Lamy Safari

Safari
Manufacturer:	Lamy
Type:	Fountain Pen, Ballpoint Pen, Rollerball, Mechanical Pencil
Refill :
Made in :	Germany

The Safari is a noted design by Wolfgang Fabian and Bernt Spiegel of the Entwicklungsgruppe Mannheim which remains in production from 1980. The Safari and the derived AL-star and Vista lines are intended for students/young writers and feature a non round grip section optimized to be held with a 'tripod pen grip'. The Safari receives a new limited edition color every year, usually with a matching bottle of ink.

Different Generations of the Lamy Safari

First generation

Launched in 1980 these were available in textured finish with 3 color options - Terracotta orange, Savannah green and Charcoal black. The easiest way to identify the pen is by the lack of imprint in the bottom of the barrel. Another minor detail that is different from future generations is the cap nut is hexagonal. You can see the flats on it if you shine a light into the cap. The pen was designed for cartridges or the old-style metal squeeze bar converter so there are only two wide slots at the threaded end of the section. The old-style converters were probably included with the pen in some markets and sold separately in others.

Second generation

These appeared sometime in the mid 80's. The "W. Germany" imprint was added to the bottom of the barrel. The inner cap was redesigned (the early material deteriorated quite easily) and the cap nut was changed to a round shape. Other colors were added, including white, red, yellow and blue. Most of these colors were only offered with a smooth texture. The charcoal was still textured and the white was made in both textured and smooth. I have heard rumors of a smooth charcoal but never actually seen one. The Terracotta and Savannah were discontinued.

Third generation

These came around 1990 or 1991. There were two changes on this pen: the barrel imprint was changed to "Germany," thanks to reunification, and extra slots were added to the section to accept the snaps on the plastic piston converter. Colors were basically the same as the previous generation but the textured white disappeared and the first demonstrator was added. The demonstrator might be considered the first "LE" Safari. Around the mid-90's they were sold in some markets but I don't know if they ever appeared as a regular catalog item.

Fourth generation

This change came in the mid to late 90's and was a big one. The clip, nib and feed remained the same but all other parts were redesigned. The Lamy logo and nib size were added to the nib via laser-etching. The barrel was changed from one part to two. The cap and cap ring were combined into one part. The cap asembly was redesigned to snap together, eliminating the machined top screw and cap nut. I believe this redesign was done as a cost-saving measure. The price of these pens has changed very little in nearly 30 years and this redesign allowed Lamy to lower the manufacturing cost. Total number of parts went from 14 down to 11 and they eliminated two costly machined parts. All done without really altering the appearance or quality of the pen - not bad. The original white pen disappeared, a textured grey was introduced and followed by many LE colors. The demonstrator exists in this generation too but it went away when the Vista was introduced. This generation of pen is designed to work alongside the Z28 converter.

Special Editions

2004 Orange (Flame)

Orange body and red clip.

2006 French Blue (Sky Blue)

2006 Sky Blue

Light blue body and red clip. Also sometimes referred to as "smurf blue".

2007 Black

Black body with chrome clip and silver nib.

2007 White

White body with grey ring, chrome clip and silver nib.

2007/2008 Blue (Sweden Edition)

Blue body with yellow clip.

2008 Lime Green (Black Cross)

Lime green body with black cross on the cap.

2009 Orange

Orange body and chrome clip.

2009 Pink (Pink Dot)

Pink body with chrome clip and silver nib. Pink dot on the cap.

2010 White (Japan only)

White body with red clip and red dot on the cap.

???? White Body, Red Clip (East Asia only)

White body with red clip and grey cross on the cap. Only available in some Lamy stores in Korea, Japan, Taiwan.

2010 30 Years Lamy Safari (Japan only)

White body with red clip.

Two versions were available - a premium edition with a pen case and numbered (1000 pieces released) with "30 Year LAMY Safari xxxx/1000" on the barrel, and the other one is an ordinary version with a plain white shiny barrel.

2011 Pink (Pink Cross)

Pink body and chrome clip. Pink cross on the cap.

2011 Aquamarine

Light blue body with chrome clip and silver nib.

2011 Lime Green (Lime Cross)

Lime green body with lime cross on the cap.

2011 150 Jahre Freundschaft

Black body with yellow clip and red dot on the cap. To commemorate 150 years of friendship between Germany and Japan.

2012 Apple Green

Apple green body with chrome clip, silver nib, and matching green cross on the cap.

2012 Red (China Edition)

Red body with yellow clip and yellow cross on cap.

2012 Eslite

For the Taiwanese book store Eslite. There are three version. Matte black, red and yellow. All with red clip.

2013 Neon Yellow

Neon yellow body with chrome clip and silver nib.

2014 Neon Coral

Neon pink body with chrome clip and silver nib. Available as a fountain pen, rollerball and ballpoint pen.

2015 Neon Lime

Neon yellow body and chrome clip and silver nib.

2015 Line Friends

2015 Line Friends

Matte brown body with black clip and various Line Friends clip-ons.

2016 Dark Lilac

Dark lilac body with black clip and black nib.

2017 Petrol

2017 Petrol

Matte petrol (buel/green/grey) body with black clip.

2017 Lamy x Laimo

Cooperation with Japanese artist Laimo. There are two versions: Black with white Laimo writing on cap and White with black Laimo writing on cap.

2017 Pirates of the Caribbean

Like the Petrol edition, but comes with a skull on the clip, a pen roll and a box.

2018 All Black

Comes with an all matte black body, black clip and black nib.

2018 Lamy x Line Friends Umbra

A Lamy Safari in black (matte type) with the Line character’s name BROWN embossed in the cap. Comes packaged in an aluminium tube.

2018 Minions

A yellow Lamy Safari in a Minion themed tin. Comes with converter, one ink cartridge and four different clip click-ons.

2018 Pokémon Pikachu

A yellow Lamy Safari with a red clip and Pikachu's tail printed on the cap. Comes with two Pikachu clip-ons, a Poké Ball pen holder, a Poké Ball inspired box and a yellow pencil case.

2019 Lamy Safari Pastel Colors

A series of three pens in pastel colors: light blue, mint and rose. Clips and ring are matching the bodies.

2019 Independence Day (USA only)

Blue barrel, black ring, white cap, red clip.

2020 Vista katakana (Japan only)

A Vista with the name Lamy written in katakana on one of the flat panels of the pen body. On the other panel, Lamy is written alphabet. Sold at one particular chain shop in Japan.

2020 Lamy Candy Colors

A series of three pens in pastel colors: Mango, Violet and Aquamarine. Clips and ring are matching the bodies.

2021 Lamy Original Colors

Savannah Green and Terracotta Red, the original colors re-released and available as fountain pen (F and M), ballpoint pen and rollerball pen.

2021 Limited edition "patterns"

A Japan-only model that makes full use of Japan's latest laser technology for the body of a safari fountain pen. Available in white, pastel blue, pastel green and pastel red. A Safari with a choice of Heart, Dot and Stripe pattern or three animal patterns.

2022 Strawberry and Cream

Strawberry red and Cream (off white). All parts of the pens are in either strawberry red or cream white, matte body.

2022 White Aquamarine Mango Violet

Available in Japan, the aquamarine Safari comes with a red clip and ring, the white Safari comes with a aquamarine clip and ring, the mango-coloured Safari comes with a purple clip and ring, the purple Safari comes with a yellow clip and ring.

2023 Radiant Pastel Colors

A series of three pens in pastel colors: Aqua Sky, Spring Green and Light Rose. Clip, ring, and cross cap are matching the bodies. Very similar to 2019 Pastel Colors series but with a more vivid color tone.

2024 Pink Cliff and Violet Blackberry

Pink Cliff features a matte soft navy blue body with a contrasting magenta pink grip. Clip, ring, and nib are black, with cross cap matching the grip color.
Violet Blackberry features a shiny deep berry-colored body with a contrasting bright purple grip. Clip, ring, and nib are black, with cross cap matching the grip color.

2024 Summer Special Colors

A series of two pens: Pina Colada and Cherry Blossom.
Pina Colada features a mint blue body with contrasting yellow grip. Clip, ring, and cross cap are matching the grip. Silver nib.
Cherry Blossom features a light pink body with contrasting red grip. Clip, ring, and cross cap are matching the grip. Silver nib.

Table of Special Editions

Note: Whether Lamy has introduced the same special edition color for other product lines (Safari Rollerball, Safari Ballpoint,etc), in addition to fountain pens, primarily based on the info from this JetPens® blog

List of Years, Editions, and Color Combinations

Year	Name	Finish	Body	Cap	Grip	Clip	Top Style	Top Color	Ring	Nib	Note	Rollerball	Ballpoint	Calligraphy	Mech. Pencil	Ink
2021	Terra Red	Matte	Terracotta	Terracotta	Terracotta	Black	Cross	Black	Black	Black	"Original"	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗
2021	Savannah	Matte	Fern Green	Fern Green	Fern Green	Black	Cross	Black	Black	Black	"Original"	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗
2021	Japan Exclusive	Gloss	White	White	White	Aquamarine	Cross	Aquamarine	Aquamarine	Silver	White w/ Green Clip	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
2021	Japan Exclusive	Matte	Mango	Mango	Mango	Violet	Cross	Violet	Violet	Silver	Yellow w/ Purple Clip	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
2021	Japan Exclusive	Matte	Violet	Violet	Violet	Mango	Cross	Mango	Mango	Silver	Purple w/ Yellow Clip	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
2021	Japan Exclusive	Matte	Aquamarine	Aquamarine	Aquamarine	Red	Dot	Red	Red	Silver	Green w/ Red Clip	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
2021	Breast Cancer Awareness	Gloss	White	White	White	Red	Dot	Red	Red	Silver	White w/ Red Clip	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗
2022	Cream	Matte	Cream White	Cream White	Cream White	Cream White	Cross	Black	Cream White	Silver	"Cozy"	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗
2022	Strawberry	Matte	Scarlet	Scarlet	Scarlet	Scarlet	Cross	Scarlet	Scarlet	Silver	"Cozy"	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗
2022	Vista - Black	Gloss	Clear	Clear	Clear	Black	Cross	Black	Black	Black	GouletPen Store Edition	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
2022	North America Exclusive	Gloss	Blue	Blue	Blue	Red	Cross	Black	Black	Black	Blue w/ Red Clip	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
2022	North America Exclusive	Gloss	White	White	White	White	Cross	Black	Black	Black	White w/ Black Clip	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
2023	Aqua Sky	Gloss	Sky Blue	Sky Blue	Sky Blue	Sky Blue	Cross	Sky Blue	Sky Blue	Silver	"Radiant Pastel"	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗
2023	Spring Green	Gloss	Spring Green	Spring Green	Spring Green	Spring Green	Cross	Spring Green	Spring Green	Silver	"Radiant Pastel"	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗
2023	Light Rose	Gloss	Light Pink	Light Pink	Light Pink	Light Pink	Cross	Light Pink	Light Pink	Silver	"Radiant Pastel"	✓	✓	✗	✗	✗
2024	Pink Cliff	Matte	Soft Navy Blue	Soft Navy Blue	Magenta Pink	Black	Cross	Magenta Pink	Black	Black	Annual Special Edition	✓	✓	✗	✗	T52
2024	Violet Blackberry	Gloss	Eggplant	Eggplant	Violet	Black	Cross	Violet	Black	Black	Annual Special Edition	✓	✓	✗	✓	T52
2024	Pina Colada	Gloss	Mint Blue	Mint Blue	Yellow	Yellow	Cross	Yellow	Yellow	Silver	2024 Summer Special	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗
2024	Cherry Blossom	Gloss	Light Pink	Light Pink	Red	Red	Cross	Red	Red	silver	2024 Summer Special	✓	✓	✗	✓	✗