Completing the Set: Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil

Due to the combination of timeless design, ergonomics, and quality, the Lamy 2000 series tops my list of personal favorite writing instruments. I started with the Fountain Pen, next acquired the Ballpoint and Multi Pen, and then the Rollerball. But what about the Mechanical Pencil? Lamy offers both .5mm and .7mm mechanical pencil versions of the Lamy 2000 in the same brushed black Makrolon finish as the rest of the line, and I decided it’s long-past time to check it out.

From top, the Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint / Multi Pen, the .5mm Mechanical Pencil, and the Ballpoint pen. You can also see different degrees of wear on the Makrolon as these pens/pencils are used and age. The Ballpoint dates to the 1980s, and is worn smooth. The multi pen is about 5-6 years old and starting to show signs of “break-in,” and the pencil is still brand new and therefore matte. I love the look of aged Makrolon!

In terms of design, the Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil offers no surprises - the form factor is more or less the same as the Lamy 2000 Ballpoint in terms of both look and dimensions. The differences are what you would expect: the standard metal knock is replaced by a Makrolon knock/eraser-cover engraved with a “5” or “7” on top to denote the lead width (a thoughtful detail, actually), and the tip of the pencil reveals a bit of the lead protector sleeve.

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As with most mechanical pencils, the knock on the Lamy 2000 can be removed to expose an eraser and to refill the lead.

In the hand, the Makrolon (fiberglass-blend) pencil is of course both lightweight, balanced, and tactile. With a mechanical pencil, you need to pay attention to balance in particular, as an excessively front-weighted or back-weighted pencil can place pressure on the graphite and lead to frequent breakage. I had no such issue here, especially since I use the durable Uni Kuru-Toga or Pentel graphite in most of my mechanical pencils. (The stock Lamy graphite is also very good.)

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In hand, this is a very lightweight mechanical pencil, which feels very much on par with both Lamy 2000 ballpoints (standard and multi pen).

While I have long adored Lamy’s 4-Color Ballpoint (the multi pen), the one knock on it (pun intended) is that it doesn’t include a mechanical pencil option like the Sailor Imperial Black. In my opinion, the next best thing is to have a matching mechanical pencil (or, as in my case, a full matching set ;)).

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All the Lamy 2000 pens! (Well, most of them. I have more.)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I’ve been a fan of the Lamy 2000 in all its iterations for well over a decade. The Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil is no exception, and if you’re a fan of either the overall Lamy 2000 design aesthetic or simply good quality mechanical pencils in general, this one deserves your consideration. As with other models of the Lamy 2000, we stock them directly in the T.G.S. Curated Shop, in both the .5mm and .7mm variations. The pricing on the Lamy 2000 Mechanical Pencil is around $55, which is the lowest price point of any pen or pencil in the Lamy 2000 range, making it a nice entry point if you would like to try the shape and feel before committing to a more expensive item.

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The mechanical pencil is conveniently labeled “5” or “7”, depending on whether it’s the .5mm or .7mm version.

Further Reading on the Lamy 2000

With the mechanical pencil, I’ve now completed my review series on the standard black Makrolon Lamy 2000 models. If you’d like to read up on the other pens in the Lamy 2000 collection, as well as more backstory regarding the history and story behind this Bauhaus-inspired pen design, check out our reviews of the Lamy 2000 Fountain Pen (Workhorse Pens Series), Ballpoint, Rollerball, and 4 Color Ballpoint - Multi pen.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising.

A Tale of Two Limited Anniversary Editions: The Lamy 2000 Black Amber

Last year, at the time of the Lamy 2000 100th Anniversary Bauhaus edition, I looked at Lamy’s struggles with managing its limited edition portfolio. While most criticism of the “Blue Bauhaus” fountain pen focused on Lamy’s decision to release fewer than 2000 pens - not coming close to satisfying demand - it’s easy to see how the company ended up in that place: three years later, they still haven’t sold out of their previous anniversary edition, the Lamy 2000 Black Amber, released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Lamy’s flagship writing instrument.

Others (namely Dr. Deans at Pen Economics) have written in depth on the nature of the problems with this release from a business perspective. In short, Lamy grossly overestimated how many limited edition Black Amber Lamy 2000s they could sell at the 500 Euro / $600 USD price point. While most U.S. retailers no longer have the pen in stock, that’s likely the result of the heavy discounting and promotional offers they used to unload inventory. Some European retailers still have pens available for purchase, so at this point I wanted to take advantage of a couple years’ worth of perspective and re-evaluate the Black Amber with some distance, focusing more on this limited edition release as a pen rather than a marketing case study.

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Beyond black makrolon: From left, Lamy 2000 Black Amber 50th Anniversary Edition; Stainless Steel Lamy 2000M, and the Bauhaus 100th Anniversary Blue Makrolon pen.

The Black Amber Is Still a Lamy 2000 - And An Exceptional Pen

Disclaimer up front: I don’t necessarily come to this review from a rational standpoint. The Lamy 2000 is easily my favorite fountain pen of all time, and as with the Bauhaus 100th Anniversary Pen, I was eventually going to track down a Black Amber and add one to my core collection. And, it’s going to be no surprise to you all that I love this pen. I disagree with those who criticized this release on the grounds that it was “too similar” to the standard stainless steel Lamy 2000M. The electroplated finish on the Black Amber gives the pen a much different feel in the hand, and it’s noticeably lighter. When I weighed these two pens on my digital scale, the standard stainless steel pen came back at 2.0 oz, and the Black Amber 1.9 oz (and the Black Amber was fully inked at the time). The difference is enough to change the balance of the pen when posted, at least for me. Curiously, much of the extra weight on the stainless model is in the cap, which weighs .8 oz as opposed to .6 oz on the Black Amber.

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How does one describe the color? Let me say this: after seeing the Lamy 2000 Black Amber in person, I finally understood the name. The finish alternately appears dark grey, brownish, or even a champagne gold, depending on the lighting. It’s beautiful. Sure, the Black Amber will never appease those clamoring for a yellow or orange or translucent green demonstrator, but I’ve never felt that wild color schemes would be consistent with the Lamy 2000’s design heritage. At the end of the day, I think I’m fine with the decision to explore more subtle variations in color and texture.

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I have pen No. 3497/5000. The size of the releases have significance (5000 pens for the 50th Anniversary, and 1919 pens for the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus, founded in 1919.)

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The engraving on the cap is very subtle, requiring me to enhance the picture so that it’s even visible.

Overall Writing Experience

I’ve previously reviewed both the standard Lamy 2000 and the Stainless Steel Lamy 2000M at length, and to be honest the experience of putting nib to paper with the Black Amber doesn’t differ all that much from Lamy’s standard lineup. The medium nib on my Black Amber writes a smooth, wet line, consistent with the platinum-coated 14k nibs on the other Lamy 2000 fountain pens I currently have in rotation. At one point, the Lamy 2000 developed a reputation for finicky nibs, but I have to say that I’ve not experienced any issues with the pens I’ve owned, and I’ve purchased five or so within the last several years, through regular retail channels.

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Takeaways and Where to Buy

I remain convinced that the primary obstacle to the Black Amber selling well was the price, widely perceived as too high for “what the pen was.” While I’m not sure this is fair - other companies have implemented much more egregious price hikes on their limited editions (including instances where the editions weren’t really limited at all), the discomfort I have with high price points on the Lamy 2000 is that it seems somewhat inconsistent with the Bauhaus ethos: well designed, functional items meant to be used, not necessarily collected. But lots of factors go into companies’ pricing decisions that are beyond the scope of this article, including costs of material, manufacture, and distribution, all of which affect how a company can price the pen without losing money. And, don’t forget that the entire run of Bauhaus 100th Anniversary pens sold out immediately, despite similar pricing to the Black Amber, so what do I know? It could simply be an issue of Lamy feeling out the size of the market for a limited edition Lamy 2000, which sits somewhere between 1919 and 5000 pens.

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The texture on the Lamy 2000 Black Amber makes for a perfect pairing with my Raven Venture.

Like any limited edition pen priced at a premium, whether the purchase is “worth it” to you remains a highly personal decision. Anytime you move past the $300 mark, you’re buying the pen because it moves you in some way, or, like me, you’re concerned that if you let this pen sell out without acquiring one your status as a Lamy 2000 super-user will be revoked. But in all seriousness, my overall take on the pen is this: I love it, especially the finish, and the pen itself doesn’t deserve the degree of negative attention it’s received. If you appreciate Lamy’s understated designs, especially the subtle variations in finish and texture they’ve chosen for their limited editions on the 2000, and can handle the weight of the stainless steel body, you probably won’t regret the Black Amber. Ignore the hype/haters and trust your own preferences.

I purchased my Lamy 2000 Black Amber from site sponsor Appelboom last year, around the same time that I ordered my blue Bauhaus 100th Anniversary fountain pen. Although I recognize that the Black Amber is not for everyone, I’m somewhat amazed that this pen remains available for purchase, even at the discounted (but still-expensive) 400 Euro price point.

Further Reading on the Black Amber and the Lamy 2000

One reason I wanted to review the Lamy 2000 Black Amber is because so few reviews of this pen exist. Dries over at The Pencilcase Blog is the only one I can find who reviewed the Black Amber, back in 2016 at the time of its release, and had much the same reaction as I did. I’m glad that I can add my own voice to what little is out there, and make sure this gem doesn’t fall into obscurity.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own use. This post contains affiliate links.

Flooding the Market? A Recap of Lamy's 2019 Special and Limited Releases

I don’t think I realized until this week just how many special and limited edition pens Lamy released in 2019 (and the year is not even over yet). While the annual release of the special edition Safaris and AL-Star pens is a much-anticipated tradition for many, this year saw Lamy issue two more Studios, a special edition “LX”, a Scala, and the heavily hyped blue Lamy 2000 limited edition celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Bauhaus. While some portions of today’s post will strike readers as a bit of a rant, please know that I love Lamy. It’s one of my favorite brands, and makes one of my favorite pens of all time, the Lamy 2000. Also, it’s not that I don’t love the fact that Lamy is taking the time to develop all of these different pens and bring them to market, I just don’t understand the strategy behind doing it all at once, in what seems like a sudden flood of releases, with some of them receiving next to no promotion or build-up. With that said, let’s take a look at this year’s pens in more detail.

Lamy Studio Aquamarine and LX All Black Special Editions

I’d call the Lamy Studio one of the “unsung heroes” of the fountain pen world. It’s a well-made, reasonably priced mid-range fountain pen (or rollerball) that not only costs well under $100, but you can easily switch the nib (or even upgrade the nib from steel to gold) because it uses the same interchangeable nib format as the Safari and the AL-Star. Lamy has previously released special edition Studios - I’ve reviewed the Ruby Red and the Racing Green - but the emergig trend has been to release not one but two special editions. The 2018 pens included Terra Cotta and Olive, while this year’s releases are Aquamarine and the “LX All Black.” While I’m certainly glad to see Lamy pay more attention to the Studio, I’m not sure that I understand the strategy behind making two special editions in colors that don’t seem to relate to one another. And what about Lamy’s decision to port the “LX” moniker to the Studio? What does “LX” even mean now?

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If you like dark green pens, the Lamy Studio has you covered. Shown here are the Olive Green (left) and Racing Green (right). Not pictured is my LX All Black, which is en route from the Netherlands as we speak.

Both of the current special edition Studios are still available at retail. Our U.S.-based sponsor Pen Chalet has all of the 2018 AND 2019 Studios in stock, and if you are based outside of the U.S., shipping may be more economical to purchase from our Netherlands-based sponsor Appelboom. (Where possible, throughout this post, I will highlight more than one purchasing option, since many of these pens are not expensive enough to trigger free international shipping.)

Lamy LX “Marron” Special Edition

Lamy created some confusion a couple of years ago when they released the “LX,” which was essentially an AL-Star in “iPhone colors” with a nicer looking nib. (Read my review here.) The LX received a bit of attention, then quickly fell off the radar because not much was done to distinguish the pen in any way from the less expensive AL-Star. You can say I was surprised to see the LX “Marron” Special Edition appear at retailers over the past month. The pen is a nice chestnut-brown, with a bronze-colored clip to match, and it’s a gorgeous pen. (Confession: I bought one immediately.) What confused me was the decision to release a special edition LX, especially since I like this pen much more than this year’s “Bronze” AL-Star. Given the “bronze” clip on this pen, they should’ve passed on the LX special edition and just gone with the Marron.

You can purchase the Lamy LX Marron special edition from both Pen Chalet and Appelboom.

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That clip kills me. More of this, Lamy!

Lamy Safari “Independence Day” U.S. Edition

I waited for a bit, but finally caved and ordered the “Independence Day” Safari for the white cap + red clip combination alone. A U.S. exclusive, Lamy released this pen just before the 4th of July, and despite being a bit puzzled by Lamy’s overall decision to release so many special editions this year, I can get behind the occasional regional special edition. Even the packaging has been upgraded for this pen, signaling that Lamy put a lot of thought into this one. You can purchase this pen from any U.S. Lamy retailer, including Pen Chalet (where the pen is currently on sale).

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The clip game is strong for these two releases.

Lamy Pastel Safaris and Bronze AL-Star

Much has been written about Lamy’s decision to release three special edition Safaris, but viewed in the overall context of just how many special editions Lamy released in 2019, the decision seems even more puzzling to me. Look, the Pastel Safaris (offered in Light Blue, Mint, and Rose) are quite attractive, present a welcome departure from what was seeming like an endless flood of neon and “dark” themed pens, and they have sold well, but the decision to offer three of them has me thinking that someone over at Lamy can’t make hard decisions. The Bronze AL-Star looks fine but is just boring, and let’s be honest - the “matching” ink is orange, not “bronze.” As I noted above, I would have rather seen them release the excellent LX Marron as this year’s AL-Star release.

You can still purchase the Pastel Safaris, and likely will be able to do so for some time. Pen Chalet and Appelboom both have them in stock. Likewise, both Pen Chalet and Appelboom still carry the Bronze AL-Star.

Lamy Scala

Most of you will probably join me in asking: “What the heck is the Lamy Scala?” I saw this pen offered for sale a few years ago through EU-based retailers, but assumed it had been discontinued. It’s a metal pen that sort of looks like a chunkier, non-streamlined Studio. Apparently it comes in range of finishes, ranging from matte black to brushed steel to “piano black” to “titanium,” but the Scala is not widely sold in the U.S., with most retailers carrying only the “Dark Violet” and “Rose” special editions. These aren’t necessarily unattractive pens, but like most mid to high-end Lamy pens, the Scala is priced nearly twice as high in the U.S. as overseas. I’m not at all sure I see any value here, especially compared to the Studio. You can purchase a Studio with a gold nib for just slightly more than a steel nib Scala. This makes no sense, and Lamy either needs to fix the pricing discrepancy or discontinue this line.

Pen Chalet carries the Lamy Scala special editions, and Appelboom carries the entire line.

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I will say that Lamy absolutely killed it on the presentation. The packaging, in addition to looking classy, also appears to be recyclable like their other boxes.

Lamy 2000 Bauhaus 100th Anniversary

And, finally, the commentary most people are probably waiting for: my thoughts on the Bauhaus 100th Anniversary edition Lamy 2000. I did get one of the pens, and I love it. I was, however, extremely frustrated and even a bit angry at how hard it was to track one down. While I probably could have “pulled some strings” and asked a sponsor to set one aside for me, I didn’t do that, mainly because I wanted to write this article from the perspective of someone who loves the Lamy 2000, wanted to participate in this particular anniversary release, and was attempting to find one of the pens at retail without having to pay what I expect will be extortionate prices on the secondary market. It was a difficult, frustrating experience that was completely unnecessary.

The Lamy 2000 is Lamy’s flagship pen. It’s marketed as an example of simple, form-follows-function Bauhaus-inspired design. The Lamy 2000 is also reasonably priced - a piston-filling pen with a gold nib that you can often find for well under $200. The pen is widely loved, and I’m not the only one who has a soft spot for the 2000 because it was the first “nice” pen they ever purchased. So I will say this: It makes absolutely zero sense for Lamy (or their distributor) to price this pen at $500 in the U.S. market, with a release so limited that I’ve heard only 80 - yes, less than 100 - pens made it to the United States. Retailers are holding raffles for the “opportunity” to purchase this pen. In light of Lamy’s decision to flood the market with special editions in the Studio, LX, and Scala lines, it’s absurd that the Lamy 2000 received such a limited release. Sure, I understand the business strategy of selling a smaller number of higher-priced luxury items, but I’d venture that Lamy could have sold thousands of these pens at $300, or even $350. Hype and artificial scarcity during an initial release can drive demand, but with Lamy, if there are not going to be any more of these pens made, what are customers going to come back to buy? Another standard black Lamy 2000? I’m no design historian, but to me, their strategy also seems inconsistent with Bauhaus principles - make well-designed, functional objects made to be used, not sit on a shelf as overpriced collectors’ items.

At the end of the day, I still bought a blue Lamy 2000 at the more reasonable European pricing, and fully intend to ink this pen up and use it just like the old standby that I used to draft this post. I will write in the notebook and throw the box away. The Lamy 2000 remains my favorite pen ever, and I couldn’t bring myself to pass up the opportunity to get the blue one if I found a pen available. Fortunately, Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery in Belgium came through, but I don’t know whether anyone else still has the pens in stock. You’ll have to look hard.

Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Taken individually, I can say that I like most of the pens Lamy has released in 2019. Taken collectively, they don’t offer much insight into where Lamy is going as a brand or the company’s overall strategy due to the marked lack of consistency or any common theme. The decision to flood the market with inexpensive special editions in the Safari, AL-Star, and Studio models, and to release special edition Scalas while severely restricting their Bauhaus 100th Anniversary Lamy 2000, is incomprehensible to me and already has alienated Lamy’s customer base.

As I alluded to above, it’s great to see bursts of creativity from what, traditionally, has been a somewhat staid German company, but someone needs to start making difficult decisions on their lower-end and mid-range releases, while at the same time catering to and engaging more with the enthusiasts who are basically lining up to give Lamy money for higher-end goods. If customers can’t actually get these pens, they will spend that money elsewhere, and eventually give up and stop coming back.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I purchased the Lamy 2000 “blue Bauhaus” with my own funds, for my own collection, but acquired the other pens pictured here from Pen Chalet and Appelboom using store credit generated through their affiliate programs.

Closing the Circle: The Lamy 2000 Rollerball Joins the Family

There are fewer pen designs that I love more than the Lamy 2000. I promised myself that I wouldn’t write yet another piece harping on the Bauhaus-inspired, truly minimalist brushed Makrolon construction (but if you want that, go ahead and read my other reviews of the pens from this line, links at the bottom). Notwithstanding my love for the fountain, ballpoint, and multi pens, it’s taken me quite some time to add the Lamy 2000 rollerball to my arsenal. I finally did so earlier this year, as I was in the midst of rediscovering my love for the smooth writing experience that quality rollerballs have to offer.

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The rollerball version of the Lamy 2K features the same brushed stainless steel on the section, and even the same little metal “wings” on the pen that secure the cap.

Fans of the Lamy 2000 fountain pen won’t notice much difference between the fountain pen and the rollerball pen bodies. The first thing you will notice is that it appears to be the exact same body, including the piston knob, which on the rollerball unscrews to allow you to change the refill. Sure, the section is different, but given that the fountain pen features a hooded nib, the overall appearance of the pen doesn’t vary that much between the fountain pen and rollerball versions. The cap and clip remain the same, as does the brushed stainless steel grip section. The balance of the two pens is also quite similar, though the rollerball weighs a bit more, curiously, despite the absence of the fountain pen piston mechanism.

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Swapping out the rollerball cartridge is pretty simple: just unscrew the back end of the pen and drop in the refill.

Which brings me to the refill. The standard Lamy rollerball refill is a Schmidt-sourced standard .7mm rollerball cartridge, dubbed the M63, which is certainly smooth but a touch broad for my personal taste. to get a finer tip size, you can either purchase a Schmidt fine-tip rollerball refill, or “upgrade” to my personal favorite, the Montblanc rollerball refill, which writes one of the finer rollerball lines out there and can be made to fit the Lamy 2000 by adding a small spacer - I used a folded up piece of Post-it Note - to the inside of the end cap. Otherwise the refill is too short.

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I noticed no discernible difference between the Lamy 2000 rollerball and fountain pen in-hand. It feels like the same pen to me, which is a good thing.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

The Lamy 2000 Rollerball doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but rather builds on an already great design platform to offer what many people will consider a much more accessible and practical writing instrument. The ability to use high-quality Schmidt or Montblanc rollerball refills is an added bonus. To me, the Lamy 2000 in all its various forms represents the pinnacle of understated, functional design and durability. You simply can’t go wrong with any of them no matter what type of pen you are looking for, be it a fountain pen, ballpoint, multi pen, or rollerball. Now all I need to do is try out the mechanical pencil….

2023 Update: Over the years, I became frustrated that not many retailers were carrying the Lamy 2000 ballpoints and rollerballs and focusing on the non-fountain pen portion of Lamy’s excellent lineup, so I became a retailer! You can now purchase the Lamy 2000 line of pens, including the rollerball, directly from T.G.S. in the Curated Shop.

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A Lamy 2000 Family Portrait: From left, the fountain pen, rollerball, 4 Color Ballpoint/multi pen, and standard ballpoint. The ultimate daily carry?

If you’re interested in reading further on my other reviews of pens in the Lamy 2000 family, check out my reviews of the Lamy 2000 fountain pen, the 4 Color Ballpoint (multi pen), and the standard ballpoint. I highly recommend all of them.

Disclaimer: I purchased the pen featured in this review with my own funds, for my own collection.

Overlooked and Underloved: Three Fountain Pens That Don't Get the Attention They Deserve

The current fountain pen market can be driven to a large degree by hype, with new or “limited edition” pens selling quickly, only to have sales peter out as the novelty wears off and users figure out that maybe those “next big thing” pens aren’t the best for actual daily use. I’ve been as guilty of this as anyone, as some of what I consider to be the best fountain pens in my collection have unfortunately fallen by the wayside. Today I’ll take a look at three pens that have been around for a while, but don’t necessarily get a lot of attention on pen blogs and websites and social media. That’s unfortunate because all three are exceptional, well-balanced writing instruments that are generally reliable “out of the box” and available at most pen retailers. I’m talking about the Pilot Custom 74, the Pilot Custom Heritage 92, and, yes, the Lamy 2000.

You can read my full write-up on the Pilot Custom 74 here.

Pilot Custom 74. At the top of my list of pens that deserve more attention is the Pilot Custom 74. We did end up selling a handful of these pens in Baltimore, and these colorful demonstrators are what I consider to be one of the better bargains on the market. For $176, which is rapidly becoming the price point for many steel-nib pens, you get a sweet 14k Pilot rhodium-plated nib, paired with Pilot’s high-capacity pump converter, the CON-70. You can also use Pilot’s cartridges if you prefer the convenience, and they hold a ton of ink and last forever. The rhodium trim on this pen nicely complements the jewel-like acrylics. I own the blue version, and Violet, Orange, Smoke, and Clear versions are also available, along with two limited editions arriving in the coming months. Stay tuned!

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I’ve previously written a full review of the Custom Heritage, but the orange acrylic version has become somewhat more difficult to find, even online.

Pilot Custom Heritage 92. Sitting at a slightly higher price point than the Custom 74 is the Custom Heritage 92, which runs $220 and pairs the same 14k nib from the Custom 74 with an integrated piston filler. One of the main reasons that I love Pilot pens is the mix of quality and price - with the exception of the Lamy 2000 (discussed below), it’s rare that you will find a quality piston-filling fountain pen with a gold nib for under $300. The main drawback to the Custom Heritage is the fact that it’s only available in a single color. At one point Pilot made this pen for the Japanese market in orange, blue, and smoke as well, with the different colors being readily available online, but those appear to be phased out and are not as readily available as they once were. I recently saw someone trying to sell the orange version for close to $1,000, which is silly.

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Most people won’t notice that the Lamy 2000 fountain pen isn’t a ballpoint or a rollerball.

Lamy 2000. And finally, we get to an old standby that rarely sits uninked and out of my rotation for long. Talk about a pen that’s not “sexy” in the traditional sense: the minimalist, somewhat brutal, fiberglass design of this pen hasn’t changed at all since the 1960s, and it certainly isn’t going to win you any “likes” (or generate much blog traffic, for that matter), but if I were to open a pen store, you can bet that I’d stock these in all available nib sizes and try to push them on everyone who walked through the door looking for a durable, bottle-filling daily writer. Especially for an office professional, the Lamy 2000 gives you an understated, reliable pen with a large ink capacity that can get you through long meetings, hearings, depositions, or whatever your need may be. It’s first on my list of “workhorse pens.”

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So what prompted this post? At last week’s Baltimore Pen Show, a handful of people came by the Vanness Pens table and described to me what they were looking for. In a few instances, the Pilots would have made a perfect match but didn’t get any consideration at all. I sensed a real hesitation to give these pens a chance, whether because they were slightly more expensive than steel-nib options that customers ended up purchasing, or simply because some people hadn’t heard of these pens before or hadn’t seen them online. Don’t get me wrong - if a pen doesn’t speak to you, then don’t spend your money on it. But one of my resolutions for this year was to shift the focus of the blog from merely following market trends back to highlighting those products that I love and believe will serve readers well over the long term. Sometimes the best option isn’t the newer, shinier release - it’s the old standard that’s been around for many years, for good reason, and you owe it to yourself as a user and enthusiast to give these pens a chance.

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Six “Workhorse Pens”, from left: Pilot Custom 74, Pilot Custom Heritage 92, Lamy 2000, Montblanc 146 Ultra Black, Lamy Safari, and Faber-Castell e-Motion Pure Black.

Disclaimer: As of 2020, T.G.S. is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.