If you’ve been following Brassing for long, you’re probably aware that I think pretty highly of the Lamy 2000, and have owned several of them. Lately, though, I’ve learned a few things about the Lamy 2000 that I thought were/are pretty interesting (and potentially very helpful to some of you).
1. OEM nib sizes: EF/F/M/OM/B/OB/BB/OBB – If you’re buying in the States, you’re most likely to find EF/F/M/B from most retailers. But…if you want an oblique or a double-broad, they’re easily sourced through Lamy USA. They offer free nib swaps (you pay the postage) on new pens.
2. Modern Lamy 2000 nibs tend toward the broader side of the stated width. That is, if you purchase an XF, don’t be terribly surprised if it writes more like a skinny-ish F. If you purchase a M, expect it to lay down a line boardering on broad. (This isn’t exactly a brand new revelation, but it’s worth mentioning just the same.)
3. Believe it or not, there was a day when Lamy nibs ran true to size (and potentially even a hair smaller than stated width). I have three Lamy nibs (two of which are vintage) that I alternate in my 2000, and while they’re all a little odd in their own right (one is stainless steel, one is yellow 14K gold, and one is missing the tipping material), they all actually write pretty well. The best part, though? The yellow gold nib is an XF, and it’s a TRUE XF (maybe even finer than that). The stainless nib is a B, and it’s got a naturally stubby cut to it – and it writes a fairly normal-sized broad line.
4. You CAN find nibs for these pens if you want something interesting or need a replacement. Nibs from the Lamy 27-30, 27-31, and 27-32 (all of which which are typically 14K nibs), and steel nibs from the 80 and 99 will all fit the 2000. These pens can sometimes be a bit of a bear to find, but if you’re watching eBay, they do come up from time to time. The best part? These pens featured a full(er) lineup of nib sizes than today’s 2000. Lamy produced nibs in the following sizes: EF, F, FK, M, B, BB, BBB, OF, OM, OB, and OBB. If you’re looking for a monster-sized nib for your 2000, the only place you’ll find a BBB is here, as far as I know.
Note: When looking for the Lamy 27, the models with nibs that will fit the 2000 are the ones with squared-off ends, not the rounded/torpedo-shaped ends.
So, there you have it. A few things that are hopefully helpful for those of you with questions about Lamy 2000 nibs, and how to make yours write the way you want it to! Special thanks to my good friend Gary out in New Jersey for sharing some of this great information with me (and for donating that 14K XF nib when I was in need)! Gary has a very nice collection of Lamy 27s (there are a zillion different models, and I think he has one of almost every one of ’em), and he’s done a tremendous amount of research into the history of these great pens.
*BTW – If you have a Lamy 2000 that’s broken, and you don’t know what to do with it, drop me a line. I might be able to help you out. I’m always on the hunt for parts pens, and perhaps we can work something out that’ll make both of us happy! You can email me here.
Brassing Adds Character 