Everything in GREEN · Guide
The Best Fountain Pens Under $40 (There Are Really Only Two)
Almost every recommendation in this price bracket comes down to two pens: the Lamy Safari, designed by Wolfgang Fabian in 1980, and the Kaweco Sport, whose octagonal shape dates to 1911. Both are still made, both cost around $30, and both are better than most pens at five times the money.
The difference is physical. The Safari has a moulded triangular grip that forces a particular hold. The Kaweco is a stubby octagon that lives in a pocket and posts to full length. Try to hold each before deciding, or just pick by color.
The edit
Safari Fountain Pen · Lamy
The Safari in yellow is the version in every design museum shop. Bright, cheap, and completely unpretentious.
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Safari Fountain Pen · Lamy
Green is the Safari to buy if you want it to look like a considered object rather than a school pen.
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Safari Fountain Pen · Lamy
Violet Blackberry is a recent seasonal color and the most grown-up Safari in the range.
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Classic Sport Fountain Pen · Kaweco
The black Classic Sport is the pocket pen. Capped it's barely longer than a thumb; posted it writes like a full-size pen.
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Classic Sport Fountain Pen · Kaweco
Red suits the Kaweco better than it suits most pens, because the octagonal barrel breaks up the color.
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Classic Sport Fountain Pen · Kaweco
Navy is the one I'd give as a gift. It looks like it costs considerably more than it does.
See price on Amazon →If your handwriting is cramped, take the Safari and let the grip fix it. If you want a pen you'll actually carry, take the Kaweco.
Both live in the stationery section of every color.
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