Gurus,

I am planning to buy a Mont Blanc Meisterstuck LeGrand Fountain Pen as a gift to my grandfather. He loves them. I was shopping on Amazon and I found that there are two avaliable options a Meisterstuck LeGrand Fountain Pen 149 which is about $120 USD more than Meisterstuck LeGrand Fountain Pen 146. The only difference that my novice eye could find was the numbers 146 and 149. Please help me choose.

Thanks,

John

The 149 is bigger and fatter than the 146.
The 3rd digit of the number is about the size.

My advise would be to go for the 149 for your grandfather.

For the MB's, ignoring the limited editions, the 149 is the flagship model, however unless you definately want a MB there are many other fine fountain pens out there...

Thanks Hans and Shelly for sharing your thoughts.

The MB149 is in my view really a fantastic pen. Forget the marketing hype of MB, and forget the MB bashing.
Take your favourite stack of paper with you, just go into a real MB store, sit down at the table and test drive the 149 in the different nib sizes. Take your time and write. Then you will leave the store with the 149.


(Here in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf you can sit and test the MB149 in the MB store.)

The 146 is a nice pen - and cheaper than the 149. The main advantage of the 149 is that it is a little bigger and it has a bigger nib. If you really wish to get your grandpa a nice pen, go for the 146 Solitaire - unfortunately it will cost you even more (much more, actually) than the 149!

Personally I thought the 149 was too big for a pen (at least too big for me). It would be fun to write with for a short period of time, but after a couple minutes it would feel burdensome. I left the boutique with the 146; its large size feels a little more natural. Find out if your grandfather has any hand problems. How large are the pens he usually writes with? Either way, it will make for a nice addition to his collection. Watch the nib size, though. MBs run wide. I usually write with a fine point and I had to buy an extra-fine.

Mont Blanc pens
One of my favorite subjects to talk about and my favorite pen.
My MB 149 is my favorite pen.Holding the pen in my hands is making me smile.
The pen is the most classic pen ever made !!!

Go for the 149.
The 146 is a fantastic pen too,it doesnt look much smaller in the pictures but once you hold it you see how small it is in comparison to the 149.

Altogether both pens are fantastic pens.I own them both and enjoy them .

Here are 2 more pictures.

Size isn't everything. Many people report the 146 size is more comfortable for them in extended use.

Ray

The 149's nib looks more pleasing to the eye, in my opinion. Gotta love that two-tone. Also, is the 146 lacking an ink window? If it is, the 149 seems like a much more functional pen. Of course, there is that issue, that Ray mentioned, of less comfort with a fatter pen.

My vote is on the 149.

The modern 146 has both an ink window and a 2 tone nib.

Ray

Ahh... well, that changes things a bit. I suppose it just comes down to what the OP's grandfather prefers in pen size. I think I change my mind to the 146... I've always liked smaller, lightweight pens over their fatter brethren.

The 'Le Grand' (146) has one advantage over the 149: it is available as a cartridge filler, if preferred. The cartridge version of the 146 is the 147 Traveller. The 149 is certainly an impressive pen, but it's basically a desk pen, while the 146/147 is more versatile - as well as cheaper. At the end of the day, it's a matter of personal preference.

My advice would be to give him a Gift Certificate from a Pen shop and go with him and let him right with different MB's and choose for himself.

For me fountain pens are very personal and I spend ages (most of the time) testing them before I buy. Often the ones i have bought in a hurry I have ended up not using or taking back.

As i fractured my thumb in a mountain bike accident size and weight are very important otherwise I suffer from lots of pain when i write.

previous message = right was supposed to be write. Shows the affects of flu on my brain!!!

You have been given some good answers, and the photos comparing the 146 and 149 sizes are good. I usually like to compare by analogy. If you are familar with Pelikans, the 149 is about the size of the Pel M-1000 and the 146 is about the size of the M-800. The MB's are a little smaller, but they seem smaller than they are because of their streamlined bullet shape.

I like MB's and Pels because both are dead on reliable, always starting up when the nib touches paper even after sitting unused for days at a time. Depending on my mood, I alternate between the larger and smaller pens, though I tend to like the larger ones more.

I like the idea of giving granddad a gift certificate and going with him to a shop to try out the pens. Otherwise, just ask him what he would prefer for a size.

Good luck.

I would give him the certificate and go with him as well. You can't tell by hand size as I've got small hands, yet prefer big pens because they're easier for me to use for long periods of time. A fountain pen is a personal item and really needs to be test driven by the future owner.

I think you're a darling for caring enough to give such a fantastic present.

the info supplied about size is correct, your nomenclature is wrong, LeGrand is the 146, Diplomat is the name of the 149

The regular MB 146 LeGrand is a piston filler and has an ink window.
The regular MB 146 LeGrand Traveller is a cartridge filler with a cartridge sleeve and does not have an ink window.

Both have "2 tone" 14 K gold nib with platinum inlay.

The regular MB 149 Diplomat is a piston filler, has an ink window and a "3 tone" 18 K gold nib with platinum inlay.

However, be aware that if you buy the MB149 at a taxfree airport shop or on ebay you risk
the pen having a "2 tone" 14 K gold nib with platinum inlay. So always be sure to check what
nib is offered if you buy a MB 149 not directly from Montblanc.

In the 20/30s Montblanc started to use this classification for its pens :

1X:range
2X:filling system
3X:nib size

So:

1: Meisterstuck,
4: Piston Filler,
9: Nib Size.

Bye!!!

As far as I heard the 14K nib is better and springier than the 18K nib.

[/quote]
As far as I heard the 14K nib is better and springier than the 18K nib.
[/quote]

18K nibs are typically more flexible than 14K nibs. The reason is pure gold is very soft. When you alloy it with another metal it makes it harder. 18K gold has 75% gold and only 25% other metals while 14K has only 58% gold and 42% other metals in the alloy. Of course you can pay a nib expert to grind down any nib to make it more flexible, but a higher purity of gold will start out a bit softer.

I would second the suggestions to give your grandfather a "trip to the pen store" for him to pick out whatever pen he likes. Pens are very personal things both in the way they feel and write, and the way they look. If you make this a special outing for him you will make the pen a more memorable keepsake because it will include the experience of going with you, and it will make him much happier in that he will have picked out the ideal pen that fits his own hand, writing style, and personality. It may be that he picks out a Montblanc, but it may also be that he picks out another brand and style where he can get more quality for the money. No matter what he chooses he will be a very happy grandfather, I'm sure.

Take a look at the vintage super flex nibs - I know of none that are 18k, only come across 14k. 18k is softer - yes, more flexible - no. Many other factors determine a nib's flex - I believe 18k nibs do not have as good a flex properties as 14k nibs, 18K is more likely to fail under flex.
Of course I am certainly no expert on these matters but these are my observations and a wee bit of engineering knowledge.
The two tone 149 nibs in 14k are not a lesser nib at all; I personally prefer them for both the 14k properties and the aesthetics.

Sorry to contredict your claim "Kimo" but the MASTER himself Richard Binder said what makes a flexible nib isnt the material rather then the design.
Most flex nibs are made of 14K gold and not 18K.

Out of all the fp's I've used or tried Omas, Pelikan, Viscontti, the MB 146 Platinum trim is my favorite. It fits perfect in my hand and it writes perfect everytime. I use it everyday everywhere. I have an extra fine nib on it though. I plan on getting at least two more. This writing instrument is so sweet!!!

As with the Pelikans the number refers to the size of the pen. The 149 is very big, the 146 is just big. I would highly advise nipping into a shop that sells Mont Blancs and picking the actual things up first, some people like oversized pens whilst others cannot use them, and it's a lot of money to spend without finding whoch type of person you are.

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SORRY

Didn't realise the new board software hadn't different styles for displaying threads and though that this post hadn't been answered. The contents of this post have already been discussed far more eloquently above.

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I own both the 146 and the 149. Both are nice pens, but the 149 is much nicer. The difference is in the nib. Not only does it look more attractive, but it writes better on the page.