--- title: "Pilot Metropolitan vs LAMY safari: Nibs, Weight & Ink" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-metropolitan-vs-lamy-safari/" description: "Pilot Metropolitan vs LAMY safari compared: brass vs plastic body, Japanese vs European nibs, cartridges and converters, weight, size, and which to buy." category: "Pens" type: "Fountain pen" published: 2026-10-22 updated: 2026-10-22 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 13 products: - name: "Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen" brand: "Pilot" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "Brass body and cap (painted; per Pilot Japan for the Cocoon and JetPens for the Metropolitan), resin section, steel nib" released: "2012" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-metropolitan/" - name: "LAMY safari Fountain Pen" brand: "LAMY" brand_origin: "Germany" made_in: "Germany" material: "ASA plastic body, steel nib" released: "1980" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count), typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.)" model: "safari Füllhalter" url: "https://www.lamy.com/de-de/p/lamy-safari-fullhalter/54912096764248" guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-safari/" --- # Pilot Metropolitan vs LAMY safari: Nibs, Weight & Ink > Both are steel-nib starter fountain pens in our $$$ band. The Pilot Metropolitan is brass (26 g), with F, M or 1.0 mm stub nibs that run finer and a converter included. The LAMY safari is plastic (17 g), with swappable EF to B and left-hand nibs. Pick the Metropolitan for fine lines, the safari for nib choice. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-metropolitan-vs-lamy-safari/ - Category: Pens - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-22 - Updated: 2026-10-22 ![Black Pilot Metropolitan (153 mm posted, brass body, 26.0 g) above a charcoal LAMY safari (163.9 mm posted, plastic body, 17.0 g), drawn to one scale, with an inset of a steel nib: Pilot F, M and stub, LAMY EF to B](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/pilot-metropolitan-vs-lamy-safari-16x9.png) *Both posted, to scale at 1 mm = 3.4 px, from Goulet Pens measurements.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen | Pilot (by Pilot Corporation (Japan); sold in the US by Pilot Corporation of America) | Japan | Japan | Brass body and cap (painted; per Pilot Japan for the Cocoon and JetPens for the Metropolitan), resin section, steel nib | 2012 | $$$: $20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | | LAMY safari Fountain Pen | LAMY (by C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg (part of Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.)) | Germany | Germany | ASA plastic body, steel nib | 1980 | $$$: $20–75 per pen (multi-packs divided by the count) | - Made in (Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen): Japan. Per Milligram's listing (made in Japan). Pilot's Japanese catalog page for the Cocoon (read in full on October 20, 2026) doesn't state a country. eBay and Rokomari listings cited earlier blocked our access on that date, so we dropped them. Source: https://milligram.com/products/pilot-pen-metropolitan-fountain-pen - Made in (LAMY safari Fountain Pen): Germany. LAMY's own product listing (India storefront) gives Germany as the country of origin and names C. Josef Lamy GmbH, Heidelberg, as the manufacturer, and also says made in Germany. LAMY's German page names no country. Source: https://www.lamy.com/en-in/p/lamy-safari-fountain-pen ## Key takeaways - Weight: Goulet Pens measures the Metropolitan at 26.0 g and the safari at 17.0 g, a 9 g gap from the brass body. - Nibs: the Metropolitan comes in F, M and a 1.0 mm stub, with a Pilot F writing about like a Western EF; the safari in EF, F, M, B and LH, swappable by hand. - Ink: the Metropolitan takes Pilot cartridges and ships with a CON-B or CON-40 converter; the safari takes T10 cartridges, and its Z28 converter (about 0.8 ml) is sold separately. - Size: 138 mm capped and 153 mm posted for the Metropolitan, 139.5 mm and 163.9 mm for the safari (Goulet Pens). - Pilot Japan lists the sibling Cocoon at ¥4,400 (about US$28) and LAMY Germany the safari at €22.90 (about US$26); both sit in our $$$ band. ## Which is better for beginners, the Pilot Metropolitan or the LAMY safari? **Both are proven first fountain pens; the Metropolitan suits small handwriting and a heavier pen, the safari suits nib experiments and left-handers.** They cost about the same and both have steel nibs, cartridges and an optional converter. The [Pilot Metropolitan](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-metropolitan/), sold since 2012, is a brass-bodied pen from Pilot of Japan; our [best fountain pens for beginners](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-fountain-pens-for-beginners/) roundup names it the best overall pick. The [LAMY safari](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-safari/), designed in 1980, is a plastic pen made in Heidelberg, Germany. ## How do the specs compare? **The Metropolitan is heavier and finer; the safari is lighter, longer posted and has more nibs.** | | Pilot Metropolitan | LAMY safari | |---|---|---| | Body | Brass (painted) | ASA plastic | | Weight | 26.0 g (17 g body, 9 g cap) | 17.0 g; LAMY: 16 g | | Steel nibs | F, M, 1.0 mm stub | EF, F, M, B, LH; 1.1 and 1.5 mm italics | | Nib sizing | Japanese (runs finer) | European | | Cartridges | Pilot proprietary (one black included) | LAMY T10 (one blue included) | | Converter | CON-B or CON-40 in the box | Z28, sold separately | | Grip | Slim section: 8.4 mm (Goulet; JetPens 9.8 mm) | Molded tripod flats | | Capped / posted | 138 / 153 mm (5.4 / 6.0 in) | 139.5 / 163.9 mm (5.5 / 6.5 in) | | Made in | Japan (Milligram) | Germany (LAMY) | | Price band | $$$ ($20–75) | $$$ ($20–75) | Measurements are Goulet Pens'. LAMY's own site gives the safari as 144 mm and 16 g. ![Lengths to scale at 1 mm = 2.6 px from Goulet Pens: Pilot Metropolitan 138 mm capped, 126 mm body, 153 mm posted, 26.0 g; LAMY safari 139.5 mm capped, 128.7 mm body, 163.9 mm posted, 17.0 g](https://stationerytimes.com/images/pilot-metropolitan-vs-lamy-safari-sizes.svg) *Almost the same length capped; posted, the safari is 10.9 mm longer.* ## Which writes a finer line? **The Metropolitan, size for size.** Pilot uses Japanese nib sizing, so a Metropolitan Fine writes about like a Western Extra Fine, according to The Journal Shop. That suits small handwriting, planners and thin paper. The safari's European sizes run broader, but LAMY offers EF through B plus 1.1 and 1.5 mm italics, and its nibs push on and off by hand. Our [Japanese vs Western nib sizes](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/japanese-vs-western-nib-sizes/) explainer shows how the scales line up. ## Which is easier to keep inked? **The safari's cartridge holds more per fill; the Metropolitan comes ready for bottled ink.** The Metropolitan's box adds a converter, a CON-B squeeze type per The Journal Shop or a CON-40 twist type per Goulet Pens; Unsharpen lists the CON-40 at 0.4 ml. The safari ships with a T10 cartridge, which JetPens lists at 1.1 ml, so each cartridge lasts longer than a converter fill. For bottled ink you'll buy a [Z28 converter](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/lamy-z28-converter/), about 0.8 ml. Neither pen takes standard international cartridges; our guide to [how to fill a fountain pen](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/how-to-fill-a-fountain-pen/) explains the systems. ## Which feels better in the hand? **It's personal: the Metropolitan feels solid and heavy, the safari light with a shaped grip.** At 26.0 g, the brass Metropolitan is about 9 g heavier, which some writers like and others find tiring. The safari's grip has molded flats for a tripod hold, which Wikipedia notes; if you hold a pen differently, try one first. The Metropolitan's section is slim: Goulet Pens measures 8.4 mm and JetPens lists 9.8 mm. ## Which should you buy? **Pick the Pilot Metropolitan if you have small handwriting, want a converter in the box or like a weighty metal pen; pick the LAMY safari if you're left-handed, want to try different nibs or prefer a light pen.** - **Pilot Metropolitan:** fine Japanese nibs and brass heft. For something lighter from Pilot, the [Pilot Kakuno](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/pilot-kakuno/) weighs 11.0 g. - **LAMY safari:** the widest nib range of the two and swaps without tools. - **Want bottled ink only?** Our [TWSBI ECO vs LAMY safari](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/twsbi-eco-vs-lamy-safari/) comparison covers a piston filler holding about 1.76 ml. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is the Pilot Metropolitan or the LAMY safari better for beginners? Both are good first pens. The Metropolitan comes with a converter and writes a finer line for small handwriting; the safari is lighter, offers a left-hand nib and lets you swap nibs by hand. ### Does the Pilot Metropolitan write finer than the LAMY safari? Usually, size for size. Pilot uses Japanese nib sizing, so a Metropolitan Fine writes about like a Western Extra Fine, per The Journal Shop; LAMY uses European sizing. ### Do LAMY cartridges fit the Pilot Metropolitan? No. The Metropolitan takes Pilot's proprietary cartridges and converters, and the safari takes LAMY T10 cartridges or a Z28 converter. Neither takes standard international cartridges. ### Which is heavier, the Metropolitan or the safari? The Metropolitan, at 26.0 g with the cap against 17.0 g for the safari, per Goulet Pens. The difference comes from the Metropolitan's brass body. ### Is the Pilot Metropolitan sold in Japan? Not by that name. Pilot Japan sells a close sibling, the Cocoon (FCO-3SR), at 138 mm and 24 g, for ¥4,400 (about US$28) including tax. ### Where are the Metropolitan and safari made? The Metropolitan in Japan, per Milligram's listing; the safari in Heidelberg, Germany, per LAMY's own listing. ### Can you post the cap on both pens? Yes. Posted, Goulet Pens measures the Metropolitan at 153 mm and the safari at 163.9 mm. ## Sources - [パイロット ウェブカタログ「コクーン」FCO-3SR-BOF (Pilot Japan catalog: Cocoon; 138 mm, 13.2 mm, 24 g, brass body and cap, CON-40, ¥4,400)](https://webcatalog.pilot.co.jp/products/DispDetail.do?volumeName=00004&itemID=t000100000151) - [LAMY (Germany): LAMY safari Füllhalter (€22.90, ASA plastic, steel nib EF–B and LH, 144 mm, 16 g)](https://www.lamy.com/de-de/p/lamy-safari-fullhalter/54912096764248) - [LAMY: LAMY safari fountain pen (country of origin Germany, manufacturer, features)](https://www.lamy.com/en-in/p/lamy-safari-fountain-pen) - [Goulet Pens: Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen, Gold Plain (measurements, converter)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-metropolitan-fountain-pen-gold-plain) - [Goulet Pens: Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop Green (nib options)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/pilot-metropolitan-fountain-pen-retro-pop-green) - [Goulet Pens: LAMY safari fountain pen, charcoal (measurements)](https://www.gouletpens.com/collections/lamy-safari-fountain-pens/products/lamy-safari-fountain-pen-charcoal) - [The Journal Shop: Pilot Metropolitan complete guide (CON-B in the box, Japanese nib sizing)](https://www.thejournalshop.com/blogs/guides/pilot-metropolitan-complete-guide) - [JetPens: Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen, Silver Python, Fine (brass body, snap cap)](https://www.jetpens.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Fountain-Pen-Silver-Python-Fine/pd/12080) - [Milligram: Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen (made in Japan)](https://milligram.com/products/pilot-pen-metropolitan-fountain-pen) - [Unsharpen: Pilot CON-40 converter (0.4 ml)](https://unsharpen.com/refill/pilot-con-40-fountain-pen-converter/) - [Goulet Pens: LAMY Z28 cartridge converter (0.8 ml)](https://www.gouletpens.com/products/lamy-z28-cartridge-converter) - [JetPens: LAMY T10 Blue ink, 5 cartridges (capacity 1.1 ml)](https://www.jetpens.com/LAMY-T-10-Blue-Ink-5-Cartridges/pd/1923) - [Wikipedia: Lamy (safari grip shaped for a tripod hold)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamy)