WTB - Lamy Safari/Al Star Nib

[DavidtheGnome]

I'm looking for a replacement lib for my Lamy Safari. I recently purchased one and the nib it came with is seriously off. I have my doubts about its authenticity but the seller provided proof it came from an authorized retailer. Only way to put my doubts to rest is to see if another Lamy nib fits properly.

[gbryal]

$13 at gouletpens.com

[Chrissy]

If we knew whereabouts in the world you lived, we might be able to recommend the best options for you personally.

I would try Amazon first.

[SIR]

thewritingdesk.co.uk !

[top pen]

If your in the UK you can get them as cheap as £3 for most of the sizes

[DavidtheGnome]

Thanks for all of the replies and recommendations. I live in Ohio and I was mostly interested in identifying someone who has a used nib they are trying to get rid of. I'm trying to minimize my investment since I'm still not confident the pen is 100% legit.

[carlos.q]

Why don't you post some pictures of the pen and let our resident Lamy experts give you their opinion?

[Laura N]

Thanks for all of the replies and recommendations. I live in Ohio and I was mostly interested in identifying someone who has a used nib they are trying to get rid of. I'm trying to minimize my investment since I'm still not confident the pen is 100% legit.

Despite it costing more, at some point there's the value of your time to consider, so if you aren't confident in this pen, why not just return the used pen you bought and pay full price for a new one from an authorized pen dealer or a local brick and mortar?

Especially as a new person, buying from an authorized dealer who specializes in pens means you can be confident of getting a real one. A Safari is not an expensive pen. Isn't it maybe worth the extra $10 or $15 to be sure? Price them at ipenstore, Jetpens, Pen Boutique, Goulet, Anderson and a few other places. Not Amazon, because of third party sellers. Usually Jetpens is cheapest.

[DavidtheGnome]

i wish i could return the pen but that was not part of the terms of sale. here is a photo of the nib in question. has anyone ever seen a similar nib come on a lamy?File_000 (5).jpgFile_001 (1).jpg

[gbryal]

Looks like a perfectly normal Lamy nib. What makes you think it's not?

[Laura N]

If it were counterfeit, you would be able to return it, or to seek a reverse of the charge through your credit card or Paypal, on the grounds of its being a fake.

However, I'm not seeing any obvious signs that your nib is fake. It looks like the fine nib on the yellow one I'm writing with now. But maybe I am missing something that you're seeing in person?

Sometimes a Safari nib can seem looser or tight than normal, or it writes wider or more narrower than some others of the same size, but that's normal sample variation in these things, in my experience.

I can take a photo of mine tomorrow if you like.

[DavidtheGnome]

My cell phone camera may not show enough detail. The slit running from the breather hole to the end of the nob does not divide the times evenly. The left tine has substantially more natural than the right tine

[gbryal]

That's not an impossible defect from a steel nib in a $25 pen, it can happen with other nibs too. It'd certainly be grounds for an exchange on a new pen, but on this used one, I think your only option is to buy a new nib. You can try Lamy's warranty service, which doesn't specify original owner only. If it's not a Lamy pen, they'll tell you. There will possibly be a charge, but if the slit was made incorrectly, that's clearly their fault. But shipping there and back will cost more than a new nib on a safari.

http://www.lamyusa.com/warrantyinfo.php

[gbryal]

I should also ask, does it write badly? If not, it doesn't really matter where the slit is.

[DavidtheGnome]

Yes, it's quite scratchy even on good paper and will only really write at one angle which feels forced. I know that pens have a sweet spot but this feels more like only one position will get a consistent flow of ink.

[Laura N]

As someone who has sent pens in to Lamy before, it's probably cheaper to just buy a brand new nib from Jetpens or a local store if you can't find a used one here.

Note that you could have a real Lamy nib that is either faulty or scratchy. Maybe someone did some poor amateur nibwork, or maybe it was just manufactured that way. I don't see the tine imbalance, but I'll take your word for it. Your breather hole or whatever that is, looks just like the ones in a real Lamy nib, as does the writing on the nib, but who knows. One other mark of fake Lamy nibs is the location of the breather hole, so that's another thing to look at.

If it helps, here are two of mine. That is ink on the yellow but the Vista is empty.

IMG_4543.jpg

[gbryal]

I think the issue is the slit cut didn't start at the center of the point and came in at the side of the breather hole. Now that it's pointed out it seems pretty clear, especially in the blurry picture, actually. That would result in more tipping material on one side than the other.

[DavidtheGnome]

I ended up just going ahead and picking up a new nib directly from Goulet. Thanks all for your help.