Any thoughts about the Lamy 2000 with an oblique nib?

[Chandon]

I am keen on oblique nibs, and already own a number of vintage pens with OM, OB and OBB nibs (including a Lamy 27 and a Profil 81 model, as well a Geha 715 and a few 1960s Montblanc pens (12, 22, 34 and a 221). For some time, I have been debating buying a modern Lamy 2000 with an OB or OM nib, as Lamy are one of the few companies that still offer these nibs.  Does anyone own and use one of these and what do you think of them? Are they worth buying, and are they as good as the vintage models? Thanks for your input and help in advance. 

[Mercian]

I have no experience of oblique nibs, but I have found two old reviews threads for Lamy 2000s fitted with obliques:

 

Review by MYU (from 2007).

 

Link to review by lecorbusier (from 2009).

 

I hope that those are helpful.

[Karmachanic]

If you're expecting a classic edged OM you'll be disappointed.

MYU had his ground to a 0.6 CI.

[Chandon]

14 hours ago, Mercian said:

I have no experience of oblique nibs, but I have found two old reviews threads for Lamy 2000s fitted with obliques:

 

Review by MYU (from 2007).

 

Link to review by lecorbusier (from 2009).

 

I hope that those are helpful.

Thank you very much for the links. I'll have a look. As far as modern manufacturers are concerned, there are very few companies that make oblique pens - Lamy, Montblanc and GVFC are the only ones I can think of. I've tested the MB offerings and rated the OB so was interested to see what people's opinion of the Lamy 2000 was.

[effandpee]

I have an OM nib on my 2000 and I would agree it’s a different experience from German obliques from the 50s, say. But that might mostly be because it’s hooded and therefore a bit stiffer. It’s a little less crisp than my experience with MB obliques (on a 22 and a Noblesse), but I wouldn’t say it’s more forgiving because of it - I definitely need to concentrate to avoid rotating the nib. Nonetheless I get some really attractive line variation out of it and it’s a very pleasant writer.

[maclink]

My Lamy 2K OB was very disappointing.  It offered little line variation and with a very wide line to boot.  I’ve since switched it to another nib.  OTOH, I have a 60’s MB with an OB nib that is fabulous.  In fact, my Lamy OB nib purchase was inspired by that nib.

[Chandon]

On 3/21/2022 at 5:06 AM, maclink said:

My Lamy 2K OB was very disappointing.  It offered little line variation and with a very wide line to boot.  I’ve since switched it to another nib.  OTOH, I have a 60’s MB with an OB nib that is fabulous.  In fact, my Lamy OB nib purchase was inspired by that nib.

Thank you - that is very helpful to know. I can vouch for the OB nib on my Montblanc 34. I think I will pass on the 2000.

[hairlame]

On 3/20/2022 at 2:06 PM, maclink said:

My Lamy 2K OB was very disappointing.  It offered little line variation and with a very wide line to boot.  I’ve since switched it to another nib.  OTOH, I have a 60’s MB with an OB nib that is fabulous.  In fact, my Lamy OB nib purchase was inspired by that nib.

 

I agree with this - the Lamy 2000 OB has a lot of tipping, you don't get a crisp line with it, unlike the MB OM or OB nibs. The other difference is that the 2000 oblique nibs are cut at a larger angle (30 degrees, I think?) than the MB nibs (15 degrees?), which I didn't like as much either, since it forces you to rotate the pen a bit more.
The 2000 OM is smaller and crisper than the OB, but still puts down thick lines. 

[Karmachanic]

1 hour ago, hairlame said:

the Lamy 2000 OB has a lot of tipping

 

And there are those who are happy to reduce said tipping to ones liking for a reasonable fee.

[hairlame]

23 hours ago, Karmachanic said:

 

And there are those who are happy to reduce said tipping to ones liking for a reasonable fee.

 

Yes, indeed!  Alas, the pen has already been re-homed. 

[awa54]

My 2K experience is with an OB, purchased in the last couple of years: 

 

While it *does* have plenty of tipping, I don't have any complaints in that regard, it writes much like the old Esterbrook "Relief" nibs (this is a compliment!), however I understand that many prefer italic nibs that lean toward the crisp/formal side of the spectrum, whereas I definitely enjoy the easy writing stub-like nibs more. My example has a very soft page feel, though the small nib body and hood design prevent it from having much flex.

The part that keeps me from using this pen more often is the line width... it's huge and has generous ink flow, so it comes off as a BB (or larger, with thirsty paper), making it almost useless for my work. That said, I love the way it writes and enjoy using it, I just can't use it for work, since the line is far too big to make good use of the work-order cards we use.

 

...if there had been an OM option available when I bought mine, I think I would have been much happier with that nib.

[Chandon]

10 hours ago, awa54 said:

My 2K experience is with an OB, purchased in the last couple of years: 

 

While it *does* have plenty of tipping, I don't have any complaints in that regard, it writes much like the old Esterbrook "Relief" nibs (this is a compliment!), however I understand that many prefer italic nibs that lean toward the crisp/formal side of the spectrum, whereas I definitely enjoy the easy writing stub-like nibs more. My example has a very soft page feel, though the small nib body and hood design prevent it from having much flex.

The part that keeps me from using this pen more often is the line width... it's huge and has generous ink flow, so it comes off as a BB (or larger, with thirsty paper), making it almost useless for my work. That said, I love the way it writes and enjoy using it, I just can't use it for work, since the line is far too big to make good use of the work-order cards we use.

 

...if there had been an OM option available when I bought mine, I think I would have been much happier with that nib.

Thank you for this input. I'd be interested to try one out in a shop. 

[pitonyak]

On 3/17/2022 at 10:35 PM, Chandon said:

Thank you very much for the links. I'll have a look. As far as modern manufacturers are concerned, there are very few companies that make oblique pens - Lamy, Montblanc and GVFC are the only ones I can think of. I've tested the MB offerings and rated the OB so was interested to see what people's opinion of the Lamy 2000 was.

Chandon, 

 

Can you provide a link to your thoughts on the Mont Blanc OB nibs? 

 

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/333015-1980s-identification/#entry4004320

 

I have two Mont Blanc Pens with OM nibs, but do not want to hijack a Lamy thread to discuss. 

[Chandon]

On 4/17/2022 at 11:07 AM, pitonyak said:

Chandon, 

 

Can you provide a link to your thoughts on the Mont Blanc OB nibs? 

 

http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/333015-1980s-identification/#entry4004320

 

I have two Mont Blanc Pens with OM nibs, but do not want to hijack a Lamy thread to discuss. 

Sorry for the delayed reply. Did you mean the vintage or the modern ones? I rate the OB on the Montblanc 22 very highly, but that could just be down to my handwriting. I was less keen on the OB on the old 256, but others would probably rave about it. Modern 146 OB was good, but the OBB was better, but favours large lettering. I hope that helps, but let me know if I can help in any way.

 

Chandon

[Recursion]

For me the Lamy 2000 OM nib is way to broad (and wet) my minuscule handwriting looks like a horizontal line of a marker. Compared to my (mostly Japanese) fine and extra fine nibs this looks like a broad to me. There is line variation with single lines but in writing this is hardly noticeable, at least with my handwriting.

 

Luckily an extra fine replacement nib is on it’s way. 

[Jan Mathijs Rijck]

I own a 30 year old MB 149 with the OBB nib (18K) and a Soennecken 333 extra with an OM nib (14K) that is at least 60 years old. 
The 149 is excellent for signing, but too wide for writing letters etc.

However, I have noticed that my handwriting is much more beautiful and lively with oblique nibs than with normal nibs and also more interesting than with 1.5 or 1.8 nibs.

That's why I have a 2K with OM and a 2K with OB.

I like both of them and they make a nice script, but (especially the OM) they are not as varied as the antique models mentioned above.

[Chandon]

On 5/1/2022 at 6:50 AM, Jan Mathijs Rijck said:

I own a 30 year old MB 149 with the OBB nib (18K) and a Soennecken 333 extra with an OM nib (14K) that is at least 60 years old. 
The 149 is excellent for signing, but too wide for writing letters etc.

However, I have noticed that my handwriting is much more beautiful and lively with oblique nibs than with normal nibs and also more interesting than with 1.5 or 1.8 nibs.

That's why I have a 2K with OM and a 2K with OB.

I like both of them and they make a nice script, but (especially the OM) they are not as varied as the antique models mentioned above.

Thanks, Jan, that is very interesting. Soennecken pens are supposed to be great, but hard to find. I enjoy using the Montblanc 22 with an OB.

[pitonyak]

On 4/27/2022 at 6:40 AM, Chandon said:

Sorry for the delayed reply. Did you mean the vintage or the modern ones? I rate the OB on the Montblanc 22 very highly, but that could just be down to my handwriting. I was less keen on the OB on the old 256, but others would probably rave about it. Modern 146 OB was good, but the OBB was better, but favours large lettering. I hope that helps, but let me know if I can help in any way.

 

Chandon

 

Someone told me that OB nibs were meant for left handed writers. I never liked my Montblonc (purchased in the 80's) with an OB nib much preferring the cheap pens my Mother had used going to school in the 50's / 60's

 

Also, sorry for the delay, I do not receive notification when a reply is posted here! 😞

 

[amberleadavis]

@Chandon Have you made a decision yet?  I have a vintage MB OB that I adore.

 

 

The Lamy 2000 OB is by comparison cumbersome and boring. I will upload photos of my writing if that would help, it will be a few days.

[Chandon]

On 7/7/2022 at 3:29 PM, amberleadavis said:

@Chandon Have you made a decision yet?  I have a vintage MB OB that I adore.

 

 

The Lamy 2000 OB is by comparison cumbersome and boring. I will upload photos of my writing if that would help, it will be a few days.

Is that a Montblanc 12 or 14? It looks a great pen. I am sticking with my 22 with an OB, but would buy another 1x or 3x model with an OB or OBB over the Lamy 2000 having seen how it writes.