Lamy Safari WTF - Why the Fuss About the Lamy Safari?

[@tdowling149]

The Safari grip is a reminder that the pen was ultimately not designed for us old farts in Canada and the U.S., but for German school children who were being taught the One Correct Way to hold a pen. For that purpose, it works well.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Great observation!

[@BO-kh1iz]

Beeing from Germany I do agree. We all had Safaris, Pelikan Pelikanos or Geha fountain pens (these were great) in school. As a kid I really liked the grip section of the Safari, today I find it somewhat uncomfortable. Lamy has better pens for adults, like the Studio (with the annodized section) or the Aion, which I find very comfortable. Like most Lamy pen series the Aion has some irritating minor flaws (slight wobble in the cap, to be fixed with a small stripe of tape inside the cap) but if one likes the Bauhaus design and dislikes the section of the Safari, it might be a great option.

[@purumr]

Lamy safari is a gateway drug of fountain pen world.

[@ceceb6264]

So true

[@sushanart]

😆❤️👍

[@rahulshah1408]

It’s a great hit.

[@bluebirdsigma]

For 30 years I held a pen wrong. Like the "Italian grip" meme hugging the neck of the pen with all fingers at the same time. Got tired fast, and my handwriting was a reflect of my chaotic autistic mental issues. Tried to fix my hand posture countless times to no avail, my handwriting became just down right ghastly and it was painful. The Safari was the only pen that managed to fix my hand posture and now writing is enjoyable AF. And my handwriting is now, 😘 [chef kiss]

[@LoneEagle270]

The Lamy Safari is such a weird pen for me. My grip doesn't line up with the Lamy's. But for some reason, I always go back to it. I do cabinetry, and find it to be the perfect pen for working on a job site. It's light enough I can throw in a pocket and durable enough that I don't worry. Plus it post nicely when needed. They also write consistently first time, even if they've been sitting a week or better. It probably also helps that I like the look of them too.

[@houghwhite411]

That fits the description of workhorse

[@athenaenergyshine7616]

I tried the lamy all star but the lamy all star has a clear grip so it is less noticeable. Do you know what kind of grip you have? If you do there might be a pen that is more comfortable to have according to how you grip it.

[@johnhildenbrand2642]

My Safari's are among my favorite pens. LAMY is great in general, and I enjoy the Bauhaus styling of many of the pens, the quality of the components, the versatility of the interchangeable nibs across a number of models, and the thoughtful little things like the alignment system on the converters, the o rings, ink windows, posting, color options, and the price all make this a winner of a brand for me.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kurroth]

Thank you for your balanced views on the Safari! It has flaws such as the cost, features and value compared to its rivals, does not include a convertor, plastic build, inconsistent nib (never had that issue although I went after F and M nibs). However, it is a modern classic and an icon if ever there was one. I wrote about a detailed note on Reddit as to what makes it special and I shall share it here: +The design of a Safari/ Al-Star may seem ugly to some but it is totally function based and each part of the pen serves a purpose and is justified. -The grip is shaped such that a beginner can learn to hold a fountain pen properly. -The clip is neither too tight nor too loose, neither too large nor too small and yet it has a distinct and recognizable shape. I always notice the clip in the pockets of people. -The top of its cap looks like a large Philips screw head indicating it as a fountain pen. Safari roller ball and ball pens have different indentations on cap tops. -The barrel has an ink window to view ink levels. -Even the barrel is designed such that simply screwing it in pushes the proprietary cartridge to its place, something I am yet to come across in any other pen. +It has a distinct form and identity of its own without depending on any superfluous features or conforming to common FP shapes (torpedo, cigar, etc.). People who find its design "ugly" are probably influenced by pre-existing notions and trends of FP shapes without understanding why it is the way it is. +Lamy fountain pens are very popular among architects. I have seen architects, faculty and students in the field carrying Lamy fountain pens which kind of distinguishes them. Perhaps it is because its design is based on 'Form follows Function' which is also an architectural principle. Maybe this approach resonates among architects. +The Lamy Safari was launched in 1980 (More than 40 years ago!) and it showed how good an affordable pen with a steel nib can be. There are many established makers of fountain pens such as Parker, Waterman, Sheaffer, etc. which are much older than Lamy. Yet today, their entry level fountain pens are nowhere so good as Lamy in terms of performance. These pen companies have outsourced their entry level pen manufacturing unlike Lamy. For a long time, Lamy Safari was the default option for an entry level fountain pen. +Pens like Lamy Safari have diminished the importance and need for gold nib fountain pens as one can no longer claim that gold nib pens are smoother. Even today, the Lamy Safari is a benchmark in terms of nib performance. The Safari steel nib represents a leapfrog in nib quality, because at one time steel nibs would rust and so people were encouraged to buy gold nibs to avoid that. Also, ink quality has improved as well preventing corrosion. +Today, a Safari may not look appealing against its competitors such as Pilot Metro, TWSBI ECO and Chinese pens but you should remember that these pens are not even 10 years old since their release. A Safari is the more 'tried and tested'. +Most Chinese FP companies have sold Lamy Safari clones be it Jinhao, Hero or even WingSung long before they made anything like an X750. I know because I used to buy a lot of these clones and this should tell you how influential Lamy has been. Lamy Safari is the OG. +Compared to a TWSBI ECO, a Lamy of the same price range (with a matte finish) is much more durable. I have seen Lamy pens being passed down generations. TWSBI has a history of cracking and I doubt its complex filling mechanism would last as long as a simple C/C system. Chinese pens are not exactly renowned for their durability either. In short, Lamy has withstood the test of time. Pilot has great pens but the Metro (which can a considered a Lamy rival) is relatively new, although I admit it is a much better value option than a Safari. +Lamy still brings out limited edition versions of Safaris and Al-Stars, unlike most other companies. Pilot used to bring out LE Metros but not anymore. There are a lot of color options for Lamy Safari and Al-Stars. Plus they are somewhat affordable. +You can buy nibs of various sizes (ranging from EF to Broad) for a Lamy pen unlike most other fountain pens of this price range. +(This is my opinion) Entry level Pelikan (eg. Pelikano) and Pilot pens (eg. Kakuno, the funky Metros) do not look professional even though they write well. TWSBIs even look like vapes to some!!! Lamy Safari has a pen for every situation and mood. P.S. Although I was indoctrinated in the use of fountain pens, it is a Lamy Safari which made me a convert in my college years. It will always be special to me.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks so much for the detailed comments!

[@kurroth]

@@InkquiringMinds Thanks for the great content! I want to believe your video influenced TWSBI to call off their attacks against Narwhal.

[@MiScusi69]

"Form follows function", yet everyone visits the old, warm, decorated buildings...

[@johnsampson7371]

😊

[@johnsampson7371]

😊

[@djryandelap]

I was amused that I agreed with every single point you made about the Safari. I only own one, I bought the breast cancer awareness pack they released earlier this year. It looks good on my office desk because the white and red matches my branding .I ordered it with a 1.9 stub which is almost as dry as the Sahara desert; the medium is much more pleasant to write with. I did find though that the “training wheels” were exactly what I needed for my son. My 8-year-old has dysgraphia, and he discovered that writing with daddy’s “fancy pens” made him happy. The Lamy ABC has been a great tool for him to use with his occupational therapist since the grip acts as a finger guide for him. Hopefully one day he’ll adapt to be able to use regular grips comfortably, but if not, it’s nice to know there’s a style he is comfortable with.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, Ryan!

[@enysuntra1347]

Well, as Mr Ed said, "It's been a long time since I was a [foal]", but I still regularly write with the Safari I bought in the 1990s in 8th grade; I just bought an Al Star (b/c I don't want to lose the pen that wrote my exams after almost 30 years), and ordered a Vista for correction work with red ink. I still like the ergonomic grip of the Lamy, that is IMO better than the 1980s Pelikano grip I had used since 1st grade (age 6). If you learned to write with such a grip and are comfortable with it, why change? I have never seen the Lamy grip as "training wheels", just a comfortable ergonomic grip for the grip you learn in German elementary schools. I also seem to hold the pen "unorthodoxically" since the beginning, in a very flat angle with the back resting right where my thumb and index finger meet while many others use a steeper angle and rest the pen only on the last and 2nd to last phalanx (?) of the index finger. It's not every "unorthodox" grip that doesn't work with a Lamy.

[@cobishome]

You don't like the Safari or the Metropolitan but you like the Kakuno. I 100% agree. You are now my reliable resource for pens i should buy online

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much!

[@TheDarivan]

I have a couple of Safaris, I use it as an all-terrain pen when I go out and to draw with waterproof ink preferably. Some of the people I know and are Safari users consider it the best working pen. I don't like the design, but its performance and endurance have motivated me to keep it in my portfolio.

[@andrewrothman7805]

Good review/explanation. I bought my only Safari around 1978, when I was in college. I enjoyed it, but the cap retaining ring eventually gave out, and I've never bought another one. I think I paid around $10 at the time.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@InktronicsBlog]

The Safari holds a special place in my collection. My first one was the same poop brown version. I got rid of my thumb over and death grip with the Safari. It’s a school pen meant to show kids how to hold a pen. If it’s uncomfortable for anyone, in general, to hold, then you’re just doing it wrong. Simple as that. The pen screams, “You will hold me the way I want to be held!”

[@mishaerementchouk]

There are many ways to hold the pen correctly that do not fit the Safari grip section. See for instance any guide on practical penmanship on IAMPETH. Safari needs to be oriented a bit weirdly to accommodate that kind of grip.

[@InktronicsBlog]

@@mishaerementchouk I get what you’re saying but the argument doesn’t apply here. IAMPETH teaches scripts that mainly require an oblique nib holder. The goal is to move the nib off center from the “barrel” so it is easier to see the nib on the paper. The only fountain pen that I know of that somewhat replicates this is the Rotring Core. (I know, I have one). So if you are following the guides on IAMPETH, you are limiting yourself by not using an oblique holder. Don’t get me wrong, you can use the guides with fountain pens, I do. But they are better suited for Oblique pen holders.

[@mishaerementchouk]

@@InktronicsBlog That's why I said practical penmanship. An oblique holder is needed (mostly) to ensure that the axis of the nib is parallel to the slant so that the writer could shade in a natural hand movement. Since practical or business models do not require shading, oblique holders bring little benefit. I've never seen a practical penmanship guide calling for one. In any case, see how Doug holds the pen in the intro. Notice that the plane of the nib is parallel to the line and his index finger rests on top of the grip section. Compare to how he writes with Safari. Eventually, he straight puts his index finger on the edge of the right indentation. This is one of the ways how I tend to hold Safari, and to me, it's not comfortable. Another way is to roll the pen so that the plane of the nib is parallel to the slant. There are other ways as well. All these things are doable, the question is why. What is gained by that? Every now and again, my curiosity reignites, and I watch videos of how people write with their Safaris. I am still puzzled about why it's so popular and why it's considered comfortable.

[@skullgraff6349]

you have to tame the beast to appreciate to look closely

[@Harry-wb7uv]

Du wirst mich halten wie ich es verlange!

[@athenaenergyshine7616]

I am a beginner fountain pen user. I am trying the Lamy Safari as I am trying to practice better hand writing. Therefore I do like the tripod grip to get into good habit on holding my pen right. Thank you for showing the nib swap I did not know it can do that. Love the informative analysis.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@T.Q.]

They're amazing pens and addictive. I bought one, then a few more. Zero regrets. Great pens.

[@channelsixtynine069]

Purchased my first fountain pen today, it's a Lamy Safari. As I am left handed, (that gives a hint as to why I avoided fountain pens for decades).... a tripod grip is critical to my ability to control a writing stick. Whether it be a pen or hitherto, a mechanical lead pencil. I even purchased 50mm-long, Faber Castell triangular prism erasers that had can be fitted to a pen or pencil to give me a suitable grip. It is amusing how everyone perceives objects differently. The triangular grip and the plain, industrial design, appeals to me. Mine is a clear, colorless acrylic, and it looks more like a lab instrument than anything else. If I like fountain pen writing, I will probably get more of them in clear acrylic. Your appraisal of the Safari has told me, I've made the right choice. Cheers, Douglas. 👍

[@rohanjd]

Thank you so much for another amazing review! The Lamy Safari was a pen I would never buy. Then my brother-in-law gifted one to my daughter on her 8th birthday. I found myself using it every day and still come back to it. I have 4 at this time in different nib widths and I do love them. I don't have a typical Fountain Pen grip, but I still love these pens. I always have a couple of Lamy Safaris in rotation with my Sailors, Montblancs, Pilots, Visconti's etc.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@nox5555]

Its not a beginners Pen, its designed to be the big boy pen you get to use in middle school after learning the basics with the Lamy ABC.

[@MrAndrew1953]

I have a Safari Savanna green and a 1.9 stub. I also have a red Safari with a 1. 9 which I use for writing up day,date,month in journal headings. I don’t have a problem with grip as it helps me quickly find a comfortable writing position. The Z28 converter is great the way it has those locator tabs that stop it coming loose. I prefer the Al Stars as I prefer the metal finish , extra weight. You’re right about the Safaris being inexpensive ,durable and very collectible.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The stubs definitely make the Safari a more interesting writer.

[@normancoutts]

A nicely balanced review and so convincing. Thank you. My first Lamy Safari (and my first fountain pen purchase for over 50 years) arrived with me yesterday. It's a shocking pink one with - wait for it - a left-hander nip: who knew such a thing existed? I started enjoying it right out of the box. Looking forward to more of your videos now I have found you. Greetings from Scotland.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Welcome aboard! :)

[@Adam-yh1dv]

I write with my left hand using a four finger grip, it is still comfortable with the Lamy Safari. Overall I like the Safari but the problem is the inconsistency with the nibs. Their EF nibs are all over the place, some are fine and some almost write like a medium. Also the Al-Star is slightly thicker than the Safari.

[@sebastianriemer1777]

I learned writing with the lamy abc and used lamy my whole life. I own a 2000 and a studio but the safari is still my choice for every day carry and my only critic is that the converter is to small, I have to refill it daily. They cost 15€ in Germany so it doesn't really matter if I drop, scratch or lose it and they write great.

[@sherrygraham8650]

My only miss with the Safari is that I can’t get pink ink in cartridges. I had a Metro that I wanted to love, just can’t. It just will not write more than one time, drys and then needs a new cartridge. Wanted the Safari for about 5 years and finally went for it a few months ago. Got the red one and it is the greatest. I love it, I’m a lefty and I didn’t even get the left hand style, no problems. Just received the pink one yesterday and should have gotten the mint green, too. I love the look, didn’t even notice the grip~guess I’m doing it right then. Definitely prefer the silver clip over the colored ones. Was going to make myself stop now but after reading this and a lot of the comments~let’s just say my birthday is next month. Never used one before but I see a converter in my future, I need that pink ink.

[@red_994]

I do agree with you on the tripod grip for that fountain pen. I Use a conventional grip whenever I am writing but, being left-handed made it impossible to write. Having switch from a fine point nib to a broad one did nothing either, and the only work around that works for me is having my wrist bent like a claw and writing so that the nib facing towards me. It's awkward but it works. If I had to start over, I'd choose something else

[@DSP16569]

In Germany (until some years ago) writing in School from K to end of middleschool with ball pens was uncommon and fountain pens where almost mandatory. Geha, Pelikan had special school pens and the Lamy Safari where considered a school pen too. I still have my white Safari from the 1980s but the cap doesn't hold anymore (a common problem when they were tortured by little school kids).

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, @DSP16569!

[@magnoliamike]

I love ❤️ mine! The Fine Nib is so easy to write with and it took me a little while I was get used to the grip but now I love it. It’s not supposed to be this fancy pants type of pen; it’s supposed to be economical and functional. And fun at the same time!

[@davecharvella4854]

When I first got back into this "hobby" two plus years ago, I couldn't decide which pen to try first; the "Metro" or the Safari. So, I bought both! I inked and used both only once, and never again. My third pen was the TWSBI Eco ... same story! From there, down the infamous "rabbit hole I went ... cha ching! 💲💵💰💰BTW ... loved this, Doug! Cheers!

[@InkquiringMinds]

I still maintain the Pilot Explorer is the best entry level fountain pen.

[@brettsmith1655]

LOL. The Eco was the next on my list of overrated entry level pens and I thought about throwing an honorable mention in my comment but other than being unattractive, it's a pretty decent pen. I also don't want to sound like THAT guy, although I probably am. Politics aside, the Chinese own the entry level. The Wing Sung 698 is the starter pen that I recommend regularly. It's a better Eco at half the price and because it's a piston filler there's no concern about whether it comes with a converter and there are no questions about compatibility. JinHao has a whole slew of recent pens that are better as well. They seem to have gotten a grip on the two things that plagued them a few years ago, namely nib performance and drying out. I have had ZERO problems with either on any of the new models that have come out in the last couple of years (Centennial/100, 9056, 80, 85, 86, 88, 95). I have never tried a Pilot Explorer and have often thought of trying a Diplomat Magnum but neither style really appeals to me so that pretty much leaves the Platinum Plaisir and Prefounte as my entry level options that are not made by the CCP. If it were my money, I would hold out till I found a good deal on a Faber Castell Loom.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@brettsmith1655 The Platinum Plaisir and Prefounte are Japanese, not Chinese. And even though TWSBI was developed in China, don't let the Taiwanese hear you call them Chinese! LOL

[@brettsmith1655]

@@InkquiringMinds Yeah, I typo'd that. I meant to say "not" made by the CCP. I have since corrected it.

[@treygilmore7978]

LAMY AL-Star was my first pen and I still love it today. I don’t use it as much now that I have a 2000, but never would have gotten that without loving my AL-Star soo much.

[@ambercozzinowak]

I like your video, thank you. Likening the Safari to Bauhaus style is hilarious. I live in Weimar, where Bauhaus partially originated. Last week I bought a Lamy Joy calligraphy set, with the 3 nibs, 1.1, 1.5 and the beautiful 1.9 mm. I draw with these pens, not write. They take a converter, so I've got converters on each nib, filled with different coloured inks, and I just swap them around, keeping the other ones in a little box,with their inks on, ready to go. It's a neat system and looks rather sophisticated. The calligraphy box also comes with two little caps which pop onto the nibs you're currently not using, so they can't accidentally touch against something and bleed all the ink out. Lamy really thought about all of this very well. It's an amazing produci and I'm totally loving it. Thanks for the great video. I hope you get enough fresh air out there in Canada. I paid 42 euros for the Lamy Joy calligraphy set, straight off the shelf in an art store. Take care now!

[@janwilson9485]

My only criticisms of my Lamy safaries are that they can write a bit dryly and also tend to dry out within a few days of not being used. Unfortunatly this means I rarely ink them up now. The Pilot Metropolitan, although not perfect, has easy nib swaps, writes a bit wetter than my Lamys, and doesn't dry out anywhere as quickly as my Lamys so I tend to always have at least one inked up. I find the pilot caligraphy stub also brings a really pleasant line variation to my writing. You are right that its very much 'horses for courses'.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you for sharing!

[@stephanfeinen3923]

Excellent review. Just one remark regarding the tripod grip: Here in Germany the Safari's main target group is pupils as children here are taught to use fountain pens in school and also to use the "correct" grip as it avoids hand and wrist problems when writing for a long time. So it makes sense to support this grip with this inexpensive pen. I have several Safaris and Al-Stars but I don't use them very often as I'm also not a great fan of the Bauhaus style (I also don't own a Lamy 2000). But if I need a pen for some outdoor trip, the Safari is be the first pen I grab. If they don't survive the environment you too are in trouble 8-)

[@InkquiringMinds]

Excellent point, Stephan!

[@DavidHernandez-oz4me]

My favourite pen for the price. Always reliable. My favourite nibs are ef, m and broad. I draw lot and this pen writes on all kinds of paper

[@DeeMcClean]

I’m inspired. Will pull out one of my Safaris and ink up. I’ve been a bit “meh” on them but they are a good workhorse of a pen

[@suzyzhang3505]

Thank you for the review. My All-star didn't disappoint me until the Z28 converter started leaking when lying flat in the pen case along with a few other inked pens. My $6 Jinhao cost less and never leaked a drop.

[@MikeRochac]

My dad bought a Mont Blanc Meisterstück back in the 80s and of course had a couple of Safaris…. I still have them and they are still working as fine as they did almost 40 years ago.

[@13noman1]

I finally added a Safari (Petrol) and Al Star (or two) to my collection over the past few years, due in no small part to their relative affordability for my kids (for them to gift me!). I like the weight and the clip especially in summer time; I can easily clip it to my shirt plaquet since it fits in few pockets! Despite those +'s, I'm not an overwhelming fan. I find both the nibs and the converter "ok". The nibs (EF and F) especially benefitted from some smoothing but medium was excellent. My one additional gripe about the Al-Star is that the finish is thin. Mine see relatively little use and yet the black coating is rubbing off at the bottom of the cap.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The plastic is much more durable than the aluminum which not only scuffs but dents as well.

[@anamikasharma1284]

For me lamy just gives the best ever and the most consistent writing experience in steel nibs, only at par with the Faber castell ones... My favourite writers are lamys and fc's... And lamys in matte finish are my choice always

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@bwc1976]

I started out with a Platinum Preppy because that was what everyone was recommending at the time (and I was curious about their carbon black ink which was available in cartridges for it), but my next fountain pen will be a Lamy Safari or Vista because of the variety of nibs available and the ease of changing them, plus the Lamy converter costs way less than the Platinum one.

[@AngelGabrielish]

I was afraid to watch this video being a Safari fan and was pleasantly surprised. No doubt whatsoever the grip is controversial and you can live with it or you can't. In the same vein, either you find the design aesthetically pleasing or not. If neither of those bother you then all of the other positives kick in and it is one heck of a fun pen. I don't have any other pen where I have bought duplicates just to get a different colour (okay, I have a couple of Studios, never mind) but the price point may allow some such indulgences. Just one heck of a fun pen.

[@mayomancer527]

I do like the safari quite a bit. Like you said it's a rugged, perfectly functional and versatile pen, that comes in a loooot of colors. I think my only complaints are the ink windows (let me eyedropper this thing ! ), and how the feed is designed to fit in only one way. I do enjoy the pilot feeds where you can adjust the rotation of the nib according to how you grip the pen (helps a lot with the triangular grips in the kakuno and penmanship, and would too with the safari), and how much easier they are to pull out and clean.

[@markus30000]

The Safari ballpoint pen has a windowless body and the two can be interchanged for eyedropping.

[@mayomancer527]

@@markus30000 That's genius, whenever I get a Lamy rollerball I've got to try it!

[@joshstarkey8883]

I have both the Safari and the Pilot Metropolitan, and IMO the metro is the better pen by far. For less money ($20 USD vs 30) the metro is a much smoother writer and has a much better, more solid feeling aluminum build. I haven't really tested its durability, but to me the Safari feels light, cheap and fragile. The Safari also doesn't come with a converter anywhere I've shopped, maybe a difference between Canada and the US? The metro comes with a sqeeze converter, which is not my favorite but at least you can fill it from a bottle without using a separately bought converter or an empty cartridge and a syringe. I might get an Al Star or a Joy because I do like the potential to swap nibs easily.

[@onepoetsvision3132]

I’m not sure why people get hung up on which pen is better rather than which works well for you personally. I use the Safari frequently because, along with a cheap Cross, it isn’t too valuable to risk when out and about. I also use various Parkers, a nicer Cross, an expensive Waterman, Kawaeko, and a couple of Rotring Art Pens. Used to have a Mont Blanc but most of the others are more consistent than it was so I sold it. I also use a few old and some new dip pens generally with vintage nibs. All are used for drawing and the fountain pens for writing. I just love using fountain pens and I like the fact that all of my pens feel slightly different. I notice my grip on the Safari only uses my forefinger on the shaped par, my middle finger on the round back and my thumb by the ink viewing hole - that also works pretty well with my left hand too.

[@McAmeron089III]

I appreciate when a person can and does use colorful language; you,sir,have excellent elocution! Q: What did the fish say when it ran into a cement wall? A: Dam! I share equally your sentiments of the Safari (and the Metropolitan); the 2000 being the only Lamy pen I have learned to like.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Michael. I sold my L2K. I've grown to like my Lamy Studio Palladium though.

[@Mikeabq1]

Agree. I also don't like the tripod grip. I've used a fountain pen since my youth in England. The grip does not fit me. Wish I could twist the business end a few degrees. All else OK. I'll still love my old Schaeffer or my new Ellington. Cheers!

[@josearqco]

That's a personal preference, I do like the Bauhaus design and I just don't care about the grip; I just use it and that was it. For me it's a wonderful fountain pen for everyday use; most of all I have Al stars and one Safari that I'm using a lot.

[@donbrownist]

I can easily see me paying upwards of $1.37 for such a fine, expensive looking pen.

[@Javi_C]

😂

[@stepheninks]

I like the Safari, but this is my favorite comment.

[@InkquiringMinds]

LMAO @ donbrownist!

[@donbrownist]

@@InkquiringMinds good thorough review. Generally, I like Lamy just not the cheap looking ones.

[@Kevinjimtheone]

"Precise engineering", saying that about a company that for decades has failed to produce a decent and not scratchy F-sized nib is crazy to me. I found a Lamy Safari for 1.5 Euro and the only reason I got it was because it had a converter in it, and a M nib, which I will use in a Jinhao 80.

[@bullseye11b]

This was my first fountain pen. I liked all the nibs that I could swap on it. I have put a Z57 14k nib on it and one in the studio. The price is hard to beat here in Germany. I have bought a few safaris for under 14€. I have not tried the metropolitan. Your video on it scared me away. Fun Video.

[@EastLancashireJohn]

Yep. I bought two and gave them away. I just couldn't get on with that faceted section. Thanks Doug.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, John!

[@-_.---._.-_-.--._--]

I like the Safari, because it is great for daily use in an college enviroment. It is sturdy so that I don't have to worry about it getting damaged when it falls or when it is in my etui with all my other utensils all day. Because it is light, I can easily write a four hours exam with it without getting pain in my hand and because it isn't very expensive, it is pretty affordable for a broke college student. The clip also makes it easy to attach it to my notebook or planner.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's great. Whatever works for you. I'd say the Pilot Explorer does just about the same kind of service, but is a better pen IMO.

[@johngrubb007]

A few years before I really got into fountain pens, I bought a Safari and a Sheaffer 300. I ended up using the Safari extensively and it came on every trip we went on. After a while of this, I started researching everything I could find on fountain pens and ended up collecting them. I used cartridges in the Safari exclusively and it always worked. I had the wrong type of ink in the Sheaffer and it was a dog so didn't get used. Once I learned about using correct ink though, the Sheaffer was revived and got used. It was the Safari though that was my gateway pen into the fountain pen addiction... er, hobby.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Safari: The Gateway.

[@gadgetstop321]

The design of the Safari just doesn't do it for me either. But the deal breaker is the faceted grip - it's too aggressive. My Pilot Kaküno has a triangular grip that is gentle enough that I can reposition my fingers as I write without any discomfort. Like with my Kaweco Perkeo, I could probably deal with the Safari grip for a while, but during any lengthy bit of writing it becomes quite irritating. Thanks for sharing this Doug. 😀

[@InkquiringMinds]

"Aggressive" is an excellent word to describe the grip. Thanks, Cathy!

[@robertkane3161]

nice channel, I love and collect them, but recently i put one in my back pocket, sat down and it broke in two , durable but not that strong .

[@edwardstaats4935]

You nailed it with the tripod grip (aesthetics also)

[@user-gl5ld9vm7i]

Love your channel. I am actually a big fan of these pens. I've been lucky that the pens I have purchased have been consistent good writers. Furthermore, I have found my pens to be consistently well made. To me $30.00 is a decent entry level gateway price BTW: Love all the Monty Python clips

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad you like them!

[@darrencen6934]

I recently had an unfortunate event with a brand new Lamy Safari . It got ran out by a car or truck and the barrel , section got damaged ( cracked ) , but I managed to salvage some parts like the nib , feed & O-ring

[@InkquiringMinds]

I doubt there is a pen out there that survives being run over by a truck!

[@darrencen6934]

those would be titanium pens

[@mrcharon6197]

Excellent review and pretty much spot on with every point. The grip is the precise reason the only reason I keep one of these pens in my collection is to remind me never buy another. That grip causes me extreme pain after about 10 minutes of writing.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Well said!

[@raigne86]

Your handwriting is legible and has character. My stepdad has, on more than one occasion (I used to copy edit my college paper and have seen handwriting that made me want to curl into the fetal position under a desk), handed me something he's written and gone, "What does this say?" 🤦‍♀ Edit: I should add that I also used to work in a veterinary practice and while not nearly as bad as some scripts I've gotten from my own doctors, some of their handwriting's pretty awful too.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for that, Maria!

[@BadBeardDude]

I agree with your positive points, respectfully disagree with your negatives, which in fairness are subjectable, and thumbs up the video for showing me how to change a nib on my countless Safari pens as I've just been buying new ones whenever I wanted to try different nib combo's with my coloured pens.

[@crayons987]

Great video! I recently got a Lamy Chinese Calligraphy nib for my safari and it provides for some very interesting line variation. It's nice and juicy too, so really has me reaching for my safari these days. Thanks for the review!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Great to hear!

[@StarKnightZ]

I guess pilot did address the issues with the metropolitan by releasing the explorer and kakuno. They maintained the metropolitan because it's a cash cow so they didn't change it as they'd lose profits. You'd expect more people would recommend the latter to as starter pens but i guess not.

[@philippebarillecavalier9275]

I didn't take Lamy seriously for a long time just because of that weird design! My first Lamy was the Logo. Hardly ever mentioned, but I think it's an excellent first pen: good design, great grip, excellent clip, solid build. Eventually bought a red Safari, because I wanted try another nib size, and curious too about why the fuss. Works better than it looks! Still questionable to me as a gift to new FP users, because of the grip (may love, may hate).

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing, Philippe!

[@mangolassi7124]

Can you please tell me where the clip regarding the emperor telling people how to crack their eggs is from? 8:30

[@InkquiringMinds]

I have no idea. I searched KZbin for Gullivers Travels and found it.

[@mangolassi7124]

@@InkquiringMinds you'd suggest Lamy for a first time pen buyer? Thanks

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@mangolassi7124 I would not. I dislike the triangular grip that forces how to hold the pen. I would suggest a Pilot Explorer for first-timers.

[@karidru5272]

It's not my favorite, as I prefer a more classic aesthetic and my first fountain pen was a Waterman Phileas so now you'll know how stodgy I am, but I do often give the Safari as a gift. I can get it in their favorite color and it's so reliable. It WILL work. I won't have to be like "Wait give me that back, I need to fix the tines for you...". It will encourage people who don't really know how to hold a fountain pen to do so correctly. (You're right that it's completely up to the individual how to hold the pen but if someone simply has never done it before, I find the grip section helpful.) It might not be the pen they use for life, but that's the point- it won't be the last one they try.

[@wilberfloss832]

Hi, Doug. Which ink is it in the introduction to your videos? I like it muchly Cheers!

[@InkquiringMinds]

It is J Herbin Kyanite du Nepal!

[@wilberfloss832]

@@InkquiringMinds Thank you very much indeed. I shall purchase a bottle at once🙂

[@twain888]

Triangular grips don't suit me. I never thought about a whole raft of things before but, after watching your reviews, I'm so much more informed. Thanks!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad you like them!

[@konradyearwood5845]

As I have a simplified style grip using just thumb and forefinger (imagine writing with a boxing glove) about where the section meets the barrel I do not have to encounter the triangulated grip. As a matter of fact my grip is such that I can write with just about anything as I rarely encounter a pen where I grip the section. As for cost I grabbed six of them at discount (£5 each) along with some Al Stars which make good gifts for young nieces and nephews. My only quibble is that most of the time they are never supplied with the requisite converter, which is bad form since the pen uses proprietary cartridges. But at £5 each for the pen I can stretch to the converters when I gift them.

[@crouserm]

Super. Here is an illustration of how one can get a bad start and love the hobby. I came into fountain pens because of a Pelikan in 1969. Long lost, but fun. Then, execrable Schaeffers (who have fabulous pens I don't have). Then, in 1995, a Cross which I still ink up occasionally. And now, well . . . ! If people are steered to this pen, great!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@stefanwood2182]

I recognize the importance and popularity of the Safari, as it is the forefather to all the cheap well designed pens we are immersed in today. I've been tempted, mostly from the recent limited orange and green colored models, but the unique design puts me off as well. I'd rather use a Kakuno.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I think the Safari was THE first inexpensive fountain pen available to all. I think it came out in the early '80's?

[@stefanwood2182]

@@InkquiringMinds yes I believe so. A game changer. Kaweco sport, another popular budget pen, was an older pen but I think the Safari matched perfectly with the late 70s to early 80s design aesthetics among designers, architects and anyone who was seeing "new" and "modern" which was at that time European. Reading online on some of the Kawwco Sport history, it was a popular pen in Germany, but not until its 90s revival did it capture the international pen market the way the Safari did. I remember my dad was enamored with.the pen around that time, and because it was so cheap, bought several for gifts.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@stefanwood2182 True. The Kaweco Sport has a much longer history.

[@swyftty2]

Ah, I was so far off from my community page guess. Goldspot only a week ago did a new product review on the pen I mentioned, the Lamy EMR. It has the body of the Safari but is another one of the ballpoint pen to digital note takers. It is a ball Point pen in the body of a Lamy Safari, and paper note book system that scans to an app for easy access. It's amazing how you can have so many great points for the Safari, yet still never write with this pen. I think I need to check my aion to see if the converter has a better way to fit onto the feed, I always felt like it was a really small amount of give and I think it has a guided path that I have yet to use or discover.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I reviewed the Lamy digital pen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYrIYYqhd9eKiKM

[@swyftty2]

@@InkquiringMinds just watched it, must have been just before I found your feed. An excellent review here and there. Thankyou for being so inclusive.

[@PhilipAlexanderHassialis]

My *ONLY* gripe with this pen (and I own several of them) is that they don't take standard international cartridges and converters. Sure, their cartridges and converters being proprietary ensure that most of the time there will be no hard starts and that the ink will flow. But still, kinda shame. Other than that, these pens write and if properly taken care of they will *easily* live up and be gifted away to one's offspring or younger members of family.

[@Wardog-rf1tx]

Query: do you refill the converter off the pen or while it’s on the pen?, or both is okay. I don’t seem to get anymore than around 1/2 full converter when refilling on the pen. Only asking as I’ve now seen both methods in the past week on utube. Thanks to anyone who answers.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I fill the converter with a syringe and then dip the nib in the ink to prime it.

[@YLFNFB]

I called this pen "The border". It separates the budget friendly fountain pens and hell prices.

[@obituariopuertorriqueno4283]

I do own a Safari. It's a nice pen because it writes well. Having said that, I never use it because, like with the Twsbi Eco and the Pilot Metro (to a lesser degree), I don't care about it.

[@shawngregory1429]

My studio LX all-black is my best Lamy. I don’t use my 2000, Safari or Al Star anymore.

[@brettsmith1655]

Spot on with the review and the Al-Star by extension. I also agreed on the distasteful nature of the PIlot Metro and agree that the Safari is executed well and doesn't have any serious performance flaws. I can't, however, get over the tripod grip, the inconsistent sizing of the nib grinds, the cheap, Lego feel and the ugly design. Every time I see one of these my mind screams "CONFORM YOU COMMIE BASTARDS!!!" The Safari was originally designed for use by school children and that's where it should stay. My distaste runs so deep that I find myself passing judgement on the people that use them. I am so glad you don't. Thanks again for another great vid.

[@HJKelley47]

I've got that particular Safari Doug. Black med. nib--just a bit dry. Really requires using a truly wet ink. Love the feel in my hand. I am partial to the tripod grip for that is how I grip my pens, for that is how I was taught to hold my pens back in the 50s. That nib swap was quick and easy. Each pen I own offers me a different writing experience, so I do enjoy the Safari. Probably because I am an eclectic collector.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Hi Helen! I got that brown Safari as a gift from a viewer a couple of years ago. I'm positive that fine nib is NOT the original and, as you have, it comes with a black nib.

[@ichirofakename]

1. I'm so old that $30 for a pen does not sound cheap to me. Now $8 for a Pilot Parallel with a 1.5mm stub, that's cheap. 2. I had a Safari a zillion years ago but it didn't write so I tossed it. Today I don't care for the aesthetics. I appreciate Lamy engineering with my CP1.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The Lamy engineering is second to none - perhaps Pelikan.

[@desertratedc9596]

Eventually I will own a safari or all star but for now I am just starting to dipping my toes into the waters myself. I allready purchased 6 in total to get a little variety but the first to show up was my plain black Metropolitan and a green and gold Jinhao X159 both with "fine" nibs but i know the metro is probably closer to a extra fine. So far I am enjoying the metro more as far as amount of ink that flows and how smooth it writes comparatively to the Jinhao. I wish I knew if I could do something to the X159 to make it write a bit better but I just don't have that type of experience yet... it does appear that the nib though is not split evenly and one tine is slightly wider then the other. I love the look of of the X159 and wish it wrote as good. Hopefully one of the other pens I purchased nocks the metro off the top for me because if things are just getting started then I in for a treat. Got a vintage parker 45, Jinhao 86, old 1948 weltpen, and a NOS blue marbled waterman laureat Mk1 coming in still.

[@InkquiringMinds]

You can pick up replacement nibs for the Jinhao x159 and 9019 on AliExpress.

[@desertratedc9596]

@InkquiringMinds I disassembled the nib assembly on X159 using your video and after a little bit of error I got it put back together right and I am happy to report that it is now writing properly without needing much force! Still a little bit more force then the pilot metropolitan but basically just with the pens own weight my X159 will write now and doesn't have dry spots. It is a little bit more particular about how I hold it then the metro but as long as I hold it at the right angle then it writes with little effort.

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@desertratedc9596 Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@peterharris5387]

In a UK High Street you'd be choosing between the Lamy Safari or AL-star vs the Parker Jotter or Vector. The price of ink cartridges for these pens may sway the sale. The Pilot Metro. is rare in our shops but I did find one in a clearance bin (an MR variant which uses the standard int'l fitting). The low price pen for Pilot is the "V pen" which is usually found alongside the Platinum Preppy. "Oxford" has a very good entry level pen, half the price of Lamy/Parker, which uses std. int'l cartridges and may be the best bet for a student. Personally, I like the Safari. You were very fair in representing its good points. It is cheap enough to buy a colour that can be dedicated to an ink, put in the drawer ... knowing it'll write reliably on demand.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I just did a short video on the Pilot V Pen to show how to reuse it!

[@TheTISEOMan]

Been eying the safari as an artist. I want to have a pen that can keep it's looks and be durable even if it jiggles around. A more 'delicate' pen, and you'd be right. But the utilitarian look of the Safari with it's inteded use as a durable pen, I think it fits the 'safari' name very well.

[@NicholasPaulFranks]

Thanks for your video, mate. Much appreciated. Also enjoyed the Cleese clip. Regarding pens more generally, I was given a 1980 Mont Blanc 221 Classic a few years back. I think it’s worth about £100. If you were to recommend a pen in the non-entry level category (ie between £100-£200) do you have any clear winners? Thanks again 😅

[@InkquiringMinds]

Leonardo Momento Zero

[@edwardstaats4935]

Always pleased with your reviews. I am not a fan of the Lamy but nothing bad, like you say

[@502deth]

god knows why this video came up in my suggestions, or why a channel about pens would have 13k subs, yet here i am. as to the latter, it was an enjoyable video, i liked the banter and demeanor of the presentation, so i can see it, i guess. but it did elicit a response from me. on the pro's list, color, ink window, light, and the clip. those are the bad points for me. mainly because i 100% agree with teh aesthetics being a con, and these all contribute to that, imo. if im using a fountain pen, i want it to be "classy". that means, in part, no neon colors, having a good heft to it, and just plain looking classy, which things like a hole in the side to see the ink, and a wire clip that would look more at home on a tape measure, do nothing to help. the grip part? idk. i do agree that it is comfortable, but also agree that its just dumbing down the design. it works for me, but i think id rather a round barrel, and again, it doesnt add any elegance to it, to go back to the "classy aesthetics" part.

[@atthemoney]

I didn't know there could be a political angle in a fountain pen review. But I appreciate the anti-authoritarian take. Your grip, your choice. No one shall force you to make changes.

[@lucas4bortoletto2]

nice observation

[@mohammadkamelan1047]

Thanks for the video. Please recommend me a fountain pen with a tripod grip and Classic Design.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Lamy Safari, TWSBI Eco, Jinhao x450.

[@hokeatseng4094]

Could not believe after 30yrs the market still provide us 5he same model. I remember the first was a Ferrari red imagine I got one😄😄🏎️ then a pure white then....I have forgotten the pen after. ..?🤠

[@hokeatseng4094]

🤗🤠😄😄😄😄

[@hokeatseng4094]

O I should remember the medium nib was pretty smooth .....it was hallmark for most engineers and out camels fan...then. 🌿

[@Drademdar]

I love my Safari pens. As a hobby writer, I write all my first drafts by hand. But because of wrist issues, the only writing tool I can use over a long time is either Gel pens or Fountain pens. They require low or no pressure while writing, which means my wrist isn't getting annoyed like when I use ballpoint pens. I have five of the Safari, all colour coded to their ink. You can partly blame Neil Gaiman for this. I watched an interview with him where Neil told how he wrote all his first drafts with a fountain pen. He also explained that he used different colours of ink every day since it allowed him to see the progress much easier. It's a habit I did copy, but to avoid having to clean the pen every day, I picked five colours of ink I wanted to use and got pens with matching colours. When I got the first Safari, I was a bit worried that their unique grip would be a problem. But luckily, it did fit perfectly with my ordinary grip. Their design is, in my eyes, not bad. It doesn't stand out from some of the more elaborated fountain pens I've seen, but they look better than the more traditional pens. But for me, the fountain pens are a tool, so I don't need one that looks like a piece of art. This means that the design philosophy of Lamy suits me perfect.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing, Rune!

[@RealIndian821]

I purchased lamy safari vista fountain pen, EF Nib. The nib was too much scratchy to write, I have to return it. In my view, Platinum EF is better than Lamy EF.

[@mephitstophilis]

I'm also not a fan of Lamy's Bauhaus minimalism, but they certainly do make excellently engineered writing implements. There is one thing, though, that kind of bugs me about the Lamy company. They've really tried hard to erase their pre-Lamy 2000 history. The company was founded in 1930 but you'd never know they made pens before 1966. I feel like it's disrespectful to the legacy of Josef Lamy and the only reason I can find for this near erasure is that his pens weren't all Bauhaus-y.

[@InkquiringMinds]

It is all about the image.

[@MissMarilynDarling]

You forgot one of the best things about this pen that you can take out the feed for easy cleaning the converter on the other hand is a pain in the foot to clean out ... the feed can be taken apart too there is a slit that goes down the middle of the feed that can be pushed out and you can put it back in the pen to be used with stubborn inks such as shimmering inks or uncooperative inks its BRILLIANT !!! and in order to take apart the converter all you have to do is take off the silver ring by shimmying it off and plucking out the rubber o ring at the nipple of the converter its quite difficult and should be tried if you have the patience to do it and put it back together :) HOpe that helps Take Care Talk Soon

[@InkquiringMinds]

If you need to clean out the converter, at least it is possible. There are so many converters that are impossible to clean.

[@Chessxx1]

I have to agree, the aesthetics aren't my cup of tea. But to each his own ! Great pen nonetheless

[@RaoulKunz1]

In my opinion the one true problem of the Safari is...well... it's been around forever and so I used it at school... a *lot* of German students use and used the Safari over the last decades and it's..well.. it's a *schoolboy pen* to me... I *do* still have my M-nibbed from school, ironically precisely the one in the video, I have a Joy and I have *another two* (red and white) from my school days and it's... well.. it's not a modernist design (which I don't like, I like "early 20th century conservative" design) to me (it is but...) it's a design that *roars* "School" into my ears about as loud as the gong of my School does...daily because I happen to live two streets down...🤣 Best regards Raoul G. Kunz

[@warblerab2955]

My one problem with the Lamy Safari, is the fact the feed gets stuck way too easily. And once it is stuck, odds are, you will break it trying to get the feed unstuck. And if you want to say that it wasn't designed for the feed to be removed, well that is a problem right there. In my opinion, and quality fountain pen should designed to easily remove the feed for cleaning.

[@hitendrashah8800]

Good review! I adore the safari, been using one for past 4 yrs ,had to replace the rubber ring as the cap got loose but it's fine now and enjoy writing with it .

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing!

[@houghwhite411]

On mine the ring is plastic?

[@williamcatalano1762]

I agree with you Doug, grip section and looks are what keep me away from the Safari. I've toyed with the idea of getting an AL because of how cheap you can get one, but ultimately scrapped the idea completely. Almost got a Metro but didn't. I don't care for the look of the explorer either. I did however like the look of the 78G+ so I bought one in Tuscany green. It's a shame you can only get them from China though so it hasn't came yet. haha I guess they call the Explorer a Lightive in Japan?

[@InkquiringMinds]

The 78g or 78g Plus are okay pens, but very slim and very light.

[@williamcatalano1762]

@@InkquiringMinds I mostly got it for the looks of it and because it was a cheaper pen. I've actually found some N.O.S. of some 80's Pilots I never knew existed and they look very interesting. Bigger as well, cigar shaped.

[@malcolmroach2348]

I have been using Lamy Safari pens for a number of years. They are very comfortable to use. I write italic hand and the nibs are excellent for that. I cannot agree with you about the aesthetics. Many people spend a lot of time raving about a pen`s appearance; a pen is for writing, not a contestant in a beauty pageant, So long as it writes well , its looks are of very minor importance. I have a number of different pens and say that Lamy , is my favourite; although by a small margin.

[@paulmchugh1430]

Like you said, the Lamy is a well constructed pen. The nib swap is very easy. My problems are that the nibs are finicky. You have to hold the pen a certain angle or position for it to work well. I am not a fan of the triangular grip. My index finger rests on top of the grip. Lastly, I find the nib is too wet for me, being left handed. I actually have a heft handed nib from Lamy. Maybe I will look for a different model.

[@gutfinski]

Get one of the 14K gold nibs...you will be amazed!

[@InkquiringMinds]

gutfinski: I have a gold nib on my Lamy Studio Palladium and it is wonderful.

[@gutfinski]

@@InkquiringMinds I believe Lamy puts much more care into the manufacture of their 14K nibs than the standard steel nibs. Some may laugh at the sight of a $100 nib on a $25 pen, but results speak (or rather, write) for themselves!

[@mariepartington]

Lamy safari great pen for me but I do use the left handed version and the tripod grip is great to stop slipping when I write. I have noticed in the colours there no clear pen which we get in the UK🇬🇧.

[@sangmachao]

Damned!! I have 1 Lamy Safary like yours but your pen is beautifier than mine. Is that black ? Mine is charcoal.

[@InkquiringMinds]

It is brown.

[@Sallysaurus]

I haven't bought a safari for pretty much the same reasons, the grip being the biggest concern, I draw with a variety of weird grips it wouldn't allow, I also just don't like how it looks

[@Oliver81_OliverOliverovsky]

Of the two, Pilot Metro and Lamy Safari, the first at least looks like a fountain pen. Safari is simply hideous. Might be a reason why it's so popular.

[@Rryki]

If it was hideous it wouldn’t sell like it does

[@Oliver81_OliverOliverovsky]

@@Rryki You seem to wrongly assume that ugly things don't sell well.