Pilot Metropolitan vs Lamy Safari (2026): Which Should You Buy?

Metropolitan is a 26 g brass pen with a round grip and relatively fine Japanese nib. Safari is a 17 g plastic pen with a triangular grip and a nib that slides off for replacement. The grip is the decision.

Buy Metropolitan if you have not tried either pen and want the lower-risk shape. Buy Safari after confirming that its molded grip matches how you hold a pen. The Safari grip can keep a conventional tripod grip aligned; it does not make every other grip incorrect.

Prices are typical US ranges from the site catalog at the July 2026 update. Color, nib, bundle, and sale prices vary.

Metropolitan vs Safari specifications

Pen	Typical price	Body	Grip	Nib	Ink system
Pilot Metropolitan	$15-20	Brass; about 26 g	Round plastic grip with a barrel step	Japanese steel F/M; finer line for the label	Pilot cartridge or CON-40
Lamy Safari	$30-35	ABS plastic; about 17 g	Molded triangular grip	Replaceable Lamy steel EF-B and stub options	Lamy T10 cartridge or Z28 converter

Try the Safari grip before buying

Safari has two flat finger surfaces and a lower index-finger ridge. That geometry limits rotation. It can be comfortable for a standard tripod grip, but writers who rotate the nib, use a quadrupod grip, or place their fingers very close to the nib may fight it.

Metropolitan’s grip is round, so it allows more rotation. Its compromise is the step where the narrow section meets the wider brass barrel. A high grip can land on that edge.

Nib width and replacement

A Pilot fine normally writes narrower than a Lamy fine. That makes Metropolitan easier to pair with small handwriting or absorbent school paper. Safari offers more factory widths, including broad and stub options, and its nib can be replaced without buying another pen.

Neither model is guaranteed to be smoother. A wider nib often feels smoother because it spreads pressure over a larger tip, while a fine nib gives more paper feedback.

Both use proprietary cartridges

Safari takes Lamy T10 cartridges or the Z28 converter. Metropolitan takes Pilot cartridges or the CON-40. Standard international cartridges do not fit either pen. The Z28 is easier to inspect while filling; the CON-40 has limited usable capacity, so refilled Pilot cartridges are a practical alternative.

Pilot Metropolitan

Choose it if: You want a finer line, a round grip, and some weight.

Skip it if: Heavy pens tire your hand or your fingers rest on the barrel step.

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Lamy Safari

Choose it if: The shaped grip fits you or you want to swap nib widths.

Skip it if: You rotate the pen or hold it outside a conventional tripod grip.

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If Metropolitan is still too heavy, compare it with Kakuno in the Pilot Metropolitan vs Kakuno guide. For more alternatives in the same price range, use the under-$50 buying guide.

FAQ

Pilot Metropolitan vs Lamy Safari: which is better for beginners?

Metropolitan is the broader default because its round grip allows more finger positions and it costs less in the current catalog. Safari is the better choice when you have tried its triangular grip and know it fits.

Is Lamy Safari smoother than Pilot Metropolitan?

Smoothness varies by individual nib, width, ink, and paper. Metropolitan fine nibs usually write a narrower line. Safari gives you a simpler way to replace the nib if you want another width.

Does Lamy Safari use standard international cartridges?

No. Safari uses Lamy T10 cartridges and the Lamy Z28 converter. Metropolitan also uses a proprietary system: Pilot cartridges and the CON-40 converter.

Which pen is better for small handwriting?

Pilot Metropolitan in fine is the safer starting point because Japanese fine nibs normally produce a narrower line than a Lamy fine. Paper and ink can still change the result.