I've owned both, two Mont Blancs first, and now [thanks to having lost my first one] my second Pelikan, a Souveran 400M.

IMO, Pelikan makes a far superior writing instrument that makes writing a pleasure [even with my crappy penmanship].

I choose my first Pelikan almost by accident. When I saw the store display I immediately recalled my engineering days more than half a lifetime ago. All the engineering department's draftmen used Pelikan equipment. I have small hands; so I tried the Souveran 400, found to be a comfortable and silky smooth writer, and walked out of the store pleased with my purchase.

Today, I emailed Lai at Pen Gallery to ask if he also had in stock the Souveran in red/black [reminiscent of my childhood Esterbrook]. He said 'yes.' So, pleased with the outcome of my first purchase, I just ordered it. I'll probably fill it with red ink for grading papers.

Schvitz

I have tried few MB's that wrote anywhere near as well as the worst Pelikan I have tried.

I have a M600 wearing a M400 fine nib that is my perfect pen.

I have 4 Mont Blanc Pens and 12 Pelikans. I never leave the house without one or two Pels! I rotate the MBs in every so often. I like both brands but I really like my Pelikans!

I haven't had enough experience with MB to compare. I had trouble with the 146 piston - the shape of it was harder for me to crank than a Pelikan piston. Too conical. Past that, while the nibs seem to be springy and that is probably something lots of MB fans like, I couldn't detect any practical differences in quality. The 146 was certainly heavier than my Pels but I don't think that's a fair comparison because I've never tried an 800 (which I think is closer in size/weight.)

I like the look of both brands (though LEs of any brand rarely impress me) and have to admit I wouldn't mind being able to afford a burgundy Mozart. Doubt I ever will but...

On the Pelikan front, I just received a 150 in the mail. Have never had one and this was a nice opportunity to try this smaller Pelikan. It's a broad nib, unusual for me but this one is not so broad that it is unsuitable for my handwriting. Smooth as silk (big surprise. not.) and very comfy. Feels like a perfect pen for those long writing sessions. Don't have to think about the nib angle or flow, it does all the work.

I own both. My pelikans (an M400 set with a medium nib and pencil and ballpoint, and an M600 set with a broad nib and a ballpoint) right now are all modern, and my Montblancs are all at least 20 years old (a 149 with a fine nib, a #32 with a fabulous oblique-broad nib, and a Slimline set with a medium nib and a pencil and ballpoint).

I find the quality to be comparable, and enjoy using all of pens each for their own quirky writing reasons. The Pelikans right now are the ones that go to work with me most often, and also the MB slimline set. The other MB's have much more sentimental value, and so they rarely leave the house.

MB149 compare to pel1000:

the only battle where MB beats pelikan is design - there is Mb a 100% winner,
on the other side the pelikan wins by performances, price, ...

I first bought an M215 and it was less than satisfactory. The nib kept loosening and my hands are blue with Noodler's Ottoman Azure from trying to finally make it work properly. My next pen was a bit of a step down: an M75 Go! bought off of ebay. That was an awesome buy. It writes far better than the M215, though it puts much more ink on the paper. It's just a hardier pen overall and, at $15 a pop, it's okay if I lose it or break it. My most recent acquisition (2 years ago!!) was an M800 with a Fine nib. Ohh my. Now this pen is awesome. I love the ink flow and the mild flex in the nib. It is nothing but heaven when servicing or filling it. While in my pocket during the day, it doesn't bleed, sweat, or do any other unsavory things that fountain pens are wont to do. In comparison to my 149, it is a dream. The 149, while aesthetically pleasing, is just not the same. It may be heavier and easily attained for $700 (waste in my opinion), but it is no match for the #2 German pen. Pelikan!!!!!

My Pelikan M 800 is the hands down winner over my MB 149 and 146. The MBs are plagued with problems and I pitched the 149 when it broke in half and couldn't be repaired.

My problem with the Pelikans is that they too lightweighted and i like heavy pens...

I have a MB 145 chopin platina in medium. It looks nice, trough the nib is a bit small compared with the pelikans. I don't use is as a daily writer. I only take it now and then with me.

Have to say, the MB is a real smooth writer. I think this is also due to the medium nib. Don't have experience with fine nibs (all my pelikans are fine) so can't make a good comparising with both.
The MB is as long as my m600, but the the handeling is more m400 like. The MB major downside is its price. € 200 for the pel m400 compared with € 350 for the MB.
Also, a big downside for me is the high price of changing nibs on the MB. From the M nib to a F nib costs € 130 euro. And you than only have one nib.
But, nevertheless I bought one and like it.

I also do really notice MB is a lot more known by the public. Someone even asked me if my pelikan m420 is a MB......No its not!

These are BOTH excellent pen brands. I can't really say that one is "better" than the other. I can say, however, that Pelikan is more reasonably priced than Montblanc.

My first MB was a piston model which also broke in two after a couple of years.

I've never tried a Mont Blanc..they are quite pricey, at least the high end models we have around here. However I have a Pelikan Souveran M400 I truly love and enjoy! It's incredibly light and beautiful so I totally agree with your assessment about Pelikans. You got any pics of your pen? I got posted some pics of my pen on this thread.

I used to feel the same way, and that is why I avoided Pekikans for so long. However, I am really starting to like the way they feel and write, and the M640 and M215 are not exactly light pens for their size. The big M800 has some nice heft to it, too. But, I still know what you mean.

It would be intresting to see the responses if this was posted on the MB forum !

Heh. I think I'll do that.

I've got some of both and I'm usually carrying one or the other brand. I like my MB 149 for its classic lines and wonderfully smooth nib. On the other hand, I like to be able to screw in a variety of nibs in my M1000. My 50s vintage 400 with OBB nib is a joy to write with. I don't think it's one or the other or if they can even be compared against each other. That's why there's so many great brands and models of fountain pen out there. There's something for every taste.

I've used and enjoyed Monblancs and Pelikans for years. I have to say, however, that Montblancs tend to develop all sorts of problems. Otherwise, I would hazard a guess that the MBs may actually write slightly better than the Pelikans - that is, when they are working properly.

But since I'm a sucker for reliability and cost-effectiveness, my vote goes to Pelikans. I won't stop buying them until I have all the variants in the M200, M400 and M600 series. As for MBs, I don't think I'll go more that the 146 and 149 that I already have.

That didn't last long! I guess too may people prefer Pelikans

Since I am such a Pelikan addict, i deciced recently to give the other German pen (Mont Blanc) a chance. I bought a Starwalker and here is what I concluded.

While not a "bad" pen at all, i felt that judging the material quality and built that I had paid $150 too much just because of the Mont Blanc name. That's what I like about Pelikans, i feel for the most part their quality and price go hand in hand, and they make great pens at decent prices.

Take an M200, while most sites ask for $80, with a little research one can find one at $60 or $65. M400's can be had with a little research for as low as $140 and thats with a gold nib!!!

Mont Blanc doesn't allow discounts on their MSRP price, their entry level fountain pens (again not bad pens but not impressive either) go for over $250 USD. For that price I can buy a brand new Pelikan M800 ( pengallery, mellspens, oscar braun pens, etc)

I sold my Majesty a few weeks ago, guess you know where this is going, but still have two M1000's in the 'fleet'

Its a very very close run thing for me but owning, and using, five high end MontBlancs I will just fall onto their side.

No great defining issues that make me go that way just personal choice....... now then if I can locate a good M1050 who knows what that might do !

No, it's just that the Montblanc fans are more violent.

Fred (owns both for good reason)

Its like comparing BMW's and Porsche's. Both are fine works of engineering and each have their fans for one reason or another.

I own many Pelikans and just as many if not more Montblancs. I thoroughly enjoy them both. The Montblanc Agatha Christie is a joy to carry and use as is my 1950's Pelikan OB nibbed Tortoise 400. Both are luscious! The Agatha is gorgeous due to its design as is the Tortoise Pelikan. Neither pen can be the other. That is why I own both.

It all makes choosing a pen for the day a sublime affair.

I owned a black MB 146 for a while with a fine nib, I liked it but did not love it. I think Rick Propas makes the perfect analogy, Mont Blancs are like Mercedes Benz, while Pelikan is like BMW. I guess I am more of a Bimmer fan. I have 15 Pelikans, I think that speaks volumes.

Bear in mind I had a modern 146, a vintage version from the 1950s are different beast so I think I might reserve my judgement.

I have a 400, and a MB starwalker set.

Generally the 400 is my carry pen, and the MB's are my desk pen.

(but my best writing pen is a 30's scheaffer)

they are good pens with many advantages, and either could serve a person well.

Pen Nut has 2 M1000's! Thats' really greedy, Sell one to me!!

I have one 1 MB149 circa 1970s and 5 Pelikans. The 149 is a great writer and it would take a M1000 to part it from me but I do love my Pelikans more. Saying that let's not post this on the MB or the knives will be out for us!

Ronin

I feel like a lone voice in the wilderness. I'm not happy with any of my Pelikans.

First, with the price difference between MB and Pelikan there will always be more Pelikan owners to offer comments. Until about nine months ago I avoided MB because of the cost and the opinion that they are just overpriced and have problems, break, etc.

Since then I have bought three MB pens and am very happy with all of them. All four of my Pelikans sit unused because of various problems. Now I know that I could have all of the problems fixed, ranging from scratchy nibs to pistons that are too loose or too tight. Just to salvage one of them I'm going to buy a Richard Binder nib.

On the other hand, they are a bit boring as they are all the same design with some variation in resin color. When Pelikan attempts something new--a new design platform--they seem aesthetically challenged. I'm referring to the Niagara Falls and Sahara pens. MB seems to have a much surer hand with design. Their culture seems to value design more highly, so if you like fresh design I think you have to gravitate toward MB. And despite all of the vitriol heaped on them for designing cuff links, necklaces, etc., those products and the design activity behind them gives their staff a different and I would say bolder and fresher perspective.

That said, the most important thing for me is the way my MB pens write. In fact, I dropped my blue Starwalker nib about three feet down on a concrete floor at Lowes and it hit point first. I thought it would be dead for sure. I pick it up and though the nib is pushed back into the section about 1/32 to 1/16 inch, it still writes as smoothly as it did before. I examined it under a 10X loupe and there is zero hint of damage. Frankly, I'm amazed. I'm also amazed by how beautiful the deep blue lacquer over the guilloche is when seen in daylight.

Users on the MB forum have already been directed over to this thread, as many of us also like and own Pelikans. People might be surprised to find that we're a pretty diverse and down-to-earth group over there, not snobbish about the brand, and tend toward discussion rather than any kind of violence. We like the pens, not the marketing.

I have and like both brands, and both offer great writing experience. My Pelikans are more practical with their easily swapped nibs, while my Montblancs are more beautifully designed and exude sensuality. When the pens are finished their task and all that's left is ink written on paper, how are you to tell which pen is "better"? It's kind of a silly debate, like Ford versus Chevy. Might as well argue whether black or white is prettier.

Oh well, let me just say this. I like my Montblancs better. But its an emotional response, not a practical one. (Thank God you left the Italians out of this Hobson's choice.)

Fred

I own five vintage MB (3 MB149s and 2 MB146s) and one older style 1987 Pelikan 800. My Pelikan with its full flexible medium nib is quality wise the same as my 35 years old MB 146 with its medium full flexible oblique nib. I have also handled a m1000 which is despite somewhat lighter than any of my 149 a very good pen. Both brands make real and useable daily writers not hangar queens.I like both brands equally.

I have both, Pelikan and MB but the Pelikans are daily users, the MBs don't see much use at all.

Pelikans are anything from 50s 400 up to the recent M 400. All of them nice, but I prefer the vintage pens.

The most recent MB is a 144 and it is the worst of all MBs. Does not start at all after a day without use. I have vintage MBs that work much better. Two 342s get some use and my Meisterstück 14 is a great pen. But still, if I had to choose only one pen, I would choose a vintage Pelikan 400.