LamyAl-Star Fountain Pen, Graphite (L26F)

I'm a fountain pen virgin. Or, I was until I recently ordered this LAMY Al-Star pen, refill converter, and Sailor Kiwa-Guro Pigmented Black Ink.I've spent the past several years buying packs of uni-ball black pens because the ink's thickness was just right. And I never had to shake them in order to make them work. They're solid pens. But as I thought about the number of pens I went through - and their cost - I thought it might make more sense to go the fountain pen route. So I hit up the old Google and - after perusing a few fountain pen-aficionado sites - finally decided on this pen to begin my fountain pen journey.And all I can say is "Wow! What a difference a fountain pen makes!" This is a solidly built pen that writes beautifully. The nib isn't too big so the line it draws is about the same as that of my uni-ball fine pens. I wouldn't mind eventually venturing out and trying some different nibs but as an every day nib, this one is perfect. Likewise, the aluminum casing gives it a modern finish and leaves it feeling light in the hand.Likewise, the inside of the pen is well made and feels solid. Some people might not like the angled grip but I happen to like the fact that it directs your fingers exactly where to go. It's also so easy to fill/re-fill that anyone can learn how in a few minutes. The only complaint I have is that it doesn't include any instructions. I got on YouTube to make sure I was getting it set up correctly.As you can see from the images there is a little window in the sides that allow you to see how much ink you have left. This is a nice feature though ultimately unnecessary. I'll know I need ink when my pen quits writing.There's not really anything I would change about it.This may be my first fountain pen but it won't be my last.

An excellent pen for anyone-beginners or long-time fountain pen users alike. The lamy al-star is made of a very nice feeling anodized aluminum body and cap, with a smoky-translucent abs plastic grip. The pen has a quite substantial weight to it, also. It weighs at exactly 22 grams, so it's not light or necessarily heavy for a pen. The pen writes with very minimal effort and is highly recommended. It's also very nicely constructed and thought out,being made by Lamy in Heidelberg, Germany and designed by Wolfgang Fabian. I would recommend purchasing the z24 converter and a bottled ink of your choice with the pen; for me, Noodler's Ottoman Azure.*As a side note, the pen is made of aluminum. If dropped on a hard surface, the pen will most likely dent. If you know your pen will be knocked around and dropped often, you might want to consider consider the Lamy Safari. I have never dented it, but many have.*In summary, this is a higher-end Lamy Safari. Compared to the Safari, this pen is 1mm thicker and weighs 5 grams more, being made out of metal. The pen also looks very sleek and subtle in the graphite color.

I enjoy writing with a fountain pen, but only do so on occasion. I started with a Parker Sonnet, which proved a bit of a disappointment. I couldn't warrant spending that much again on something that I use intermittently, so the Lamy Al Star ended up on my radar. I now own both the graphite and the ocean blue and am very glad that I went this route. The graphite is not as dark as a gun metal color, more of a light gray. The pen is simple, but it is also visually appealing, reliable, and fun to write with. It is not the perfect fit in the hand, but it is not uncomfortable. I probably would not use this pen to write a 10 page letter, but it has served the purpose of jotting notes, editing, and general correspondence admirably. I agree that the tip runs a bit thick compared to other fountain pens that I have used. I prefer a medium point personally and think this fine point falls in that ballpark. If you prefer a fine tip, I would go with the extra fine. The refill converter is readily available and my personal preference. I can't speak to the shelf life of the clip as I keep one in my portfolio and the other loose around my apartment. I have had no issues with the cap, tip, flow, or refill converter with either pen. For the price, it's a wonderful option to have around!

I write with heavy hand, and was taught to start my penmanship using fountain pen as a child. It was a requirement using fountain pen in middle school of my youth.After using my sterling silver 18k nib Montblanc for what seemed ages I retired that pen when I retired from my professional work. I found the Lamy pen when I went shopping with my grandson; he was using a clear plastic Lamy fountain pen. I tried out the one in the store and immediately fell in love with how that medium nib Al-Star model behave when I pressed down on the trial paper pad. I bought that one in gold color for $47 in store plus sales tax.After expensed a box of the cartridge ink in a few days and piles of ink filled paper I practiced on, I found that the design with the two flat holding areas really let me write without causing discomfort in my hand and on my finger tips. I wanted to try one with fine nib, and at the cost of $27 for this purchase I was sold. The pen arrived quickly and I found ink in the nib when I did a routine wash prior to installing new ink cartridge. The nib surface has light stretch markings, but I was very happy to find that it flows smooth on any types of paper I put it on. Evidently this pen's nib was hand lapped and tested prior to shipment. My grandson's clear plastic Lamy with fine nib was scratchy and did not write anywhere like this one. Although the physical weight of both models are almost the same, the handling between them are quite different.I am glad I bought this silverfish charcoal Al-Star fine nib one to accompany the gold color medium nib Lamy.