LAMY 2000 Matte Black Fountain Pen - Fine

I was really hesitant on ordering this pen. I had originally planned on going for something more expensive, like a Visconti Homo Sapiens, but I decided to give this Lamy a try due to it's overwhelmingly positive reviews on the internet. A lot of people say that they have a lot of pens, but they keep going back to the 2000 for some reason. I'll help you understand a few of those reasons.First off, this pen is way better in person than any picture I've seen online. I wasn't really a fan of the hooded nib look, and the finish just looked kind of blah. I was excited about the gold nib, and trying out the smoothness that I've seen people rave about. I ordered the pen, and was pleasantly surprised at what I got:1. The box is nice. It's paper, but still nice. I feel like the design is fitting for the pen.2. The pen has a nice weight to it, and feels much more solid than the Safari. When full of ink, it's a medium-weight pen. Not nearly as heavy as some other monster pens, and I would say that the weight is perfect.3. The brushed finish of the Makralon exterior of the pen is fantastic. It honestly almost feels like a brushed stone, as it's very smooth but cool to the touch. If you look close you can actually see the marks of the brushing. I would say this pen is more on the satin side than the completely matte, but it's definitely not shiny. I was not expecting to like the finish so much, but I really have a hard time not touching it. Very unique, and it feels like quality. You really have to see it and hold it in your hands to understand what I'm talking about. The metal section near the nib is also brushed, and feels exactly like a cooler version of the Makralon body. It's very seamless, the tolerances are incredible. You don't feel any ridges or anything. It's very comfortable to grip regardless of if you have a small cramped grip (like mine) or hold your pen higher.4. The nib is a huge step up from the Safari steel nib. It's wetter than my Safari, but it's so smooth. I feel like I need to use half as much pressure as I did with the Safari, and the pen really glides on Rhodia paper. For this reason alone, I don't think I could go back to my Safari. This is almost enough to sell me on the pen by itself.5. People talk about a "sweet spot" on the 2000, but I haven't really had issues with that. It writes well in any way that I hold the pen. My Safari was more finnicky about how I held it.In closing, I wasn't expecting to like this pen. Part of me didn't want to like it. Then I got it, and I completely understand why it's been around for so long and why so many people use it. Aesthetically, it's very nice. From a few steps back it looks like a normal, boring black pen. But when you get close it really has a ton of character, and it feels rugged enough to be a daily writer. I love it.I consider this a no-brainer if you're a Safari owner looking to get a nicer pen. You won't be disappointed, and you may even find yourself neglecting the rest of your other pens.

The Lamy 2000 is simply fantastic. Overall it is a perfect pen for daily use, being comfortable to write with for long periods of time due to its shape, weight, and nib.Pros:- The weight and balance are superb. It balances perfectly in the center when posted (when you place the cap on the back of the pen while writing), this makes it easy to extremely comfortable to hold and use.- Construction: It is extremely well made. The piston in the base of the pen blends in perfectly with the rest of the body, nothing breaks up the sleek lines of the body and cap. The makrolon material making up the majority of the pen is visually pleasing and strong, and combined with the superb shape of the pen is both grippy and comfortable to write with. There is one complaint I have about the Makrolon, but I will get to that in the cons section.- The nib is great. It writes well, smooth and neither too wet nor too dry, it hits a sweet spot between the two.On a side note, I am aware that some people have had problems with the nib, and it is not unheard of toget a Lamy 2000 with a mediocre nib. In my case, and for both of the Lamy 2000's that I have owned, thenib has been great.- Aesthetics: This pen is beautiful in my opinion. It is sleek and elegant, simple and austere. It is not flashy or particularly eye catching, nor does it look outwardly like a particularly expensive pen, unlike a Mont Blanc or similar. But everything it does aesthetically is extremely well-done.- The cap: Most fountain pens seem to have a twist off cap, but this one snaps on and off with a simple pull or push, and does so with a satisfying click. Usually, twist off caps are put onto fountain pens to prevent the cap from coming off in the pocket, as a fountain pen nib will bleed ink into the fabric of a pants or jacket pocket and stain it. From my experience coming from a pen with a twist off cap, the Lamy's cap stays on better and is easier to remove and recap. I have never had the Lamy's cap come off in my pocket or briefcase, while my Platinum 3776 has done so multiple times and gotten ink onto my notebooks.Cons:- For some, the price is an issue. Most people will not bother with a fountain pen, much less one that costs $120-$200, and that is understandable. For that reason, I did not give this pen full marks for value for money, but if you like fountain pens and are looking to get into higher end pens, this is a fantastic one to get. In my opinion, this pen is 100% worth every penny.- This pen can be slippery. When you are not writing with the pen, its rather smooth surface can be slippery, so be careful with how you hold and change grips with it. That said, it is more grippy than most other pens that do not have rubber grips.Final thoughts:If you are looking for a great fountain pen for everyday use, this is your pen. I am a college student and use it for notes during long lectures, and even after 2 hours of note taking, my hands do not hurt like they do with my other pens and pencils. For a higher end fountain pen, it has great value for money. The construction is perfect and the nib is fantastic.My previous daily pen was a Platinum 3776, which I enjoyed quite a lot. But this pen blows the 3776 out of the water in every category except price. That said, I got my 3776 for $100 on ebay, but on Amazon it goes for $120 or so, and most of the time the Lamy 2000 goes for $140-$150. In hindsight I wish I spent the extra money and just got this pen, as it is better in just about every way from my experience.If you are thinking of getting a pen in this price range, this is the one to get.