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AL-Star
The Safari's metal-bodied sibling: same nib units, sturdier aluminum construction, brighter anodized finishes.
Priced squarely in first-pen territory: low enough that trying fountain pens for the first time doesn't feel like a gamble.
Specs
About Lamy
Founded in Heidelberg in 1930, Lamy became known from the 1960s onward for pairing German industrial design with accessible fountain pens: the Lamy 2000 (1966) and Safari (1980) are two of the most recognized pen silhouettes in the world. This model, AL-Star, dates to a metal-bodied variant of the Safari, introduced in the 1990s.
How to fill the Lamy AL-Star
Fill it two ways: snap in a pre-filled international cartridge for convenience, or use a converter (a small plunger or twist mechanism that installs the same way a cartridge does) to draw ink from any bottle. The converter route opens up the entire world of bottled ink, which is where most of the hobby's color variety lives.
Choosing a nib size
Nib size determines line width, not writing pressure: fountain pens are meant to glide, never press. Extra-fine (EF) suits small, dense handwriting and thin paper; fine (F) is the most broadly recommended default; medium (M) shows more ink character and shading; broad (B) and stub grinds favor bold, expressive strokes and calligraphy-adjacent writing.
Keeping it clean
A quick flush with cool water every time you switch ink colors, plus a full clean every 4 to 6 weeks of regular use, is enough to keep the nib and feed performing well. Inktend's cleaning reminder is tuned to a 21-day baseline and adjusts naturally to how often you actually refill.
Pairing inks with the AL-Star
Because refills are quick with a cartridge or converter, this is a good pen for rotating through several colors rather than committing to one; sample vials work especially well here.
Frequently asked questions
More from Lamy
Specs on this page have been individually verified against manufacturer and retailer listings.