First poster here, and I just want to say that I had been missing on the fountain pen experience.

I bought my first fountain pen 2 days ago and I'm loving it. It's a MontBlanc Boheme Noir--the one with the black stone. It is a great pen, specially on my new (and first) Moleskine notebook. These two are made for each other.

I have a couple of other MontBlanc pens (a ball point Starwalker rubber and metal and a rollerball Meisterstück Chopin edition), but the Boheme has become my favorite writing instrument.

If you are thinking about getting a fountain pen, this is the one to get. It's not cheap, but it's a very nice pen: just the right size, and a stylish addition to your daily life.

I've been meaning to post this for a while but never saw the right opportunity to do so. What is the point of the retractable nib mechanism? It just seems like a hassle with no advantage other than it looking cool. I don't mean to insult your favorite pen, but it's just been a nagging question with me.

That retractable nib is the reason I bought my Mont Blanc, Boheme le Grand and I suspect that's the reason for the retractable nib.

It sure is cool looking, but isn't it an unnecessary hassle?

You know, I thought about this before getting the pen, and after using it for a couple of days now I think of it more like a safety feature.

For example, I have the pen out all day for daily note taking, but when I'm not using it, I retract the nib. I think of it this way: if the the pen falls, I won't have to worry about the nib getting messed up. Of course, I don't think the resin will withstand a fall into solid ground, but luckily my office is carpeted.

Note that this is only my way of rationalizing the cool retracting nib. Someone else my look at it differently. I also think the smaller size is only achievable because of the retracting mechanism. Size, matters, after all.

It's a necessary hassle. Meaning, the hassle of it is what makes it so cool.

I have two retractable nib pens, the Boheme and the Visconti Metropolis, but I have tens of other pens that don't have retractable nibs. I suspect the ratio is what makes the hassle acceptable.

I am waiting for a Boheme pen purchased of one of the members here. I am quite excited to use it and have never had a retracting nib before.

I have a MB Boheme on the way and I can't wait to give it a try. I think it is one cool, classic pen. Mark

I have a Boheme Noir too and I admit it is a bit of a hassle. Gorgeous pen, but having to retract the nib first is inconvenient in situations (eg university lectures) which call for recapping and uncapping (in fear of the ink drying).

My MB Boheme was received today and I had to put it to paper! I really think this is a sweet pen. It has a EF nib which is very nice and the pen fits my hand like no other pen that I have. I really like the smooth, slick action of the pen both with the nib and the cartridge loading mechanism. The finish is excellent and I am very pleased with this new addition to my modest collection. Mark

I looked at the Boheme Silver Bleu last evening at the MontBlanc Botique. I think it is a really beautiful pen. The silver looks good. The gem in the clip is nice. The demonstrator EF nib pen wrote smoothly. You know I think EF nibs are like medium nibs. Heck, all their nibs seem to write the same pen width.

Anyway, I did not think about the fact that i usually cap and uncap my pens when I am using them. I rarely leave them laying on the table without the nib covered. So, using this pen would be a hassle.

I thought of purchasing it exclusively as an investment and putting it away, not to be used. Yeah, right.

I am really enjoying mine after [purchasing from the for sale section here. It is a great little pen. I love the way you have to refill the cartridge.

I guess one could say the Boheme is a little of a hassle if you need to take notes in a hurry, but then again is'nt loading a FP with ink, wiping off the nib, and recapping it all the time to keep it from drying out more of a hassle than carrying a bic stic? Most of us here, at least the people I know, put up with some hassle for the pleasure of using a FP. Just a little more hassle to use a Boheme is of no real concern compared to the fun of using it.

Allan

Thats a very good point Allan, most people who collect or are fans are always willing to go that extra length.

Simon

You know, this thread raises some interesting points.

Until about 6 weeks ago, I had a Boheme Le Grand (largest size, no stone on clip). I paid $450 for it and it had a lovely OB nib. I had it for about a year, and used it in rotation with my other pens, including a 149 and two 146's. I didn't mind the retractable nib, although I must admit I was secretly convinced that the mechanism would break one day, somewhere down the line. Also, cleaning the pen was a pain (though I didn't know about the cleaning cartridges until pretty recently).

It eventually sunk it that it was a $500 cartridge filler, and for me, the gee whiz factor was offset by the price. I really liked it, but that's why I don't have it anymore....

The retractable nib function on the Boheme is very cool. The Hundred Year Anniversary pen is also a safety design (though you push/pull rather than twist).

For those interested in the Boheme design, but not the retractable nib, there is a fixed nib Boheme.

Vintner

i love it i bought a week ago it is cool, fun and cute little one . mine is M some times i think that i have to change it to F is it more smoth as what i have heard

I have an M too, and find it quite smooth. I thought I would need the F nib, but I'm quite happy with the current set up.

You're right. I got a card in the mail announcing Montblanc's sale, so I was compelled to stop by and take a look at the sale items. The Silver Bleu would have been my purchase choice but I had to find an excuse not to spend $800.

Does retracting the nib keep the ink from drying out during pauses in writing, like when taking notes in a meeting? Or does it dry out just as fast as a non-retractable pen?