Pelikan M805 Vs Montblanc 146

[Faulkner]

Yes, I do know they are big contenders. On one hand I do prefer Montblanc design but user interchangeable nibs is a nice feature of Pelikans. Thus, I don't know which one "should" I purchase

How would you compare nibs width and flex. What difference does it make 14 vs 18 k (MB146 nib is 14 k, right?)

 

One last question: which one feels heavier and/or better balanced?

 

Thanks in advance

[Kimo]

I think that you would be the only one to be able to tell which one feels best in your hand for your style of writing.

 

As for difference between a 14K and an 18K nib, the higher gold content is not a big factor in feel - it is just that 18K is a fairly widely established European standard while 14K is more of an American standard. 18K is a bit more resistant to oxidizing, but 14K is almost as stable. The European (and Asian) buying public prefer more gold in their gold so it keeps its extra bright gold look to it. It costs more to make a nib from 18K and some people perceive it to have just a touch more spring and smooth feeling but I am not sure I can feel that.

 

In my personal opinion you get a much higher quality pen with the 805 but you are asking a different question than that.

[goodguy]

From my experience owning these two truly wonderful pens I will go with the 146 and NOT because I am a MB fan.

I found the 146's nib to have better feedback, the Pelikan's nibs are great but lack a bit of feedback to them other then that both nibs are about the same.

 

Either pen you choose will make you happy!!!

[PatientType]

Regards the Pelikan M800 ... I don't find that my M800 nibs have much spring to them. A little but not much. I see the M800 as the ultimate everyday writer pen. Kind of like a diesel Mercedes. They're not all that flashy or sporty, but they are intelligently designed, well-made, and all of mine have been super reliable writers. A flexy nib? That's why I also own a couple of Pelikan M1000s.

[Bo Bo Olson]

800's 'Flexy' nib.....No! What you are talking about is a 'springy' nib.

 

Well I had the privilege of being able to fiddle with a 800 for a couple of days before I sent it on it's way to where it was going.

The nib is good...this being a 80's 800,with the better nib than todays. It was a rather nice nib...acceptable, but

how ever it was not semi-flex.

 

I have a whole slew of semi-flex nibs...exactly how many I don't know. Inked I have 11. I have half of my piston pens needing a new cork, so I don't have them around much. Call it 20 pens with semi-flex nibs. One is barely semi-flex and some three are F-1 maxi-semi-flex, or barely Flexible.

 

Springy is better than regular flex. I find semi-flex and F-1 to be better than springy.

 

A 400NN (56-@65) carries more ink than an 800 and one can get them in semi-flex.

 

You are not going to get the bling recognition....and a 400NN can be had at affordable prices.

 

I have a '56 400NN OF, a year when Pelikan was stupid and had friction feed instead of a screw out nib, so I could not put it in my '90-96 400 Tortoise. That too is a very good regular nib. The 800 is a better nib than that Sovereign 400, it is more springy.

 

I reach for my 400NN OF often, very often.

 

A '50's semi-flex OF many not be the exact nib to compare it to, it is better. In my 140 I have an OB 30 degree semi-flex nib, that is battling it out for second best nib I have.

It too is better than the nice springy 80's 800.

 

It all comes down to do you want the Bling or the nib.

 

My suggestion is buy the 800 and send it to a nib meister to be made semi-flex.

Then you can have it all.

 

It is odd, my 605 is a tad thicker and wider. The 800 was a thicker, and longer than that and heavier....yet my 400NN holds more ink than the 600 or the 800.

I looked for the file but didn't find it...I'm sure the 400NN carries nearly as much as the 1000...but would need to find the file.

 

Back in the then in the '50s the 400NN and the 146 were close to the same size, in they were medium sized pens like an Esterbrook DJ. In the mean while, the 146 has become a large pen...like the 800...the 1000 is a giant pen like the 149.

 

Many pens expanded in size I believe to hold more international ink cartridges, and that many did not post their pens, and found a un-posted pen too small.

 

I post my pens so none are too small. I write forefinger up, so can adjust my hand to a pen so it nestles in the web of my thumb where I want it. The 400NN or the 400 IMO are not small pens.

But if you do not post, then the 800 is big enough to write with un-posted.

 

If you can afford it, get the 400NN first with a real semi-flex nib...

If you don't like it for some reason, you can always sell the 400NN and buy a 800...and get an early 800 with the better nib. If you can afford it, keep both.

 

I liked that 80's 800, but it could not get into my top 5 right now. As soon as I get a few of my other pens re-corked, I don't know it if would make it into my top ten. I have a six of Osmia's all needing corking, and three have Supra nibs.

It is rather unfair to compare an 80's 800 to a Supra semi-flex or F-1 nib.

 

So send it off to a nib meister.

 

Oh, a '50's 146-149 can compare to my MB 234 1/2 Deluxe (52-55 only) in they used the same nib, just the imprint on the 146-9 might be better. I think my '50s' 234 1/2 'my best pen' will beat the hell out of the modern MB bling nibs too.

 

So if you are going to buy a 146-9 make sure it's a late 40's or 50's or at oldest a up to mid-60's nib.

They had good nibs then. Very good nibs.

Edited October 1, 2010 by Bo Bo Olson

[Tsujigiri]

I don't have the m800 and 146, but I do have the m1000 and 149. The Pelikan nib is more flexible and the Montblanc nib is wider.

[goodguy]

I don't have the m800 and 146, but I do have the m1000 and 149. The Pelikan nib is more flexible and the Montblanc nib is wider.

I really gotta get an M1000 someday

[fabrimedeiros]

I own M800, M1000, 146 and 149. I can say pick any pen and you'll be happy. All my 4 pens are modern. Only M1000 has a springy nib and the others are stiff with little diferences. These Pelikans have an awesome ink flow in my oppinion: they're quite wet! MBs have a good ink flow too, but Pels are wetter, very juicy nibs. Peli nibs are buttery smooth, and MBs have a nice feedback. I do like the 4 pens and they are absolutely on the top of my rank pens. They are pens for life!

 

Best wishes,

 

Fabricio

Edited October 2, 2010 by fabrimedeiros

[fabrimedeiros]

I don't have the m800 and 146, but I do have the m1000 and 149. The Pelikan nib is more flexible and the Montblanc nib is wider.

I really gotta get an M1000 someday

If you like pens with a tad of springy, do it now and you will not regret!!

[goodguy]

I don't have the m800 and 146, but I do have the m1000 and 149. The Pelikan nib is more flexible and the Montblanc nib is wider.

I really gotta get an M1000 someday

If you like pens with a tad of springy, do it now and you will not regret!!

Oh I know I will not but for now except once a year buying a WE is all I can afford.

[lapis]

Get both and you'll have no problems

 

Wallet

[fabrimedeiros]

I don't have the m800 and 146, but I do have the m1000 and 149. The Pelikan nib is more flexible and the Montblanc nib is wider.

I really gotta get an M1000 someday

If you like pens with a tad of springy, do it now and you will not regret!!

Oh I know I will not but for now except once a year buying a WE is all I can afford.

 

 

OMG, I need stop espend money on pens! But which eases my conscience is that FP do not devalue too much, and you can sell them any time.

 

regards,

Fabricio

[hari317]

Yes, I do know they are big contenders. On one hand I do prefer Montblanc design but user interchangeable nibs is a nice feature of Pelikans. Thus, I don't know which one "should" I purchase

How would you compare nibs width and flex. What difference does it make 14 vs 18 k (MB146 nib is 14 k, right?)

 

One last question: which one feels heavier and/or better balanced?

 

Thanks in advance

 

I have the M800, and several MB146 pens, I recommend an older 146 with the plastic filler and ebonite feeder. It is very balanced nd ergonomic for me. The lack of a gold trim ring near the nib on the 146 is a major plus with the 146 in my opinion.

[Faulkner]

I own M800, M1000, 146 and 149. I can say pick any pen and you'll be happy. All my 4 pens are modern. Only M1000 has a springy nib and the others are stiff with little diferences. These Pelikans have an awesome ink flow in my oppinion: they're quite wet! MBs have a good ink flow too, but Pels are wetter, very juicy nibs. Peli nibs are buttery smooth, and MBs have a nice feedback. I do like the 4 pens and they are absolutely on the top of my rank pens. They are pens for life!

 

Best wishes,

 

Fabricio

 

Thanks for sharing your opinion guys. It is good to know that U can't go wrong (doesn't happen very often).

What about Pel 605 nib? As I said I prefer the torpedo design of MB146 over the "flat" Pel 805, however M605, being smaller seems nicer to me

[zenshrink]

I have all the pens you are considering and they are all excellent. My 605 has a double broad nib that will write well on any kind of paper and is smooth as butter but it is lacking personality, if that makes any kind of sense.

[Sunburst]

I have both MB146 (W. Germany) and M800 (old-style, W. Germany).

MB146 has 14K Fine nib and M800 and 18C Fine nib.

Both nib lays a nice wet line however M800 nib feels little more springy as per Bo Bo

 

MB146 weighs 24 grams and M800 weighs 30 grams (I did not bother to remove ink) and

M800 feels little bottom heavy.

 

Both are an excellent FP and can't go wrong with either choice.

Edited October 3, 2010 by Sunburst

[Bo Bo Olson]

I have all the pens you are considering and they are all excellent. My 605 has a double broad nib that will write well on any kind of paper and is smooth as butter but it is lacking personality, if that makes any kind of sense.

 

 

I traded in a very nice 605 M, for a BB so I can send it off to be made a Cursive Italic....As soon as my cousin brings back my money tree I lent him.

 

I wanted the nibmeister to have as much nib as he needed to work with...he deciding what the finished nib would be, there being no reason to cramp his style. If it ends up Broad or a wide medium...ok by me.

[quattro98]

Both the M805 & 146 are fantastic pens, but there are significant differences. The Montblanc is lighter & has a slightly smaller nib. It cannot be easily disassembled for cleaning & doesn't have interchangeable nibs. I like fine nibs & have an extra-fine on my 146. This nib is shaped so that the top & bottom are rounded & the sides are sharper. The pen is a nice writer, but is different from the Pelikan nibs which are rounded on all sides. If I had to pick one of these two pens, I would get the Pelikan. I like the nib better & it is an easier pen to live with because the nib comes out for easy cleaning. You can also easily swap nibs & remove the piston filler if you need to.

[Painterspal]

I tend to think of the M60x as being closer in size and weight to the MB146 - the M800 is a bigger pen and it feels that way in the hand. As others have said, they're all nice, well made pens that should give you considerable satisfaction and years of use.

 

I own and like all three. The 146's nib is a bit springier, with more personality, while the Pelikan nibs tend to be a bit firmer - the current M800 is very stiff in my opinion. However, it depends what size/type of nib you prefer and your writing style. For example, being firmer, the M800 nib is easy to make into a great stub and it really depends how hard you press, whether you notice a springy nib or not.

 

Being piston fillers with brass parts, all save the M6xx (which has a plastic piston) are a bit tail heavy, the M800 particularly so - but whether that is an issue is a very personal thing, it irritates some people, but both pens also have many fans. The M60x pens are very light. The ease of cleaning and nib removal on the Pels is a big advantage IMO.

 

Out of the three the M800 gets my vote, just, but I probably prefer the MB149 to any of them, and would suggest you also consider the Aurora Optima/Large 88, which have similar virtues and features and are lovely pens.

 

Good luck with your choice!

Edited October 4, 2010 by Painterspal