Pen Review: Lamy 2000

While listening to the back catalog of Pen Addict podcasts, I found one of the recurring themes was the Lamy 2000. After listening umpteen times of Brad and Myke discussing the Lamy 2000, I knew it was inevitable that I would get one. Of course they were not the only ones to discuss this iconic pen. Many YouTubers and bloggers have done so too.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Lamy 2000. The pen community is abuzz with talk of a commemorative anniversary pen. I'm eager to see what Lamy has in store for us, but there's a good chance I'll put whatever Lamy offers into my shopping cart. The Lamy 2000 is just that good and has become one of my favourite pens. It has never been un-inked and I practically never attend meetings without it. It is a pen that is sophisticated, unassuming and unpretentious, yet, it's Bauhaus design is so iconic as to gain it a spot in the Museum of Modern Art.

I picked up the Lamy 2000 from Pen Chalet when Ron put it on sale for Pen Addict listeners. The price was simply too good to pass up. For this pen I chose the EF nib because I thought it would make a good office workhorse pen.

Description
The pen comes in a black, minimalistic cardboard box. The lid of the box looks smart with it's Lamy badge. It flips open to reveal the Lamy 2000 sitting in a foam next with a precisely cut trench to house the pen.

The body is constructed from the light and strong macralon material. My pen has seen its share of rush and tumble action but it still looks great. The macralon has a fine brushed finish that sports precise fine lines running in parallel from the top to the bottom all around the pen.

Craftsmanship is excellent as my eyes cannot really discern the piston knob except for a very fine hairline that separates the body from the knob.

The grip section has a brushed aluminum look that tapers to the hooded nib. Most of the nib is covered by the section except for the final half inch. The revealed part of the nib is a simple triangular shape that is completely unmarked and unadorned.

The cap clicks onto the pen body via three small metal tabs that protrude ever so slightly just above the grip section. I do grip on the tabs but they have never bothered me.

The cap clip is minimalistic and sports straight lines and perfect right angles. Engraved in sans serif font on one side of the clip is the word Lamy.

Just above the grip is a narrow band of ink windows. Ihe windows are difficult to see through but in the right light, one can see whether there is ink or not.

Writing Experience
The Lamy 2000 sports clean, precise lines and the perfect shaped length and weight. It is perfectly balanced in many hand. I prefer it unposted but posting the cap only makes it marginally more back heavy.

Without a doubt the nib is what makes it this pen special for me. The EF nib is wider than a Japanese EF. It's fine but feels and looks expressive. There is a subtle line variation that makes writing with the pen a joy. The gold nib is smooth and the I've never had problems with it. It performed perfectly right out the box. For this I'm extremely grateful as I've read many stories of people having problems.

Comparison of Lamy 2000 EF with Lamy Studio 14K EF

For a piston filler, this pen is surprisingly easy to clean. It does not take endless flushing to get the pen flowing clear. I also recently realized that the grip section can be diengaged from the body. This makes cleaning even easier.

I find the capacity of the pen to be fairly decent. The ink capacity plus the fine lines generally means I can go quite long without having to refill.

Final Thoughts
So why do I rely so heavily on this pen? It's a handsome pen with a lovely smooth nib. The snap cap is quick to remove. The extra fine nib can handle almost any paper that I throw at it. It's a pen that is appropriate for every situation.