So I have: - Parker 51 Aeromatic - Lamy 2000 - Lamy Studio - Esterbrook J - Esterbrook SJ I used to have: - Pilot Decimo The P51 Aeromatic is my absolute favorite pen design. I don't write much any more, but when I do, that is the one I reach for. I like my Lamy 2000, too, but the hood design is the older one. It is prone to ink seeping through the seams and staining fingers. A design defect that they have since corrected. What got you into fountain pens? I did it by accident. Bought a cheap disposable pilot one day by mistake. I used it and realized that ballpoints felt terrible in the hand. I'd just never realized because I didn't have anything to compare them to.
Why did you used to have a Decimo? I've been seriously thinking about buying one of these.
I ended up having two complaints with it. A minor complaint: filling it is a little disappointing with a converter. The converter capacity is not very large, and the design of the pen makes it tricky at times to actually pickup ink. Especially in an ink bottle that isn't filled to the brim. The larger complaint was that it slipped in my hands during extended use. I'm an exceptionally sweaty guy, and my hands are particularly bad. I think it was more that I wasn't a good fit for the pen than the other way around. Which is a shame, because mine was a Fine point, and I loved the way it wrote. If I'd had an easier time gripping it I would have loved the heck out of it, I think.
Hmm. Now I'm back to undecided. My primary interest is because I use EF nibs, and I've damaged two nibs so far (one cheap, one expensive) by leaving the cap off and having those pens roll off the table. My hope is that the retractable nature of the Decimo will make that less likely.
If it helps, they're also less likely to roll to begin with thanks to the fact that the pen's clip is built into the grip. Just be sure to keep an eye on it when filling if you do get it. The nib/feed/converter assembly does like to roll when not inside the pen.My hope is that the retractable nature of the Decimo will make that less likely.
Sure! It is a well thought out pen design. Very comfortable in my hand, and easy to take apart. If you want to completely take it apart, you can, but be careful with the piston mechanism. I marred the threading on mine, and now the twist when plunging is stiffer and toothy. If you want to buy one used, try to get one with a solid metal section / nib hood / grip. Like I said above, the older design for this part is the biggest complaint I have with my pen. The seam between the plastic and the metal is where my fingers sometimes go during writing, and ink would slowly seeps through and stains me. What I'm talking about here is, when you flip the pen over and look and the under side of the nib, the plastic U shape where the nib meets the pen. Not where the metal section joins with the fiberglass body. The 2000 is prone to 'burping' ink into the cap due to temperature changes. Often times it will need a wipe after uncapping. The fiberglass body is a really nice experience. It feels 'warm' or like an organic material to the touch. Similar to a textured wood. My nib was a dry writer when I got it. I spread the tines to make it much wetter, but it wasn't bad out of the box. The 2000's nib is different (smaller) than the rest of Lamy's line. There is one compatible pen from their history, the Lamy 27. The 27 had some nib grinds available that the modern 2000 doesn't have. I've often thought about swapping out my Medium nib with an Oblique Double Broad from a 27. It's a semi-hooded nib, so it does ...ok... if you leave it uncapped on the desk for a while. You'll find you can take a moment's pause with having problems with dry out. If that pause becomes a pondering rest, though, you should probably recap it. The nib feels soft and supple, but not springy when writing. My pen is 7 3/4 years old. The body is free from scratches or signs of abuse. It looks like it did when I got it. Writing reviews isn't a strong suite of mine. If you'd like to hear something about it in specific, let me know. There is an interesting post about the design of the pen on FPN
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this out for me! I'm so glad to have something that isn't from goulet pen's marketing team. Overall, if you knew everything you know about the pen now, would you buy it if you were me? My collection is mostly pretty low end, I think this would be the priciest one I will have purchased.
Hmmmmm. The problem is that I don't really know how you'll use the pen, or how much you'd value owning it. There are lots of pens that I've heard hyped up and then found disappointing in person. Mine was a gift, and has emotional attachments. It's an iconic pen, and I'm glad I have it. If it were ran over by a semi truck, would I replace it? Yes. I wouldn't pay $150+ for it, though. I'd either bide my time and wait for a sale, or purchase used. I'd have a hard time justifying that kind of price for any pen. If both my Parker 51 and Lamy 2000 got ran over, I'd replace the Parker first. For me, the Parker is a better pen. It'd also be more economic pen to acquire. Limiting myself to piston fillers, the 2000 would definitely be my choice. I'm not sure if this was helpful or not.