The Lamy 2000
Fountain Pen

– Handwritten Review –

• Review Ink: Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-Syogun / Parker Quink
  
• Review Paper: Maruman Mnemosyne
  

Specs:

• Description: A classic in German Bauhaus Design, the Lamy 2000 has been virtually unchanged since the 1960s
• Nib: 14k platinum-coated gold
• Material: Makrolon and brushed stainless steel
• Filling Mechanism: Piston with nearly invisible tail knob
• Weight: 25 grams
• Measurements: 5.5″ closed, 6.0″ posted
• Ink Capactiy: ~2ml

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Handwritten Review Scans:

Intro/About:

The Lamy 2000, does it even need an intro? Probably not, but here’s one anyway. The Lamy 2000 is Lamy’s most iconic pen. This German-designed beauty was first introduced back in the 1960s and has changed very little over the years. It features a platinum-plated 14k gold hooded nib, a brushed Makrolon body, a brushed stainless steel grip, a spring-loaded clip and a piston filling mechanism. Lamy is one of my favorite brands, as a whole, and the 2000 was a necessary addition to my collection as soon as I saw it. I had been wanting this pen for a long time and I’m very happy to have one.

Appearance & Packaging:

The appearance of the Lamy 2000 is pretty impressive. The first thing I noticed was how modern looking the 2000 is, yet it was designed nearly 50 years ago and has not undergone any major design changes. It’s still a futuristic looking pen by today’s standards, but does not come off corny or gimmicky in any way. The finish on the Lamy 2000 both looks great and feels great in the hand. It’s brushed finish provides a nice tactile feel and is very easy to grip. The pen is very streamlined, tapering evenly from the body to the nib, which I like quite a bit. The only thing on the pen that fully reflects light is the visible part of the hooded nib. Other than that, everything else on the pen is mattified, giving the 2000 a low-light, subtle look. A lot of why I like this pen is its understated look, but upon closer inspection, it really is something special.

Lamy’s packaging is pretty straightforward, even on their higher end pens. I wish that they had done something differently here like they did with the Dialog. The Dialog comes in a magnetized wooden box, where this comes in a heavy-duty cardboard box. The design of the box does fit the pen nicely though. On the grey cardboard box is a metal LAMY logo that the flap of the box secures to. It’s nicely designed, and does a good job of protecting the pen in transit. Overall, the box just doesn’t look like something that’s going to last as long as the pen is. Ultimately, packaging isn’t too important to me and it’s what’s inside that counts. The Lamy 2000 more than makes up for its lack of fancy packaging.

Nib Performance & Filling System:

I opted for the Lamy 2000 in a medium nib. I usually write with a fine, but all of the Lamy mediums I have used were super smooth, and the 2000 was no exception. This is my first gold Lamy nib, and it’s great. Since reviewing this pen (on paper) I have gotten my Lamy 2000 adjusted by Richard Binder of richardspens.com while at the Long Island Pen Show. The Lamy wrote well already, but now it’s absolutely perfect. If you can make it to a pen show, I highly recommend seeking out Mr. Binder and having him work on something from your collection. The gold nib glides smoothly and effortlessly across the page, leaving a nice medium-wet line of ink in its wake. The gold nib has a bit of spring to it (I wouldn’t say flex) which makes a nice cushion for writing. Prior to getting my 2000 adjusted, it did skip every once in a while, but this also depended heavily on what ink I had in it. Overall, it’s a smooth writer with good ink flow. It performs as expected for a pen in its price bracket and I can’t complain.

The Lamy 2000 is a piston filler, which is a nice touch when cartridge/converters are so common. The finish on the pen makes the piston knob practically disappear. I’ve found myself trying to pick it out, and it can be difficult if more than a few inches away from the pen. The piston filler holds a generous amount of ink, making the 2000 a great everyday writer / workhorse. The mechanism operates smoothly and performs as well, if not better, than some of the piston fillers in my collection that are several times the price. The pen works great and I’ve yet to have any problems while filling it.

Feel:

The Lamy 2000 feels great in hand. The pen is nicely weighted and balanced, coming in around 25g. In my opinion, 25g is a great balance between too light and too heavy. The 2000 feels just right to me. The pen is well-balanced whether writing with it uncapped or posted. Personally, I prefer to write with my pens posted, but both ways feel just as good. The Makrolon body is an interesting material to make a pen in. The brushed finish is unlike anything I’ve felt before. The Lamy 2000 doesn’t feel like a pen made of “precious resin”, or a cheap plastic. It’s very unique and a little hard to explain. The 2000 doesn’t feel cheap in any way either. It feels great in the hand and great when writing on the page. I have no complaints and I carry mine with me on a daily basis.

A common complaint about the Lamy 2000 is that the “ears” that hold the cap on are a bit intrusive. I respectfully disagree. The “ears” don’t affect the way I hold the pen whatsoever. Even when my hand runs over them, they really aren’t a bother. I feel like every “Should I get a Lamy 2000 or X?” thread I see, the first thing mentioned is the ears. While cleaning my 2000, I noticed that these ears can be easily removed. How did I find this out? I lost the washer that has them on it (they cost $7.95 to replace, by the way). If you unscrew the grip, and remove the washer, poof, no more ears. I had no problems with leaking while waiting for my replacement, but it’s worth noting that the cap does not stay on as well as it did with the ears. Also worth mentioning is how well the cap posts. For those of you that write posted like myself, you’ll be glad to hear that the cap stays on securely and the pen maintains its great balance. The grip of the pen tapers all the way down to the nib, and you can choke up or back off your grip to achieve varying widths. It’s a very comfortable pen to write with and does a damn fine job of doing what it’s supposed to, when it’s supposed to (writing when you want it to?).

Pros:

• Iconic German design
• Large capacity piston filler
• Very smooth 14k gold nib
• Great weight and balance
• It’s a lot of pen for the money

Cons:

• Cap “ears” may be annoying to some

Conclusion:

I love my Lamy 2000. Looking at it, holding it, and writing with it. All great. The 2000 has been around since the 1960s and has barely been changed for good reason. It’s an iconic pen where attention to detail was held in high regard while it was being designed. I find it hard to find something I don’t like about the Lamy 2000. There’s really nothing to complain about, and my only “con” was pointing out what other people had a problem with. For what it is, the pen is reasonably priced around $150 and makes a great, if not necessary addition to any collection.

Recommendation: Absolutely.