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The Montblanc 149. Should I Get One?


sub_bluesy

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Use the opportunity to get an interesting nib. Here's some pen porn from my Skeletons for inspiration.

By Skeletons you mean the blue hour, 90th Anniversary and UNICEF?

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I don’t have the UNICEF, but yes.

yet...

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."

Oscar Wilde

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Bought mine in 2001, at about 1/3 the current price. Medium nib. Great pen. Never been out of my rotation. Sometimes you just need to have the quintessential fountain pen. I fear they are overpriced these days, but bargains can be found.

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Before you decide on the Montblanc I recommend that you also hold a Sailor King of Pen, if possible compare both in person. I know there's no substitute for the 149 but the Sailor is a really nice pen.

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  • 11 months later...

Get one from the years 1965 till 1979, they had the best nibs and are absolutely fantastic writers. I like them more than any other modern Montblanc 149.

Pens are like watches , once you start a collection, you can hardly go back. And pens like all fine luxury items do improve with time

 

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The 146 and 149 are pens that will last through your lifetime and still be passed onto your kids. Buying a “pre-loved” pen can put you in some very reasonable price ranges. There is Ebay which can be risky, classifieds here, also the “backroom” at the Fountain Pen Hospital. But, if you have the money, go for new.

The 149 is a fat pen and not for everyone, the 146 is a workhorse EDC. It’s big, but well balanced, and sized to fit comfortably in your shirt pocket. You can’t go wrong with either of these. Once you aquire one you will want the other as well. There really is nothing that compares to the writing experience of these two pens. Lots of runner’s up but no equal. For me’. They are the ultimate writing experience.

You really should try a few out, just to experience the feel of the pens and different nibs.

Hope this helps, happy hunting.

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To chime in on this zombie thread... I got a 1990's MB149 a few weeks back. I felt obligated because it was one of the few "must haves" I didn't have. As a "used" pen, it needed a bit of work, the nib was not seated straight nor deep enough in the nib collar, which led to various performance issues. After a bit of time I got that all sorted out and it writes like it was new, I suspect. With that said, despite being 18K it is about the hardest nail nib I have in my collection - makes my Pelikan M800 nib feel springy. I do have an ST Dupont Olympio XL which is almost as much of a nail. The 149 section is a hair thicker than my Sailor King of Pen... that last little bit might be too much for my liking. All in all I find it somewhat uninspiring, but might be growing on me. It occurs to me I don't ink my ST Dupont often... but am still giving the MB149 a shot. I've been sticking with the MB Lavender Purple ink. In a comparable price range it is my least favorite vs. my Namiki's, Visconti's and Sailors.

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It very much depends on the 149. I can imagine a subset of my pens with my 149 as the best among them. But as it is, it isn't even my best MB. The 146 has a more practical size and i really like the nibs on the two-digit pens from the 1960s. The 14c nib on my 149 isn't bad, but it doesn't have the softness or the line variation that my 146s, 14 & 24s have. I think that's mostly luck of the draw, and again, i can imagine the 149 being fantastic and the others being less so.

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I had lunch on a Sunday a few weeks ago with my neighbour. Upon learning that I use and collect pens, he went and dug out a pen that he neglected for over 20 years. it was the instantly recognisable MB 149, from the 80's, monotone nib, no serial number, and "W. Germany" etc. I have a few MB's but I hadn't bought one for almost 15 years. In between my last MB and my neighbour's, I've had a few Italian beauties (the pens, I mean). I never cared for that pen, but offered the neighbour to clean and polish the pen, because he should use a fountain pen when he has one! I had that pen for a full 2 hours, and hastily gave him back. But it was too late. Monday I was at the MB boutique, ordered a 149 yellow-gold trim with BB nib.

 

So I think that you will find your answer too. Only do it when it's unstoppable ;) (if that's the case, you won't be listening anyway).

 

Como

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Seriously there are a few guys here that you can find a preloved 149 at a very decent price, and they truly do write well... but I would suggest going to a boutique to try the different nibs and 146 too before you decide... cause if you ever get a second one, you aint going to stop

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Seriously there are a few guys here that you can find a preloved 149 at a very decent price, and they truly do write well...

 

 

I know. I agree. Unfortunately at the moment I don't have the luxury to go to a pen show to pick one out, which is what I would have preferred. I am going to hand this one down to the kids so I don't ever have to bear the pain of realising the loss :-)))

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COMO: is there a montblanc boutique near you that you can try the pens first?

they will let you try different inks, nib size for 146 and 149 in the boutique. Its much easier to get one once you are sure about what you like.

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COMO: is there a montblanc boutique near you that you can try the pens first?

they will let you try different inks, nib size for 146 and 149 in the boutique. Its much easier to get one once you are sure about what you like.

 

Says:

 

I went to a Montblanc boutique. I found that the 146 nib was softer than 149. For trying the nib size, I could only try from their Test drawer, all 146. So I decided on a BB because the B didn't have much line variation. Though in the past I have found MB B nibs with very clear line variation from their smaller nibs (100 anniversary etc). They have to order the 149 in BB as they didn't have one in store.

 

This is the dilemma I often find with buying pens: 1. Boutiques are not always consistently competent, friendly and knowledgeable; 2. Buying online from auction sites is risky; 3. No time to go to pen shows; 4. Buying from online reputable shops you still can't be sure of the actual pen's results and sending back and forth is painful.

 

I got your PM. Thank you!

 

Kind regards,

 

Como

Edited by como
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I recently got a used 149. Was looking for a good deal for quite some time and was finally able to secure one (great condition, just shy of $300)

It's from the early 1980's (with a 14c nib), and boy oh boy, is it wonderful.

 

The nib is exceedingly smooth and slightly soft (bouncy?). I don't know the actual nib size (because MB in their infinite wisdom doesn't indicate the size on the nib).

It writes very broad - that probably means it's a Montblanc fine :) I'm currently debating if I should have it re-ground to a finer size (make it more every-day usable).

But even being that broad, I just keep using it, because it's such a joy to use. It makes me smile, every time I write with it.
I'll keep using it for some time and then decide.

 

And the size fits very well with my preferences, my hands are on the larger side and the 149 is very comfortable (have used it so far for max. 2 hours in one setting, without any problems).

I generally like large pens with thick (girthy) sections, so the 149 feels at home.

 

If you get a good deal, there is very little risk in getting one, using it for some time and if it doesn't feel right, you will easily be able to sell it.
But a new one doesn't seem worth it to me (also, the modern nibs seem too hard).

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Its a good call!

 

Enjoy your pen!

 

Says:

 

I went to a Montblanc boutique. I found that the 146 nib was softer than 149. For trying the nib size, I could only try from their Test drawer, all 146. So I decided on a BB because the B didn't have much line variation. Though in the past I have found MB B nibs with very clear line variation from their smaller nibs (100 anniversary etc). They have to order the 149 in BB as they didn't have one in store.

 

This is the dilemma I often find with buying pens: 1. Boutiques are not always consistently competent, friendly and knowledgeable; 2. Buying online from auction sites is risky; 3. No time to go to pen shows; 4. Buying from online reputable shops you still can't be sure of the actual pen's results and sending back and forth is painful.

 

I got your PM. Thank you!

 

Kind regards,

 

Como

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80'S 149 shy of 300? thats a great deal. is there anymore?

I recently got a used 149. Was looking for a good deal for quite some time and was finally able to secure one (great condition, just shy of $300)

It's from the early 1980's (with a 14c nib), and boy oh boy, is it wonderful.

 

The nib is exceedingly smooth and slightly soft (bouncy?). I don't know the actual nib size (because MB in their infinite wisdom doesn't indicate the size on the nib).

It writes very broad - that probably means it's a Montblanc fine :) I'm currently debating if I should have it re-ground to a finer size (make it more every-day usable).

But even being that broad, I just keep using it, because it's such a joy to use. It makes me smile, every time I write with it.
I'll keep using it for some time and then decide.

 

And the size fits very well with my preferences, my hands are on the larger side and the 149 is very comfortable (have used it so far for max. 2 hours in one setting, without any problems).

I generally like large pens with thick (girthy) sections, so the 149 feels at home.

 

If you get a good deal, there is very little risk in getting one, using it for some time and if it doesn't feel right, you will easily be able to sell it.
But a new one doesn't seem worth it to me (also, the modern nibs seem too hard).

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80'S 149 shy of 300? thats a great deal. is there anymore?

 

 

Just got lucky on Ebay. It wasn't listed in the title as 149, and the main picture didn't call that much attention.... Sometimes that's all it takes.

And the ending time was very early in the morning so not many others bidding at the last second...

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Its a good call!

 

Enjoy your pen!

 

Thank you. I hope they call me soon when they have it.

 

 

 

Just got lucky on Ebay. It wasn't listed in the title as 149, and the main picture didn't call that much attention.... Sometimes that's all it takes.

And the ending time was very early in the morning so not many others bidding at the last second...

 

 

I can imagine. Well done and congrats! I suppose people have different levels of risk tolerance. Mine is relatively low, and of course I pay for that. It's really ok with me. But in the future I would consider getting one from a reliable seller that I can trust.

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