Lamy Safari Umbra (Charcoal Brown) Fountain Pen Review and Disassembly

[@robertreid7221]

A man who can make a Lamy Safari review, both interesting and entertaining, can achieve anything! Bravo Maestro. ✌❤

[@InkquiringMinds]

Wow, thanks, Robert! How to make an interesting video about a brown stick that writes a brown line. LOL

[@larrydingle77]

Love this guy he is brutally honest and fair

[@normancoutts]

A couple of weeks ago I hadn't owned a fountain pen in over 50 years and hadn't ever heard of Lamy pens. Now I have a Safari and a Vista and I am spending my time visiting channels like yours. Thank you so much for this balanced and entertaining review. I enjoyed the wee bit of history and the disassembly demo may come in useful in the future. I can't understand why the safari is so expensive for you: I bought my Safari for £14 online and my Vista for £24 from a high street retailer here in Scotland. In any case, I look forward to more of your excellent videos in the future. All the best.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Prices vary across the world. Lamy and Pelikan are way more expensive in North America.

[@uteh.3659]

I purchased this pen in Umbra today in a German drugstore for €18,99 ( and got 10% off, so it only cost €17,09). At todays exchange rate that is around 20 USD. In the Lamy online store, the pen goes for € 22,50 plus shipping. I have bought Lamy Safari fountain pens in other colours at even lower prices before. The Lamy Safari does not come with a converter, only with a cartridge, as most Germans don't know what to do with a converter. Cartridges are standard for fountain pens in school. Converters being to messy and impractical for school kids and even most students. I suppose that the cost of importing, customs, and cuts for the vendors adds cost to the pens when being shipped to USA. But perhaps they just sell it at a higher price in USA because they think they can and people still buy it? Who knows.

[@sidneyjunior8130]

In my own opinion, this is one of the best affordable fountain pen money can buy. It writes smoothly, easy to clean, easy to swap nibs and good to carry on my pocket. I am quite sure it is made by ABS plastic, a modern material used in a bunch of fountain pens. Not as good as MAKROLON (Lamy 2000, for example), but it is very reliable...

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing! I did mention it was injection molded ABS plastic.

[@HxMxT]

Thank you for sarcastic review. Anyway, I love my L.Safary - it is really flies over the paper, so smooth. BR from Russia.

[@stevelarsen4690]

So...the LAMY Safari Umbra was my first ever fountain pen purchase. I didn't like the grip at first for the same reasons you mentioned. But then I realized how much I needed that grip...I have significant osteoarthritis of the thumbs, and there are times when I can no longer control my thumb. The grip section makes it so i can still manage to hold a pen and write (sometimes there's tape involved:-)) It's the only pen I can use (knockoffs excepted) when my hand's acting up; which is more and more these days.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing! That makes sense.

[@channelsixtynine069]

I love colorless, utilitarian pens, it's the reason why I only have Safari Vista demonstators. I'm left handed, so that sculptured grip is perfect, but also, I tend to hold the pen further up the barrel, thus missing the grip altogether. I need a robust nib, because I WILL break nibs, since I push the pen, not drag it across the paper. It is a robust pen and since I tend to break or lose pens, it doesn't matter how I treat it. Excellent review, it confirmed I made the right choice of pen.

[@BC7Bill]

Thanks for the review. I was considering a Lamy Safari purchase. Your review has helped me immensely with my decision. Also, I thoroughly enjoy a reviewer who doesn't pull their punches, yet is diplomatic! 😊

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Bill! That's really nice of you to say. So much of this is subjective. What feels / looks good to me is going to vary wildly across demographics. I never want to insult people for their tastes but I will question when I think something is over-rated or over-priced or over-hyped. Just my opinion of course - Joe Blow Consumer here.

[@LazyStory]

Get a Lamy AL-star, you will enjoy that one much more (ower of 25 Lamy Safari/AL-star)

[@sangmachao]

Should i buy that pen? - Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yeah, but I meant the Platinum 3776! A Safar? No, no, no!

[@Paladin1776a]

Outstanding review.... Loved the detail which really helps to understand the pen in question and appreciate its design/engineering. You just put all the other pen reviewers to shame!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks a ton!

[@martinlebl631]

The one thing the Safari gets right is that is one of the very few pens where the manufacturer actively encourages nib swapping, and that is a great thing indeed.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Precisely, Martin! Lamy nibs are very easy to replace.

[@dpaul3858]

This is rather a guide than a review. But this is just what I was looking for with my new purchase. Appreciate the video

[@markus30000]

They've made this thing more economical over the years. On older Safaris, the cross on the cap actually has a thread and has to be screwed out, then the top part of the cap comes off as a separate piece. Not quite Bauhaus of them to keep the groove, now that it serves no function! The Germany-stamped part at the back of the pen also comes out if you push from the outside. It has a shape that holds and centers the smaller diameter top part of the ink cartridges.

[@jamerelbe]

Hey Dougie, thanks for this video - it encapsulates pretty well my own view of the Safari. I don't hate it - it's a perfectly serviceable pen, with its own innate appeal I guess - but I can't bring myself to love it either. I just today inked up my AL-Star for the first time in several months (it's even longer since I used my Charcoal Safari which, incidentally, came with a black nib) - and while I expect I'll eventually write it dry, it won't be my main go-to pen. I bought one of these for my youngest, when she was 7 or 8, and it helped to sort out some weird grip problems - and my 19 year old still enjoys using her yellow version - but I don't understand the obsession some collectors have with it. The Lamy 2000, on the other hand, is a magnificent pen - understated, but so very refined!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks so much! James mentioned in another comment that he had swapped the original nib out for a nib on an Al-Star. So the original on this pen was black too. :)

[@shankardebbarma3215]

Best review of any pen I've seen so far..!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you!

[@lucm6476]

Althought i have been writing with my safaris for close to ten years I never never knew there was that manu parts. I guest i never realy clean them toroughly. Thank you Doug , very informative

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yeah, you don't need to take it down to that many parts - in fact, you shouldn't! I had to glue the cap pieces back together again because removing them distorts the plastic and they don't fit the same again.

[@Nick_Stott]

Thank you for such a well thought out and engaging review. I have a Safari and and an Al-Star. I use them regularly to write feedback on my student’s work. I like the fact that they aren’t too expensive and can be relied upon to write reliability. I’m curious to hear your recommendations for less boring alternatives that will bring me more joy. Some day I’ll invest in a nice fountain pen but for now the alternatives need to be good value for money.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, Nick!

[@JamesBeanDradfield]

"Get yours today. Collect all ten thousand!" Ha ha.

[@bonnieshapiro3511]

Best description of a Lamy safari I’ve ever seen. Very Informative but I have no intention of taking mine apart. Maybe to change the nib at some point. You’re quite the detective. As always love the added digressive dry humor commentary. Newer subscriber.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, Bonnie! Welcome!

[@JuceePeachz67]

Doug, this was THE BEST LAMY Safari video I have seen. You are the first review that I have seen to take this pen apart, I love that!!! And THIS is why you have reached 1,500 viewers this far!!! Keep up the great content, entertainment and educating the viewers!!!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you so much, Marianne! I hope I encouraged people to NOT take their Safaris apart! I had to glue and clamp my cap back together again as the plastic parts deform when you remove them.

[@James-np8oj]

Excellent review Doug, and couldn't agree with you more. Yes it did come with a black nib but I switched it out with an Al Star nib as it was the nicer looking of the two; although destined for the same fate, it seems, as my Al Star rarely gets used for all the reasons you have mentioned in this review!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Ah! Thanks, James! I just sent you this question by email and here you were commenting at the same time! :) Thanks again for the wonderful gift. Stay tuned for a Kaweco Sport review. :)

[@Srinivasan.Answers]

Detailed guide ! Thank you so much!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@BoulderJR]

Well done

[@stephanfeinen3923]

$30? WTF? Here in Germany that bottle of Montblanc Toffee Brown costs more than that pen (or an Al-Star). I'm not a huge fan of the Bauhaus designs in general (I don't like the Lamy 2000) but this pen is functional and virtually indestructible, so this makes it an excellent pen for pupils. I bought an "All Black" version and I like it. I bring it whenever I expect rough conditions where one of my more beautiful pens might be damaged. And I can lend it to others without skipping a heartbeat if they drop it. It is more robust than my Platinum Preppy (those have shown cracks in the cap after some time, preventing them from closing properly).

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree, Stephan. But I'd say the Pilot Metro (I don't like that pen a lot either) is a better fountain pen for the buck than a Safari for a student.

[@chopin4525]

Same here. It also has un understated design that does'nt catch much attention. If I take out a TWSBI Eco everybody questions about it while the Safari goes unnoticed particularly in the umbra or all black color. The major issue I got with these pens is having to buy a converter every time I get a new one.

[@stephanfeinen3923]

@@InkquiringMinds That may be correct but you can't buy a Metro in a pen store in Germany. Even the german Pilot webstore doesn't offer any fountain pens for sale, just ballpoints and markers. You can buy ink cartridges and Irushizuku ink bottles. If you try to order a Metro from the german Amazon site, you have limited options and those cost more than a Safari. So you have to know where to get it but at that point in time you most likely already have a Safari 8-)

[@JoelTurrell]

Your genius shows through in this review! (You're a genius because you expressed precisely my feelings about the pen.) I too use the tripod grip, but I tend to "roll" my pen every so often, not a great deal but even a 5 degree roll will jam my fingers up against that grip and irritate the ____ out of me. I bought and discarded my Safari in 1988, and have never bought another Lamy again. Never will, either, even though all sorts of people I respect, tell me what a great pen the 2000 is.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Wow, thank you, Joel! I try to like some of the Lamy designs, but just like Faber-Castell, the straight-stick, metal sectioned designs leave me cold.

[@martinlebl631]

Well you would love the Lamy 2000, as the whole oen is the section...it is seamless and stepless.

[@greatlakescruiser5720]

I watched another review a few days ago wherein an artisan had made an Urushi Pen out of a Lamy and the only thing I could think was "Why; of all the pens you could have chosen-why?"

[@InkquiringMinds]

Wow talk about making a gold-plated sow's ear out of a sow's ear!

[@greatlakescruiser5720]

@@InkquiringMinds Agreed!

[@Unjustified_Bot]

Always wondered where the Jurassic park guy ended up…. Thanks for the review.

[@InkquiringMinds]

No problem!

[@seanthomas8864]

Thanks for the review. I purchased a phony early on as I began using fountain pens. I agree with the person below, this is the best Lamy review I have seen. I also was not aware of the Bahaus connection, and I appreciate the Shaw vs. Chesterton anecdote. Also, in germany the cost of the Safari and allstar are much cheaper than in the U.S. and Canada.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing! I would expect them to be less expensive in Germany. Also, they can be a LOT less expensive if you shop around here in North America.

[@martinlebl631]

That is the case for most old fashioned fountain pen companies from Europe and Japan as the US distributors figure they can get away with charging more.

[@leonardodigirolamo96]

Hi! The lamy safari is actually made out of 13 pieces if you count the converter/ink cartridge.

[@loretchan]

Very late to the game but... I really like your review and agree with most of it. I am a big fan of Lamy Safari, I own several special editions, regular colors look horrible to me. It was my second fountain pen, my first being the Lamy ABC. Which is meant for 6-year-olds. I was 20 at the time. The main reason I get them and like them is that I live in Germany, where you can find them for around 16 euros for the special editions (around 18 USD) For that price I think they are fabulous. I would have never paid the 35 USD that people asked for in Mexico. That also puts it around the same price as the pilot metropolitan, twice as expensive as a preppy, 1/3 as expensive as a TWSBI eco and even cheaper than what I usually pay for the cheaper Moonman pens. So I think a lot of the pricing has to do with import fees and taxes. For now, I like them and do collect them, which will most likely change if/when I leave Germany.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree, Lorena! But if I lived in Germany, I'd be driving to Hanover to get a deal on a Pelikan rather than a Lamy or Faber-Castell.

[@warblerab2955]

The Lamy Safari has a fatal flaw: the feed can get stuck too easily. Once it is stuck, odds are, you will damage the feel trying to get it out. I have already damaged three feeds. I think I am done with the Lamy Safari. And, I do know when reinstalling the feel, you have to do so carefully and align it properly. I have seen the instruction on how to do that from Goulet and others. I tried following those directions as best as I could and the feed still gets stuck.

[@chopin4525]

Umbra is not a limited edition and the nib should be a replacement because it usually comes with a black nib.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I suspected as much. I think James replaced the nib. I'll have to write and ask him.

[@chopin4525]

@@InkquiringMinds It's just a cosmetic change as far as quality goes they are the same. Different story for the lamy lx.

[@pedrojpinto]

I have two Safaris, both originally bought with F nibs and both were scratchy in a way I could not easily fix with mesh. I switched the Umbra to a B nib and it is now one of my favourite pens. The tripod grip is slightly umconfortable, but it is only ever-so-slightly rotated from my normal grip, so no complaints there... I paid 20€ for mine, though, and would almost certainly not buy them for 35-40€...

[@jeffroberts532]

I was not that impressed with the Lamy Safari until you mentioned the UPC BLING, Baby!!! Now I must purchase a new one to get that UPC sticker. Kinda like buying a ball cap and leaving all the tags attached. Love the review and the Lamy history! Thank you!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, Jeff!

[@jeffroberts532]

Just to clarify, I'm joking about buying another Safari. I have one and that's more than enough. Also joking about leaving the retail tags attached. I just thought it was funny that you mentioned the UPC adding prestige, like the Preppy! Haha!!!

[@Scott-wi7rm]

Awesome job Doug, one of your best.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you kindly, Scott!

[@davidmcguigan5497]

Ten lords a leaping, what a pen! ☺️Not long ago I wasn't into fountain pens, didn't know what a Lamy Safari was, hadn't seen a pen review video. Am I evolving? Not sure. At any rate, for $37, a plastic fountain pen should come with a converter, a six pack--preferably brewed by Belgian monks, some port wine cheddar and crackers. Thanks, Doug! I watched the whole thing, and commented. I am evolving. Maybe. Not sure.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks, David. To be fair, the Safari can be had for a lot less depending on where you shop. But the MSRP at GoldSpot Pens is $37US but their sale price is $29US. So I used that as a base. You're evolving into an "Inkquiring Mind"?

[@davidmcguigan5497]

@@InkquiringMinds Oh, I have one. Got it in a deal that included, converter, ink and a pen sleeve. Agree that it writes well and you could fall asleep using it, it's that exciting

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@davidmcguigan5497 LOL!

[@knifenoob5411]

Nice vid! Lots good info in here.Thx.

[@anamikasharma1284]

Hi Doug... I am a follower of yours regarding your views on fountain pens and really like them. I recently purchased a Schneider base fountain pen. Those are available in many colors as well and fall in the same edc category, please do a detailed review on the same...... It would be really awesome to have your reviews on that.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for sharing! Looks very cool!

[@anamikasharma1284]

Yes it does... And i know a future review is coming. Thanks in advance....

[@Domina7ion]

You hit the nail on the head with this. I have one but I just find it so boring to use.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Mine was a gift from a viewer. I keep it for size comparisons.

[@MultiEbbot]

Very good review I also have mixed feelings about the pen but ow several AL-Stars. The triangular grip is no problem for me I hold my pens so high that I´m mostly past the grip section.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, MultiEbbot!

[@nitina8564]

This is called indepth.. no review can get anymore indepth than this. I like how the pen writes and the quality of it as well however i m not a huge fan of how the lamy safari looks and the overall aesthetics of the pen. Thanks for this review. To me the metropolitan is more value for money than a lamy safari and i personally like the metropolitan better regardless of the price.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@DrPhilologist]

I find it insane that these have a solid buyer base in the USA. I believe that these are great pens, and I would support their over-engineering very strongly as well, BUT the price point in the USA is just insane. I buy these consistently for bellow 15$ over here, as they can very often be found under the MSRP. The other time I grabbed one for 8$! On the contrary, in Europe, American companies that can't get reasonable prices over here just get eradicated from the market! A 30-60$ Monteverde or Noodelrs or Retro51 would ask for 70-120$ here. The result is that these pens are extremely unpopular here, very hard to come buy, and in general are considered undesirable and unpopular.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, DrPhilologist! I'm finding that I can get better prices here in Canada by buying from places like Appelboom in Europe than shopping at a US online retailer.

[@DrPhilologist]

@@InkquiringMinds Yeap, there are some European stores with very good shipping. Cultpens is a great one too, they offer free shipping above 70£. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find anything similar from the other side of Atlantic...

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@DrPhilologist Yes, I've been on the Cult Pens website a few times - especially when researching the Manuscript. I have a Leonardo Momento Zero on its way from Appelboom and the price was a good deal less than anywhere else.

[@DrPhilologist]

@@InkquiringMinds They are pretty good. If you end buying another Italian pen, you could also consider the Italian stilo e stile for friendly prices and very low shipping.

[@stephanfeinen3923]

​@@InkquiringMinds I compared the prices here in europe (which are mostly the same within the EU) and then I ordered my Momento Zero from La Couronne du Comte as they had the Positano version that I was looking for at an even lower price and I could still use the discount code from Stephen Brown (he has agreements with La Couronne, Appelboom and Akkerman). The only problem with La Couronne is that you usually have to wait several weeks for your delivery but I'm in no hurry. However I don't know anything about their shipping rates and VAT handling for Canada, so Appelboom might be the right choice for you.

[@martinlebl631]

Trouble with some machine assembled things, like this Safari is that the parts are designed to snap together once, and not really come apart again. It is designed for ease of assembly, and not for disassembly, as you discovered here. If they were factory servicing the cap, then they would replace the cap liner, and the finial retention part with brand new parts most likely.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Friction fit pieces lose their friction when disassembled.

[@jduarte1506]

Good video, I wanted an opinion. I'm about to buy a Lamy Fountain Pen and I'm between these two Lamy Safary models and the Lamy CP1, which one do you think is better?

[@InkquiringMinds]

I've not tried a CP1 but the grip section is superior to the Safari in my opinion.

[@donbrownist]

As always, great review. I was just wondering if you sell autographed copies of you holding that incredibly cheap looking pen?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yeah! They are the price of a Safari.

[@Raul1971xxx]

Hello Dough, I have a Lamy Safari Vista with the gold nib. Awesome pen. 👍 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10... K.O.. 😂😂

[@InkquiringMinds]

Very nice! The Vista is not a Safari. It is a Safari Vista and is much more interesting. Also, add a gold nib for $100US and you're now at $130 for an injection-moulded pen with a training-wheels grip section. I got a 14K gold nib Pilot e95s for around that price (with a converter). Just sayin'. ;) And Doug is off the mat and has beat the count!!! :D

[@Raul1971xxx]

@@InkquiringMinds 👍👍🇪🇸🇪🇸

[@relledom]

when disassembling the cap, say to repair or bend the clip back in shape, the cap loses its snap. Any fix for that?

[@InkquiringMinds]

Don’t disassemble the cap. The parts are plastic and will never be the same.

[@relledom]

@@InkquiringMinds I see, so sometimes one has to make sacrifices in the name of beauty and design (I find it nice to have a black clip on a white Lamy Safari) thanks for helping me manage my expectations!

[@newpesiconic9418]

Is it better than Waterman at this price range

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thanks for watching!

[@princeinkedpens4197]

Thanks for the information!

[@InkquiringMinds]

Any time!

[@tdowling149]

I have and love my Safaris, and -- for me -- the grip is just right. I recently got a PenBBS 494 with a similar tripod grip, but built for a different sized hand, and now I understand. When that grip is wrong for you, the pen is just unusable.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Exactly!

[@stepheninks]

I'm curious, which part of the pen didn't come back together correctly? I like to take my pens apart for cleaning, but I stopped short of removing the feed on my Safari, because it didn't look like it was made to come apart. That's really my one complaint about the Safari. I didn't think I would like it until I held it in my hand. It's sort of a funky design, but I think it's fun!

[@stepheninks]

By the way, I got mine for about $17USD + $5 for the converter. I wouldn't have paid over $30 for it either.

[@InkquiringMinds]

The pieces of the cap and the cap finial as not designed to be disassembled. The plastic deforms and doesn't go back together properly. The feed is removable but you have to be careful the first time and be patient.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Yes, they certainly can be purchased for a lot less than what I quoted, but I quoted goldspot.com MRSP and sale prices.

[@martinlebl631]

@@InkquiringMinds If convertor is third of the price of the pen, then it is always a hard NO from me.

[@Adriel-ze6lw]

If the Lamy Safaris just had circular bodies (unlike the Studio) instead and were medium sized, I would've appreciated buying those one day

[@InkquiringMinds]

LOL! Thanks, Adriel. In other words, if it was a different pen, you'd buy it. :)

[@Adriel-ze6lw]

@@InkquiringMinds Alright guys, I'll warn you that Sir Douglas here can read minds

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@Adriel-ze6lw LOL!

[@martinlebl631]

@@InkquiringMinds That is acprice. many peoples' feeling about the Safari...a polarizing design to be sure, and in US for an outrageous price as well.

[@SnabbKassa]

Braun = "praun", rhymes with crown

[@jacobus57]

Al-Stars are 37.60 US, Safaris 29.60 US. They definitely should come with a converter. I'm not a fan, but it's a decent, reliable pen built in a country with safety standards, worker protections, reasonable work weeks, decent wages, vacations, and you don't get "re-educated" if you offend the twisted sensibilities of the CCP. Conscientious spending that looks at more than the raw bottom line is more important now than ever.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I quoted Goldspot pens prices. They post an MSRP of $37US and a sale price of $29.60 for the Charcoal Safari.

[@martinlebl631]

Not coming with convertor by default is a cardinal sin, especially for the price. The convertors are made on a wholy automated line per Lamy factory video, so really mostly profit too, as very little labor is used in manufacturing it. Ditto on the Safari, unlike their higher end pens the lines automated, and not many hands touch the production of each pen.

[@agradoville]

The CLIP.....yuck..... IMO the pen would look so much better without that annoying obscene clip. Not a fan. I will say that the LAMY is probably one of the most easily recognized pen out there. So good on the marketing group who came up with that clip idea. Must be one of those polarizing things, you either love it or you don’t, although in your case its both. Great history and review as always, just not my cup of tea.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Thank you, agradoville! You're right. You love it or you don't. It feels like writing with a flat stick.

[@patpatrizio98]

Here en Mexico, besides the 36 dollars you have to spend (pen + converter) you also have to pay about 7 extra bucks for shipping from its official page so yeah... I don't see myself as a student spending that much on a plastic pen even if that's the market they aimed at.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Precisely, Pat! I think the Pilot Metro would be more reasonable.

[@martinlebl631]

@@InkquiringMinds Or basic PenBBS 308 which is probably around $20 shipped in basic resin, and a very nice cartridge convertor that looks classier. Alghough personally I would go with something not cartridge convertor based.

[@misswoodhouse5720]

I agree, I love them and hate them too. When I got my first adult fountain pen it was a Safari and Al-star same time, and they wrote brilliant - lucky I can use the grip - maybe thanks to all those doctors and specialists my parents sent me to as a child reading and writing issues. All this aside, I always have one inked up in my pen case because they just write, and I know what I am getting from this boring and inspirational pen. But if I have a Penbbs or even a Jinhao in the case next to this, then I feel like a real pen nerd haha. The cost back in the UK there about £15 plus a pack of cartridges in Australia way too overpriced at like $50 for a Safari and $70au Al-star - at these prices you can almost buy 2 Twsbi Eco pens, and you don't need a converter or a bucket of Jinhao's haha

[@InkquiringMinds]

I haven't taken the TWSBI plunge yet. I tried all of the models at my pen shop and couldn't justify the cost for a plastic pen.

[@beemrb]

Right on Doug. For the same price I can get 2 Penbbs 308 FP with converters that look better and feel better too. I don’t like the cheap looking clip. My opinion anyway. I get it the western world charges more because labor is more expensive and because they can.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's right Beemrb. That's what makes me crazy. One, turned acrylic fountain pen with a #6 nib and a converter is far less than one ejection moulded, squarish fountain pen with no converter and a tiny nib. I don't get it. And my point about the labor on the Safari is, they'v had the same moulds and machines and processes since 1980 on this pen. I'm sure it is highly automated, so where is the higher labor cost?

[@jacobus57]

Germany pays well and has a robust social safety net. They also don't have sweat shops, so I don't understand what you don't get about the cost difference. I'm trying to determine, to no avail, the provenance of PenBBS pens before I don't especially want to support Chinese labor practices especially for discretionary purchases. Call you tell me what the manufacturing conditions are?

[@InkquiringMinds]

@@jacobus57 I cannot Jacquelyn. But show me something with a US or a UK brand in your house that isn't manufactured in China. Most top name fountain pens are made in the same factories in China that make Hero and Jinhao. Cross, Sheaffer, Parker. I just personally feel the Safari is over-priced at $37US per unit.

[@jacobus57]

@@InkquiringMinds actually, whenever possible I buy non-Chinese made. I also do my best to avoid anything made in other oppressive countries. If course it's almost impossible, but fountain pens are totally discretionary, and aside from one Jinhao 750 I bought specifically to hone nib tuning skills, I don't buy Chinese pens or ink. It's pretty easy. There are some Chinese manufacturers that work to a higher ethical standard, which is why I asked about the provenance of PenBBS.

[@InkquiringMinds]

Provenance on PenBBS is very difficult. The only thing I know is that Long leads a group of pen enthusiasts that send their designs out to manufacturers as contracts. Not unlike Amazon commissioning Jinhao to make the Amazon Basics fountain pen. I can’t find out which pen manufacturer they use either.

[@ronaldjensen8451]

I don't like it either, but I do like Lamy 2000. Do you? Do you have one?

[@InkquiringMinds]

No, I can't justify the cost. That big pen would get so many little pens.

[@martinlebl631]

@@InkquiringMinds Got Lamy 2000 with Oblique Double Broad nib for my birthday this spring, and it was worth every penny of the around $200 the person that gave it to me spent. Hard to find such a nib elsewhere. And the cap seals so well, that even after not using it for a while, it starts right up. Given some of the hand made parts of the manufacturing process, and being made in Germany the price is justified.

[@catwhisperer911]

A solid conclusion, I'd say, for a presumptuous, over priced, somewhat boring, over engineered pen. With that said, I do understand its popularity. It's a well built, solid writer offered in a variety of pleasing colors. Meh.

[@InkquiringMinds]

PT Barnum was right.

[@catwhisperer911]

@@InkquiringMinds Yup lol.

[@chatladdy7726]

The lamy safari is like a Glock, mostly plastic, boring, but reliable and built well. Also they were both made in countries that speak German.

[@InkquiringMinds]

That's a good analogy.

[@martinlebl631]

Not a pen for me for many reasons, but not including convertor by default, and charging fairly solid fraction of pen's price for one is always a deal breaker for me.

[@InkquiringMinds]

I agree.

[@simon_raya]

IDK dude. 🤓

[@ngekomo]

... _properly educated_ ... **Ouch PS: Being very popular, and surprisingly large, I found Lamy Safari as the perfect size comparison for largish pen such as Duofold

[@InkquiringMinds]

Perhaps I should have said "classically educated". :)

[@elizabethrosa1335]

I am firmly in the camp of "The Lamy is ugly". I enjoyed your review bc it is very informative, but it is still ugly :) (And if you hate being told what to do...."new normal" is eyeballing you! :( Sad. What if "they" only allow us to write with Lamy pens?! I will not fair well in that "pen-dystopia") Just curious...will you ever review a BENU? Bc people either love or hate that brand, too, it seems :)

[@InkquiringMinds]

Hence, why I inserted a tiny snippet of the film "1984" Liz! LOL

[@elizabethrosa1335]

Yeah, but not the "Oh, It's Big Brother" part! :P