Reviews Written by sha...

  This is my second Safari..., February 8, 2013

This is my second Safari & third FP. My first FP was more expensive and more trouble, and turned me off fountain pens for years. But after getting a Charcoal Safari in Fine, which I immediately loved, I decided to order the Extra Fine in Shiny Black. It is very shiny, I like the color much more than I expected. The nib has a little more of a scratch than the fine- not in a bad way. It has always laid down an even, smooth flow of ink (I'm using Mont Blanc black from the Lamy converter).

Other thoughts
Definitely get the converter.
The blue ink that comes in the cartridge is ok but not my favorite.
The Extra fine is not quite as fine as I want but is working really well.
Fantastic value for this price.

  Very pleasantly surprised..., February 4, 2013

Very pleasantly surprised by this pencil, functions beyond the price. My first Staedtler, based on this purchase it won't be my last. Very comfortable grip, very light weight, satisfying "click", good lead advance, an eraser you can actually use (not always the case with mech pencils). Looks cool, nice selection of lead widths- really wish it was also offered in 0.4mm.

I purchased this for my youngest son, he needed something easy to hold with thicker lead. This just hit the spot, if he didn't love it so much I'd keep it for myself. However I already have WAY too many mech pencils, so I'll just borrow his :-)

  High quality all around...., January 16, 2013

High quality all around. Extremely comfortable to hold, even for extended periods of time. Striking appearance, works well, no problems in over a year of use. Also purchased the .05mm, I would purchase other sizes if available.

  Very nice writing instrument...., April 30, 2012

Very nice writing instrument. Good quality, good price. Very lightweight, comfortable. 0.4mm is my favorite size, nice and thin but stronger than 0.3mm.

  Exceptionally comfortable..., March 10, 2012

Exceptionally comfortable pen. Originally purchased for the anti-fraud features, intending to use it to sign all checks at my business. But it is so comfortable and writes so well I basically use if for everything. Wish they had a couple different colors of the pen - you can fill with different color refills but it would be nice to be able to tell the difference by the outside of the pen itself.

The only bad thing about this pen is that it is so comfortable you have to pay close attention or else it will disappear!

  Best eraser I've got...., March 8, 2012

Best eraser I've got. Good price, nice size, leaves paper nice & clean. Black seemed weird but is a non-issue.

  THE mechanical pencil...., March 7, 2012

THE mechanical pencil. Period. In my mind the P205 is the standard against which all other mechanical pencils are measured. For the price you cannot get a better pencil.

This is a clean, simple tool that always just works. Nothing fancy about it. Durable, stands up to abuse, easy to clean, feels good in the hand. Lead advance rate is just right. No single attribute really stands out, but everything about this pencil comes together to make it exceptional. One of the least expensive mechanical pencils available, and it lasts for years (been using the P205 for several decades now).

No question that if I could have only 1 pencil it would be the P205.

  Top Quality. Works flawlessly..., February 18, 2012

Top Quality. Works flawlessly. Looks Great. Travels well. Have had this pencil for about 3 years, never had a single problem. Very comfortable for writing. The color really stands out. Well worth the money, the construction and beauty of this pencil will stand the test of time.

  Top, top quality working..., January 12, 2012

Top, top quality working tool. This pencil is distinctive and elegant, but don't let that fool you. It takes care of business. I have a lot of pencils that are beautiful, and a lot of pencils that get the job done - none does both better. The S20 is a pleasure to hold (I also have the 0.5mm for less detailed work) - the wooden texture is smooth but won't slip, and the grip design lends itself well to both drafting or writing. You could comfortably use the S20 all day. All this in a pencil you would be proud to show off. The eraser, however, is for emergencies only (I recommend the black Boxy from JetPens for office situations). This pencil is an excellent value for the money.

  Good pencil priced right...., October 19, 2011

Good pencil priced right. Looks good, grip works fine for me, works as advertised. Kuru Toga engine is more of a novelty than necessity for me, but very cool anyway. Writing in cursive somewhat reduces the effect of the auto-rotation, since you activate the action less often. Glad I bought it.