Lamy Safari Rollerball Pen Review

Lamy makes some pretty cool products.​  The company has been around for awhile and have always seemed to have an edge on a more modern design.

Although the Safari is actually one of their entry level pens, it really is still an astounding pen.​

This particular model is a rollerball, but the Safari also comes in a ballpoint and the more prevalent fountain pen style.  I have a Safari Vista fountain pen that I'll review sometime soon that I've also been pleased with. ​

They are made of a dense, molded plastic and are quite sturdy and have a very recognizable strong steel clip.

The Lamy Safari often comes in a variety of vibrant colors like yellow, orange, green... my blue selection was a bit more conservative compared to some.  Still, it is a nice looking shiny blue.

From what I've heard, the Safari is often used in grade schools around Europe to teach children how to hold a pen properly.​  The grip section has a very unique faceted three-sided, triangular shape that forces you to put your thumb, index, and middle finger in the "right" place.  Quite clever, Lamy!  Kudos.

I've always had a pretty normal grip, so the pen is quite comfortable for me to hold.​

I like rollerballs generally and the Lamy doesn't seem to disappoint.  It writes very smooth and lays down a thick line.  The Doane Paper I use is pretty thick and absorbs ink, but with as much as the Lamy puts down it didn't bleed through.  On other less porous paper the ink likely floats a bit better.​

Kaweco AL Sport Ballpoint - Glossy Silver Pen Review

When I first saw the glossy silver offering on Jetpens for the Kaweco, I was completely stunned at how striking they were.  It isn't very often that you see a pen and keep getting drawn back because of how good it looks.  Perhaps it was just their great photography?  Once it arrived, I found this was not the case, but that the pen really IS striking!

This was my first Kaweco product (start big, right?...or small?) and can admit that I am thoroughly impressed by the build quality.  This particular pen body is made of aluminum and is finished with a high polish chrome that gives it a mirror-like finish.  Again, very striking.​  The pen feels solid in your hands and has a decent weight, although not heavy by any means.  The knock mechanism is quieter than I expected and almost seems pressurized when you push it, but has a smooth and solid feel. 

The only downside for me of this pen is how small it is.  Being a smidge over 4 inches means that it is small for sure.  I wouldn't say it is uncomfortable to use, but isn't ideal.  The knock pushes into the fleshy part of the hand between the thumb and index finger rather than sticking into the air like most pens.  Also, I almost feel that the pen diameter is somewhat disproportionate to the length; too wide for how short.  If it was 1/2" longer it'd probably be perfect.​  Ok, there are two downsides: as striking as the mirror-like finish is, this thing is prone to fingerprints and scratches.  The knock after only a few uses has already shown signs of wear from making light contact with the body.

I switched the refill out for a Fisher Space Pen multi-pen refill as the Kaweco ballpoints tend to be lacking; this was true upon testing when it arrived.  The Fisher refill is actually pretty awesome just by itself!  It has these break points in the refill where you snap it to the right length.  Kind of weird, but strangely enjoyable?  Like a sort of bubble wrap effect.​  I've found I can't go wrong with a Fisher refill.

Although this particular Kaweco isn't one I could see myself using daily, I enjoy having it.  My first impression of Kaweco's quality is quite good and I imagine there will be more of them to come.​

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Karas Kustoms - Render K White Delrin

First thing, if you haven't checked out Karas Kustoms, you should.  

My main appeal to these pens is not just that they look amazing and are high quality, it's the guys behind the curtain making it happen.  Being a local Phoenician, I have the privilege of popping by the shop to pick up a pen for myself or a friend wherein I get the opportunity to chat with Bill, Dan, and the crew on their latest projects, business, etc.  Seriously, a group of top notch guys that love designing, creating, and manufacturing their own awesome stuff.  In house!

This particular Render K is kind of a unicorn.  In talking with Dan, the guys were experimenting with various materials and an acetyl plastic called Delrin was one of their choices.

The plastic machined so well and has an extremely smooth finish.  It is actually quite amazing how well it did in relation to it's aluminum and brass cousins.  Feels great in the hand, and unlike the metal versions, the cap actually posts.  This isn't a deal breaker for me at all, but to some people a cap has to post.  I believe it is due to the flex in the plastic as opposed to the rigidity of the solid metal.  Since the pen is so light, posting the cap adds no uncomfortable weight to the back whatsoever.  I didn't get out a scale or anything, but I'd bet the delrin Render K is probably less than half the weight of the aluminum version.

Overall, a great, unique pen from the guys over at Karas that I'm glad to add to my collection!