LAMY safari: Nib Sizes, Cartridges & Converter
The LAMY safari is a plastic cartridge/converter fountain pen designed in 1980 and made by C. Josef Lamy GmbH in Heidelberg, Germany. It has a molded grip, a spring clip and an ink window, and takes push-on steel nibs from EF to B plus a left-hand nib. It uses LAMY T10 cartridges or the Z28 converter.
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Product facts
- Product
- LAMY safari Fountain Pen
- Brand
- LAMY
- Brand origin
- Germany
- Made in
- Germany*
- Material
- ASA plastic body, steel nib
- Released
- 1980*
- Price range
- $$$$20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count)
Notes on these facts
- Made by C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.). Made in Germany: LAMY's own product listing (India storefront) gives Germany as the country of origin and names C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg, as the manufacturer, and also says made in Germany. LAMY's German page names no country. Source. Price: example listing. Released: Museum Boijmans and LAMY's India listing give 1980; LAMY's German page says the safari was introduced in the 1980s.
- Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
- Goulet Pens measures the safari at 139.5 mm (5.5 in) capped, 163.9 mm (6.5 in) posted and 17.0 g; LAMY's German site lists 12 × 12 × 144 mm and 16 g.
- LAMY credits the 1980 design to the Entwicklungsgruppe Mannheim under Prof. Dr. Bernt Spiegel, with Wolfgang Fabian in the group; LAMY Germany lists it at €22.90 (about US$26).
- Nibs: EF, F, M and B, plus a left-hand (LH) nib and 1.1 and 1.5 mm italics, all swappable by hand.
- It takes LAMY T10 cartridges or the Z28 converter, the one LAMY pairs with it; Goulet says the lug-free Z27 also fits but doesn't lock into the grip notches.
- LAMY's own listing gives Germany as the country of origin.
What is the LAMY safari?
The LAMY safari is a plastic fountain pen with a steel nib, made in Heidelberg, Germany, by C. Josef Lamy GmbH. It fills from LAMY cartridges or a converter, and is sold in standard colors plus special editions such as springgreen and lightrose.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen holds the safari in its design collection and dates it to 1980, crediting Wolfgang Fabian and the Entwicklungsgruppe Mannheim. LAMY’s German site calls the safari a creation of that group under Professor Dr. Bernt Spiegel, with Fabian as a member, and says it has been sold since the 1980s.
LAMY is now part of Mitsubishi Pencil, the Japanese maker of the uni-ball ZENTO Signature: LAMY announced on February 28, 2024 that its sale to Mitsubishi Pencil was complete, and says headquarters and production stay in Heidelberg.
LAMY safari specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany |
| Type | Cartridge/converter fountain pen with cap |
| Body | ASA plastic, matt or high-gloss by color (per LAMY) |
| Nib | Polished steel, push-on: EF, F, M, B, LH; 1.1 and 1.5 mm italic |
| Ink | LAMY T10 cartridge (one blue included) or Z28 converter |
| Length capped | 139.5 mm (5.5 in) per Goulet; 144 mm per LAMY Germany |
| Length of body | 128.7 mm (5.1 in) |
| Length posted | 163.9 mm (6.5 in) |
| Weight | 17.0 g (about 10 g body, 7 g cap) per Goulet; 16 g per LAMY Germany |
| Article | 1219677 (white, LAMY Germany) |
| German list price | €22.90 (about US$26) |
| Designed | 1980 |
| Made in | Germany (per LAMY) |
Lengths and weight are Goulet Pens’ measurements; LAMY’s German shop gives 144 mm and 16 g, and Museum Boijmans 13.8 cm. Materials, cartridge, price and origin come from LAMY’s listings.
What makes the safari’s design different?
The safari has a molded grip, a large spring clip and an ink window, and a flattened body so it doesn’t roll. LAMY’s listing describes the self-sprung clip, the flattened shape and the viewing window that shows how much ink is left.
Wikipedia says the grip section is non-round, shaped for a tripod grip. If you hold a pen differently, try one before buying several.
Which LAMY safari nib should you choose?
Choose EF or F for small handwriting and thin paper, M for a wetter everyday line, and LH if you write left-handed.
- EF (Extra Fine): the finest line; good in a pocket notebook or a planner.
- F (Fine): the middle choice for everyday writing.
- M and B (Medium, Broad): more ink on the page; best on smooth, heavier paper such as a Rhodia DotPad.
- LH (Left-handed): ground for left-handed writers.
- 1.1 and 1.5 mm italic: sold separately for lettering.
The nibs push on and pull off by hand, so you can swap sizes without buying another pen.
What cartridges and converter does the LAMY safari use?
The safari takes LAMY T10 cartridges or the LAMY Z28 converter, not standard international cartridges.
| Part | Fits safari? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T10 cartridge | Yes | One blue T10 comes with the pen |
| Z28 converter | Yes | For LAMY’s plastic pens |
| Z24 converter | Yes | Older version of the Z28 |
| Z27 converter | Fits, doesn’t lock (per Goulet) | Packed with metal-bodied LAMY pens such as the Studio; no guide lugs |
A converter lets you fill from bottled ink, which opens up far more colors than LAMY’s cartridges.
How does the safari compare to other pens?
The LAMY safari costs more than the Platinum Preppy and the Pilot Kakuno (both $$, $5–20 per pen), sits with the Pilot Metropolitan in our $$$ band ($20–75), and is the only one of the four with a left-hand nib. All four are steel-nib starter fountain pens; our best fountain pens for beginners guide ranks them.
| LAMY safari | Pilot Kakuno | Pilot Metropolitan | Platinum Preppy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | ASA plastic | Resin | Brass | Clear polycarbonate |
| Nibs | EF, F, M, B, LH, italics | EF, F, M | F, M, 1.0 stub | 02 EF, 03 F, 05 M |
| Filling | T10 cartridge or Z28 converter | Pilot cartridge or converter | Pilot cartridge or converter (included) | Platinum cartridge or converter |
| Weight | 17.0 g | 11.0 g | 26.0 g | 13 g |
| Price band | $$$ | $$ | $$$ | $$ |
Pick the Preppy as the cheapest test of fountain pens, the Kakuno for a fine Japanese nib at a low price, the Metropolitan for a heavier metal body, and the safari for the widest nib choice and swappable nibs. Figures for the other three come from their guides.
Fountain pen ink is wetter than ballpoint ink, so paper matters more: test a page of your notebook first. Our Leuchtturm1917 Medium A5 guide covers one popular option.
Where is the LAMY safari made?
LAMY’s own listing gives Germany as the country of origin, with C. Josef Lamy GmbH in Heidelberg as the manufacturer. The same LAMY listing also says made in Germany. The Mitsubishi Pencil ownership hasn’t changed the stated origin in the sources we found.
How much does a LAMY safari cost?
The safari is in our $$$ price band, $20–75 per pen. It’s an inexpensive fountain pen, but still costs more than most gel pens; LAMY’s German shop lists it at €22.90 (about US$26), and a converter and spare nibs are extra.
Frequently asked questions
What nib sizes does the LAMY safari come in?
LAMY sells the safari with Extra Fine (EF), Fine (F), Medium (M) and Broad (B) steel nibs, plus a left-hand (LH) nib. Italic 1.1 and 1.5 mm nibs are sold separately; availability varies by color and shop.
What ink cartridges does the LAMY safari use?
It takes LAMY T10 cartridges, and LAMY includes one blue T10 with the pen. Standard international cartridges don't fit LAMY pens.
Which converter fits the LAMY safari?
The LAMY Z28 converter fits the safari and LAMY's other plastic-bodied pens. LAMY packs the lug-free Z27 with its metal-bodied pens such as the Studio; Goulet says it also fits the safari, but it doesn't lock into the grip's notches the way the Z28 does.
Can you change the nib on a LAMY safari?
Yes. LAMY steel nibs push on and pull off the feed by hand, so you can swap an F for an EF or an italic without tools. Spare nibs are sold separately.
How long is the LAMY safari?
Goulet Pens measures it at 139.5 mm (5.5 in) capped, 128.7 mm (5.1 in) for the body and 163.9 mm (6.5 in) posted, with a total weight of 17.0 g. LAMY's German site lists 144 mm and 16 g, and Museum Boijmans 13.8 cm.
Where is the LAMY safari made?
In Germany. LAMY's own product listing gives Germany as the country of origin and C. Josef Lamy GmbH in Heidelberg as the manufacturer.
Who owns LAMY?
LAMY is part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd., the Japanese maker of uni-ball pens, which completed its purchase of LAMY in early 2024, according to LAMY's February 28, 2024 press release. LAMY is still based in Heidelberg.
Is the LAMY safari made of ABS or ASA plastic?
LAMY's current listings describe the body as ASA plastic: matt in the India listing, high-gloss for the white pen on LAMY's German site. Older sources, including Wikipedia, say ABS, so the material may have changed over the pen's 40-plus years.
Sources
- LAMY (Germany): LAMY safari Füllhalter, white (fountain pen: €22.90, ASA plastic, polished steel nib EF–B and LH, Entwicklungsgruppe Mannheim, 12 × 12 × 144 mm, 16 g, article 1219677)
- LAMY (Germany): Pressebereich (press area: part of Mitsubishi Pencil since spring 2024)
- Goulet Pens: LAMY Z27 & Z28 converters, what's the difference?
- LAMY: LAMY safari fountain pen (country of origin, manufacturer, features)
- LAMY: LAMY safari fountain pen, white
- LAMY: Press release, Mitsubishi Pencil Company takes over LAMY (February 28, 2024)
- LAMY Shop Australia: LAMY safari (journal)
- Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen: Safari (1980, Wolfgang Fabian, 13.8 cm)
- Goulet Pens: LAMY safari fountain pen, charcoal (measurements, MSRP)
- Goulet Pens: LAMY safari fountain pen, steel black (nibs, Z28, T10)
- Blesket: Which LAMY converter, nib or cartridge do you need
- Wikipedia: Lamy (safari designers, materials, Mitsubishi Pencil parent)
- Creative Bloq: A design icon since 1980