also bought my second VP from Todd, when he had an overstock and managed to sell some at a substantial discount, I can't remember the price but it was very reasonable!

 

My least favourite of the three is the M200, it's not a bad pen, it's just not remarkable. I ink it up once in a while and use it. The nib has some nice spring, but definitely not 'flex'

 

Everyone is going to like different pens for different reasons, that's why there are different pens available!

[de_pen_dent]

Bear in mind, I had to prise apart the tines on my L2K, albeit very, very minimally (and gingerly).

 

Did you do so with the nib still in the pen or did you extract the nib first?

 

My 2k is also a very dry writer and I'd like to try to fix that, if I can.

 

TIA.

[svfd757]

I own both the 2000 and the VP and love them both. The F nib on the VP amazing and the F nib on my 2000 is liquid smooth. I cannot choose between them as I like them so much

[lurcho]

Bear in mind, I had to prise apart the tines on my L2K, albeit very, very minimally (and gingerly).

 

Did you do so with the nib still in the pen or did you extract the nib first?

 

My 2k is also a very dry writer and I'd like to try to fix that, if I can.

 

TIA.

 

I if recall, I tried to do it before I knew how to disassemble the section, but eventually took the nib out and applied very gentle pressure, enough to see a gap at the tip under a 10X loupe.

 

And that was it. It immediately became a wet and consistent writer. This procedure seemed to work better than it has on other pens I've tried it on, which isn't many as the exercise scares me.

 

Another point that I've noticed with this and many other pens is that wetness is much more consistent if the ink chamber has a fair amount of air in it, which I take to be due to the partial-vacuum effect of a full or nearly-full reservoir.

Edited October 15, 2012 by lurcho

[Bo Bo Olson]

Were the 2000 only to have a nib worth having...semi-flex or maxi-semi-flex/'flexi'.

Of course I was never impressed with it's looks since back in '66 when I firs saw it.

 

I like classic 'naked' nibs,

or in the case of the Geha 725 inlaid nibs; that pen has a semi-flex nib.

 

Besides which my Lamy Persona is better than the 2000, even if it is a nail.

 

 

The 2000 is a well respected pen in Germany, I don't go looking for it much on German E-bay, but have never seen a used one I could get cheap. Don't remember seeing a used one at all.

 

I have a Persona in black titanium oxide with a 18 K CI (B-M), Artus x 4, CP-1 B, Safari M, and the 27 F is a good nail.

The need of a 2000 is by me minimal, unless I can get it real cheap. Why I might have to sell my Safari, to make place for it.

 

I ended up with a slew of Pelikans too, and do agree the modern blobby nib is the pits. Thankfully I only have one modern blobby nibbed Pelikan the 605.

 

I must say, I own shirts with pockets, so don't need a sturdy pen to stick in my pants pockets, with keys, change and assorted small files.

 

I think, those who let others define proper style ie the lack of shirt pockets by who don't write as is, should find out about a pen designed since 1930 for pants pockets; the Kaweco Sport.

It is the proper tool, for the job; not a pen like the vintage 2000 which was designed for shirt pockets; back in the day when all were wise enough to have a shirt with a pocket.

 

Not only that, but the Sport won't jab you in 'odd' places or be forced to bend from sitting on it.

Edited October 15, 2012 by Bo Bo Olson

[TheRynMedina]

How much does this cost? Is it a good pen for a beginner?

[gks]

How much does this cost? Is it a good pen for a beginner?

 

The Lamy 2000 can be had reasonably inexpensively. I got mine from iSellPens.com for $125 USD (no affiliation, just a happy customer). Though you'll see them higher at other places I've found (i think the Goulet's have it at $140).

 

It's a solid easy to use pen, but the price is not what I'd call entry level. The $60-150 price range is what I'd call intermediate. Someone who has a few inexpensive pens and wants to get something with a gold nib. In terms of usage, it's the same as a TWSBI 540 as it is a piston filler. But in terms of cost, it's up there a bit and I'd suggest waiting until you're positive you want to spend that kind of money on a pen.

[OldGriz]

You are seriously making me contemplate getting another VP.

 

Bear in mind, I had to prise apart the tines on my L2K, albeit very, very minimally (and gingerly).

 

I'd bloody love a wet-enough VP.

 

I own all 5 colors of the faceted VPs.... and all but one have fine nibs...that one is at Mike Masuyama's getting a broad turned into a fine stub....

Every one of them is a wet writer and smoother than silk... and not because of their age... they use the same nib assembly as today's VPs

I would not be without at least one on them every day..

And this is coming from a die heart Parker 51 and Vacumatic collector....

 

And I know I can take you, even at my advanced age..... because I don't fight fair.....

[de_pen_dent]

I if recall, I tried to do it before I knew how to disassemble the section, but eventually took the nib out and applied very gentle pressure, enough to see a gap at the tip under a 10X loupe.

 

And that was it. It immediately became a wet and consistent writer. This procedure seemed to work better than it has on other pens I've tried it on, which isn't many as the exercise scares me.

 

Another point that I've noticed with this and many other pens is that wetness is much more consistent if the ink chamber has a fair amount of air in it, which I take to be due to the partial-vacuum effect of a full or nearly-full reservoir.

 

Thanks for that - I have no problems with playing around with the nib to get it to work, but I do need to google and find out how to get the nib out. I tried just pulling out the feed with my fingers from the other side of the section, but was unable to get a firm grip. And given that this pen doesnt sell for less than $200 in this part of the world, I dont want to take any chances with breaking stuff.