The Safari still have some flex to it, and I am not working any caligraphy script that requires the line variation you mention. However there is caligraphy kits at Michalles that cost way lest than a Montblanc and all 20 of the nibs on the kit flex more than a gold nib.
To tell you the true there is only 1 gold nib on the world I would like to try and so far no luck... it is the famouse Sailor's cobra nib, a very intriging desing. It turns out than in Japan people learn to write holding the pen at 90 degrees from the paper as it is my understanding of their traditions, so when they want to use a western fountain pen they have great problems with this, because a fountain pen will no wet the paper at such angle, so Sailor design this nib that can be hold at 90 degrees, it doesn't flex at all, but you get line variation inclining the pen. So here a video of someone demostrating how to get line variation on a pen that doesn't flex:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxm2xA_9zj0
I so would like to play with one of those. Ironically the gold nib that gives the greates variation of line doesn't flex at all.
I call the aluminum Safari an abomination because the original design was intended to be plastic, at that time plastic was a fairly new material and people saw it as the material of the future, at some point in the late 80s or 90s people start to see plastic as cheap and hence bad quality material, and start to seek out other materials that give them the feel of style. I don't think there is anything wrong with plastic as a material, I think there is not improvement from making the Safari in aluminum. I also think the balance of the pen, when posted, is off, with plastic is just fine. And this are the reasons why I think the Al-Star should have never existed it didn't improve anything on the Safari and it is just a product that respond to the erroneus perception of plastic, it is made for a market that is not educated.
About the difference between design and art, there is a lot going on this debate, a simple google search will tell you about this. I could not have made up this stuff. For example:
Too much art ruins the design and likewise too much desing ruins art. The reason of this is because when you desing; the form follows the function, this is: you study how the object is being use and design it to be better used. In art there is not such consideration to functionality, as I say, the object is created with the form as a priority, regardless of how functional it is.
I consider intriging that you say there is not difference between desing and art, for you. Does any of this sentences make sense to you?
1. The Mona Lisa is one of the most famouse works of design on the world.
2. My favorite piece of art is the spoon I use it everyday.
rcmacmillan:
"I own both an aluminum and a plastic Lamy Safari, as well as several Mont Blancs. If you have never experienced the difference between a steel nib, no matter how smooth, and an 18K gold nib, of course you won't understand why the Mont Blanc is a better pen and costs more."
The only real diference between a gold nib and a steal nib is that the gold one flex more. When it comes to how smooth it scrash the paper there is not diference becouse both pens have a ball of iridium on the tip of the nib. Gold is too soft of a metal if the tip of the nib was of gold the paper will literaly sand it off. So the important part of the nib that is the part touching the paper is not gold, the tip of the nib is the exact same material of the tip of the nib of a Lamy, hence there is not better experience on gold. I think the Safari should be plastic, that aluminum thing is an abomination.
Eyechess:
"We did not say you had to own a set."
What was say to me is if I don't own it I can't make any comment about the product. Of course I had the oportunity of no just examine the Duv, but to play with it too. After all I did recomend this friend to get it.
"I understand you have nothing personal to Gregor or anyone else in this. But you did say things that were attacking of Gregor. When you say you resent someone or something, that is a negative emotion about that."
Probably we are hiting a language/cultural wall here. From where I come I can say for example that your computer is stupid and this have nothing to do with you as a person, even if you built up that computer with your own hands. In order to be a personal atack it have to be directed at a person, no at a product, or at a comment, or anything else. Does it make sense?
"Consider that you are the only one in this thread agreeing with the things you say. Others have found disagreement with you on no less than 3 or 4 points."
So... I never am the popular one anyway, what was the point?
" Gregor and his family are fine doing what they do and how they do it. It is not your business how they run their business."
I can make comments in anything I like. My original point is that a Duv can be done cheaper, and in my opinion nobody is in better position to do this than Noj. Is Noj going to do it? probably no, is someone going to do it? I would like that.
"have all disagreed with you telling a fellow how he should run his business and since he does not run his business the way you want, you resent him. This is wrong on a whole number of levels."
First Level you are misquoting me.
BishopxRook:
"Ugh...that's YOUR definition."
Acordenly to you, what is the difference between art and design?