Lamy Safaris are pens that Lamy has produced for more than 40 years. The design, like most Lamy pens, is such that form follows function. The triangle grip of the pen is an excellent example of this. It is specially designed to teach children the “correct” grip.

The pen’s clip also has a unique and extremely functional design. There are two holes (ink windows) in the pen housing through which you can see the ink level in the cartridge/converter. Very simple but functional. The clip has small notches where you caught it holding it.

Lamy releases special editions of the Safari in new colors every year. The standard editions come with a glossy, smooth finish. The special editions have a matte finish with a bit of texture. I like the special editions a little better than the standard editions because I think the texture gives more grip and looks nicer.

Safaris are an excellent choice for people who want to try out different nibs because they come with a wide selection of nibs, from Extra Fine to 1.9 mm stub and left-handed.

If you really wanted to, you could even put a 14-carat gold nib on it. That’s because the Safari uses the standard Lamy nib, which is the same nib as on the Logo, CP, Dialog 3, and Imporium.

I have four different Safaris with different nibs. An EF, M, 1.1mm stub and a 14k F. They all write fine and without any problems. Because the grip really forces you to adopt a triangle grip while writing, the pen can be uncomfortable for some people. Even if you use a standard triangle grip, it can sometimes be annoying to be forced to use a grip.

I have the fine nib in my pen. Although it is only a small nib, it is one of my smoothest nibs. The nib also writes wet for a fine nib. The clip doesn’t bother me while writing. I usually like the clip because I always know how to hold the pen, just like with the Lamy Safari.

However, the clip is not for everyone. If you don’t use the standard triangle grip, the pen is definitely not for you. That’s why I recommend trying it out before buying one.

The 1.1mm stub writes less smoothly than the other points. However, it is not that it is annoying to write with it. An advantage of a stub point is that it gives your handwriting more character because the vertical lines are thicker than the horizontal.

The medium writes a good, slightly wet line, as expected from a medium point. With this nib, I notice a bit of feedback every now and then. I think it’s quite a standard medium nib.

The extra fine writes a nice thin line, but it is not as thin as with Japanese extra fine points. This nib writes on the wet side and has a bit of feedback, but that’s to be expected with an extra fine point. I would use this nib for everyday use, such as writing notes on cheaper paper or for practicing writing.

The fine nib slightly differs because I only have it in 14-carat gold. So, of course, it writes a little differently than the steel nib because gold has a little more spring, and more time has been spent making the nib. I love this nib to write with.

I also find it slightly comical that a Safari can have a gold nib as standard. The extra spring of the gold ensures that this nib is great for all types of paper.

The cap can be placed on the pen without any problems. But because the pen does not weigh much, I think that the pen becomes too heavy at the back. I also think the pen becomes just too long. That’s why I use the pen without putting the cap on.

Safaris uses Lamy’s cartridges/converter. The pen comes with a blue cartridge as standard, but unfortunately, you have to buy a converter yourself. The converter has two small dots that stick out. These click into the pen so that the converter cannot rotate during filling. Once again, this shows that a lot of thought has gone into the pen.

Lamy Safaris are well-built pens that come in many colors. You can also choose from an extensive selection of nibs, which, in my experience, work well. If you really want it, putting a 14k gold nib on the Safari is possible. Unfortunately, the grip is not for everyone.

Even if you have a triangle grip, it may not work for you. But the grip does ensure that the pen is excellent for children (or adults) who want to learn to write well. I think the Safari is a nice pen, and I’m a fan of the special editions.