New Arrivals: Lamy Safari Scarlet, AL-Star Denim and Aubergine, and Petrol and Sepia Inks!

Release day has arrived and we can now sell all of the latest Lamy releases, including Lamy’s latest addition to it’s standard Safari lineup, the new “Scarlet” color, as well as the latest 2025 AL-Star Special Editions in Denim and Aubergine. Denim is a lighter blue paired with a transparent orange section, while Aubergine is a dusty purple paired with a transparent green section. Since the new Lamy Scarlet pens are part of the standard lineup, they are sold alongside the standard Safari fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint, and mechanical pencil offerings. The 2025 AL-Star Special Editions are likewise available as fountain pens, rollerballs, ballpoints, and mechanical pencils. View these and other Lamy pens here.

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Two New Standard Inks: Lamy Petrol (Yes!) and Lamy Sepia

Following up on last-year’s addition of Lamy Dark Lilac to the regular lineup, Lamy has decided to bring back Petrol, another acclaimed limited edition ink that in recent years has started to command a premium on the secondary market. Personally, I prefer the new release - due to dye availability it’s a slightly different formulation and therefore appears darker (which I like). Sepia is an entirely new color, which I would describe as a terra cotta orange-brown. Both are now available at standard Lamy ink pricing. You can check out a video of me swatching the Petrol ink on our YouTube channel.

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Lamy Petrol is a dark teal-black, while Sepia is more of a terra cotta orange/red/brown.

First Look: 2024 Lamy Special Edition Safari and Inks

Lamy takes a lot of criticism - some fair, some not - about a perceived lack of “risk-taking” in their product line, especially when it comes to special editions. Frankly, Lamy tends to err on the side of caution, releasing pens (ahem, Safaris) certain to sell well among a broader, more casual audience even if they don’t excite the pen enthusiast crowd. As a longtime Lamy fan, this year’s Safari release is a welcome departure from what Lamy typically does, and I hope it signals the beginning of more experimentation with color.

Two New 2024 Lamy Safari Designs: “Violet Blackberry” and “Pink Cliff”

This year, Lamy appears to have specifically responded to criticism of their recent limited edition “Strawberries and Cream” Safari release for failing to mix and match colors. This time, not only have they given us multicolored Safaris, but these have radically different barrels and sections, including one pen with a hot pink section that caught me totally by surprise with how good it looked.

I love that one of the two pens is glossy and the other is matte. Many enthusiasts strongly prefer one of the two Safari finishes, and I’ll take a matte Safari any day.

“Violet Blackberry” features a two-toned purple finish, with a glossy muted dark violet/eggplant barrel and a brighter, matte section in a tone of purple that I assume is the “blackberry” portion of this pen. Paired with a black clip and nib, both colors make for a nice combination. That said, I’m partial to the second pen “Pink Cliff.” (Shocking, right?) Despite finding the name a bit confusing, I’m all over this one, which pairs a matte slate-blue barrel with a bright pink section.

Each pen has a cap finial to match the section. The colors look much more vibrant (and honestly better) in person than they did in the early promotional photos that Lamy released. I hope that once people see these pens in person - or see retailers’ own product photos - the pens will get more attention.

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Two New Matching Inks for 2024

As I mentioned up top, I consider Lamy to be at their best when they release darker inks. Their lighter tones tend toward undersaturation, but their standard blue-black remains a favorite, and past limited edition inks such as Petrol and Dark Violet command steep prices on the secondary market. Though perhaps not quite as unique as those two tones, this year’s “Cliff” and “Violet Blackberry” releases return to that darker palette. I would describe “Cliff” as a dark navy with subtle red/pink sheen, and the more conservative of the two options. “Violet Blackberry” will get the most attention - it’s a super-sheener ink that lays down a dark purple line when wet, but a gold sheen takes over almost immediately. Despite the heavy sheen, the ink seems to behave well, and my initial swatch didn’t have issues with smearing after it dried. Longer term testing will be required, of course.

I love the base tones for both of these inks. As you’ll see in the next picture, the gold sheen appears as the ink dries and will cover most of the purple, in the same way that the greenish sheen on Dark Lilac did in wetter pens.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Though the color combinations are somewhat nontraditional, I really enjoy what Lamy has done this year. So far, Pink Cliff is my favorite of the two pen designs, mainly because of the matte finish. The juxtaposition of the blue-grey and “hot pink” will also annoy people at work - even better! (j/k) And while I can’t yet declare a favorite between the two inks, I suspect I will lean towards “Cliff” because I’m a sucker for really deep blues. That said, I’m absolutely inking up both this morning into their respective matching pens, and plan to write with them for a while before declaring a winner. I’m not normally a fan of the so-called “sheen monster” inks, but I might enjoy Violet Blackberry if keeps up the good behavior.

Since the TGS Curated Shop is an authorized Lamy retailer, we have stock of all of the new Lamy Safari pens, including fountain pens and rollerballs. We also have limited stock of the bottled ink, though we can probably get more if it sells out quickly. When I visited with Lamy at NY Now earlier this month, I didn’t get the impression that supply was overly limited, though the cartridges are not yet available.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

Triangular Grip Pens: Love 'em or Leave 'em?

In the world of pens, there are a handful of highly polarizing products, and I’d place “molded grip” or “triangular grip” pens in the top five. The most well-known, of course, is the iconic Lamy Safari, with the Lamy AL-Star, TWSBI ECO-T, Kaweco Perkeo and others falling into this category. So why do pen companies opt for this type of design? How big of a “real world” issue is it? And how has it affected my own ability to use these pens?

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The Lamy Safari’s grip gives rise to strong opinions.

Triangular Grip Pens: Origins and Purpose

Before they went hipster mainstream (j/k), pens like the Lamy Safari were intended for students - particularly students learning to write with a fountain pen for the first time. Most molded grip sections are shaped similarly to those slide-on pencil grips that teachers in the 1980s would force on those of us who refused to hold our pencils “correctly,” in order to guide our hands into the “proper” position. These days, Lamy markets the Safari/AL-Star pens to a market beyond students, billing the section as an “[e]rgonomically shaped grip area to enable writing for long periods of time without tiring,” but as with most things ergonomic, these pens don’t work for everyone. While I’ve not done any sort of survey, anecdotally, lefties tend to have more issues with the grip, since they’re designed with the right-handed majority in mind. And even those righties with nontraditional finger placement can have a difficult time with a shaped section.

The Lamy AL-Star grip section, left, vs. the TWSBI ECO-T. The AL-Star features a grip similar to the Safari, but due to the difference in materials doesn’t feel quite as sharp, at least to me. The TWSBI ECO-T has a subtly triangular shape that I don’t really notice much at all, though it is there.

My Own Personal Handwriting Struggles and Preferences

I have a history of handwriting struggles. Until I entered college, I used what could charitably be described as an “unusual” pencil grip. Nobody could understand how it worked, how I learned it, and why I continued to write that way. Despite the fact that I was generally a good student, with visually excellent script, I regularly received a “C” or “D” in “handwriting” on my report card, solely due to how I held my pencil. I had one elementary school teacher dub my grip “The Claw”, and made it their personal mission in life to change it. They failed.

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I had another teacher in high school “jokingly” offer to break my right hand so that I could relearn how to write as a lefty. (I went to an all-boys high school. It was a different time.) Honestly, I’m really not sure how I ever wrote like this, much less for hours at a time. I certainly would never have been able to use a fountain pen like this.

At some point The Claw became a matter of personal pride, not to mention practicality. If you grip your pen or pencil a certain way for years, you reach a point in high school where you can’t change it because to do so would sacrifice speed. (To add some context, I graduated from high school in 1998, which dates me but it’s necessary here. I was probably one of the last classes where e-mail and internet access was available to us, but not required, and all of our examinations and most of our homework, including research papers, had to be handwritten as opposed to typed. Handwriting speed was therefore a factor. I understand that this changed at my school a couple of years after I graduated.) It wasn’t until late college/early law school, when I started transcribing most of my lecture notes on a laptop, that I was able to change my grip because I had the luxury of slowing down.

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How I hold a pencil today.

So why did I change? RSI issues in my hand and wrist, as well as a semi-deformed right ring finger that had a huge, painful callous that only completely disappeared three or four years ago - nearly 20 years after I changed my handwriting style. While my current grip isn’t “textbook,” it’s closer to what’s contemplated by most molded-grip pens, and if I’m honest, probably could have saved me a lot of trouble over the long-term if I hadn’t been so stubborn.

My new grip works fairly well with the Safari and most other molded-grip pens.

How to Use a Triangular or Molded-Grip Pen

Unfortunately, the truth is that unless you’re willing to change your grip, these pens either work for you or they don’t. Some pens, like the TWSBI ECO-T and the Kaweco Perkeo, feature a “softer” triangular grip that’s much more forgiving. The sharper edges of the Safari and AL-Star tend to cause more problems for people. While the Lamy pens aren’t a perfect fit, and for this reason have never become “favorite” everyday writers, they’re not incompatible with my current grip because I can rest my index finger on the top ridge, similar to how I’m able to rest my finger atop the clip of a Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo. The good thing is that these pens are relatively inexpensive to test out, coming in at $35 or less. If you’re considering a more expensive pen like one of the retractable nib Pilot pens, I’ve found that how one’s hand holds the Safari approximates how you would have to grip a Vanishing Point or Decimo, so if you can’t get to a pen show and try one of these in person, picking up a less expensive pen with a triangular grip might save you from a more costly mistake.

A shot of the TWSBI ECO-T (right) vs. the standard TWSBI ECO (left). You can barely make out a ridge (more like a ripple) on the ECO-T, which shows you how subtle the shape is. Honestly, I might prefer the ECO-T to the ECO, but again that’s personal preference.

I’m interested in hearing: How many of you can’t use these types of pens at all? Also, I rarely hear from anyone who purchases a pen with a shaped grip specifically for that section, but does anyone particularly enjoy this feature? Personally, I’ve really been enjoying the the ECO-T, which has a much more subtle grip shape, and I have plans to get my hands on another Kaweco Perkeo soon.

The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop, and pledges via the T.G.S. Patreon Program. While this post does not contain third-party affiliate links or paid advertising, the Gentleman Stationer is an authorized retailer of certain brands discussed in this article. Please view the shop for the full range of brands sold, which is subject to change.

Lamy Safari "Candy" Special Edition Part II: The Ballpoint

The Lamy Safari ballpoint gets little love or attention, and it’s not fair. At $16 retail, this pen is not only a must-have for the Lamy fan who needs a functional writer for “everyday” use, but it also makes a great gift for someone who appreciates fun writing instruments but may not necessarily be ready to dive into the world of fountain pens. Honestly, I’m a little embarrassed to be writing this review six years into this blog, having never owned, or even used, one of these pens until now.

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The Lamy Safari ballpoint features the same triangular grip as the fountain pen, but it’s much more subtle and less pronounced.

This pen is nothing fancy - just a plastic retractable ballpoint that uses Lamy’s proprietary M16 refill. At one time, Lamy ballpoints had a reputation for being dry writers that failed to leave a solid, visible line on the page. (If you’ve ever written with a really cheap ballpoint pen that “skips,” you’ll know what I’m talking about.) In recent years, these refills have performed remarkably better, to the point where my Lamy Pico pocket ballpoint and Lamy 2000 ballpoint have become favorites. Based on how much I’ve been enjoying these Safaris, I suspect they will also find a regular spot on my desk.

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The only durability question I have about this pen relates to the rubber knock. Does this rubber harden and crack over time? Has anyone used one of these pens long-term?

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“Lamy” branding opposite the clip.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Look, the Lamy Safari ballpoint pen doesn’t offer anything especially unique in terms of a writing experience, but at the $16 price point, you’re getting a solid writer with the Lamy aesthetic, and there’s not much risk to the purchase. Personally, I always get frustrated because ballpoint pens are either really narrow/skinny, making them uncomfortable to write with for long periods of time, or super chunky and inelegant. The Safari strikes a midpoint and is extremely comfortable to grip. Combined with the accessible price, that’s a major selling point.

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I purchased these Lamy Safari ballpoint pens from Pen Chalet, as part of the same order where I picked up the recently reviewed Lamy Safari Special Edition “Candy” fountain pens. Lamy currently has the “Candy” ballpoints in stock, as well as the standard Safari ballpoints (which are, curiously, slightly more expensive than the special editions). As I mentioned above, these are relatively inexpensive purchases, so if you haven’t tried one, it’s a fun add-on to your next order.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. The Gentleman Stationer is a participant in the Pen Chalet affiliate program, which allows me to earn store credit from referrals and is one way I support the blog and acquire new products for review.

My Workhorse Pens: Lamy Safari "All Black" Special Edition

The Lamy Safari needs no introduction to readers of this blog. It's a "gateway pen" for a lot of people new to the hobby, and due to its reliability, low price, and overall high quality, tends to stick in the pen case long after many other entry-level pens have been sold off or cast aside in favor of "upgrades." The Safari (along with the slightly pricier AL-Star) also provides a relatively inexpensive way to collect special editions, as Lamy releases a new color of each pen for a limited time each year. 

So what makes the Safari a good "Workhorse Pen"? 

• The Nib. The medium steel nib on the Lamy Safari is a personal favorite, and represents a true bargain at the price point. The ink flow is nearly always consistent, even if I can't see much of a difference between the medium and fine nibs. Lamy also sells inexpensive replacement nibs that you can swap in to change nib size, including a 1.1mm stub. 

• Size. The Safari itself is a nice size, posted or unposted. The plastic construction also makes the pen extremely light, which gives it excellent "shirt-pocketability" or, absent a pocket, the ability to clip the pen to the placket. (The wide, funky looking clip is highly functional for this purpose - the pen stays put.) 

• Value Proposition. The Lamy Safari is a great pen that can be found at $30 or less. Given how nice this black-on-black color combination looks, I really wish that Lamy would make the matte black (as opposed to the current "shiny black") part of the regular line.  

• Availability. Any specialty pen store will typically sell the Lamy Safari. Recently, Lamy has made a major marketing push that appears to be geared towards bringing its pens into mainstream consumer channels. This includes opening Lamy boutiques in cities around the world, including NYC, and placing retail displays in Barnes & Noble.  

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A trio of Lamy stainless steel nibs, from left: the Lamy Safari All-Black plated nib; the Lamy LX nib, and the Lamy AL-Star nib. The medium nib on the Lamy LX definitely seems wider.

The biggest potential drawbacks to the Lamy Safari as a daily workhorse are the nontraditional design (i.e., if you work in a stuffier office environment) and the triangular grip section. As to the latter, depending on how you grip your pen, you'll either be able to use it or you won't. I also wish that Lamy would include a converter, rather than a single cartridge of Lamy Blue ink, with the Safari, as many other companies like Pilot manage to do so with their entry level pens that start at even lower price points. My previous review of the Safari from a few years back addresses these issues in a bit more depth.  

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The pen pictured in today's review is this year's special edition Safari, the "All Black." Lamy took some flack this year for going with an "All Black" special edition, especially where they already have a "Charcoal" dark gray model in their regular lineup. I was a bit puzzled myself at the initial announcement, but now that I've had the opportunity to compare the two pens directly, I can confirm that there is a difference. Sure, it's not pronounced, but it's there.  

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The Lamy Safari Umber (from the standard lineup) is on the left, and the Lamy Safari All-Black, this year's special edition, is on the right. 

As an aside, I'm not sure why pen companies decided to double down on the black pen/black trim theme this year, but I assume it's because this color combination has been selling really well. Black pens offer an understated look preferred by many professionals, myself included. In addition to the Lamy Safari All Black, I've recently reviewed the Aurora Talentum "Black Ops" and the Sailor Reglus "Night Black."

A comparison shot of a few similar models of Lamy pens, from left: Lamy Safari All-Black special edition; Lamy AL-Star Vibrant Pink special edition; and the Lamy LX "Ruthenium." 

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I received the pen featured in this review from site Pen Chalet. Pen Chalet carries a wide range of Lamy fountain pens, including the Safari. Currently, they still have the All Black special edition in stock, but eventually they will sell out and Lamy will not make any more, so if you'd like to add one of these to your rotation, pick one up. As I mentioned above, if you don't manage to snag an All-Black, the standard edition "Charcoal" color is a close match, but not exact. 

Disclaimer: I was not paid or compensated for the content of this review, and all opinions here are my own. 

Further Reading

This post is part of a series titled "Workhorse Pens," where I look at those writing instruments that I use most often for everyday writing. Past entries in this series include the Montblanc 146, the Lamy 2000, and the Faber-Castell E-Motion Pure Black.