The Best Montblanc Pens Are From The Meisterstuck Collection

[Penryn87]

Hmmm.. well a meisterstuck might be a masterpiece in a world with lots of masterpieces... but there is only one Souverän that rules over them all.

The King has spoken! All hail M800, first of his name, King of the tines and breaker of the ballpoints.

[sansenri]

OK, I've slightly diverted the thread to ask about 149 vs Bernstein (however Meisterstuck vs non), but you...are totally off topic

[DrDebG]

Hmmm.. well a meisterstuck might be a masterpiece in a world with lots of masterpieces... but there is only one Souverän that rules over them all.

 

The King has spoken! All hail M800, first of his name, King of the tines and breaker of the ballpoints.

 

actually, for some, "them's fightin' words!"

[arcfide]

Here's a fun exercise, why don't we all enumerate what qualities we look for in a pen? I'll bet that will illustrate why everyone seems to have different opinions on this. :-)

 

Here's mine:

 

• Good ink flow
• Larger ink resevoir
• Visible ink window
• Screw on cap that won't easily wear out
• Piston or akin filling mechanism that won't easily wear out
• Minimalist styling with a sensuous look
• No leaking
• Able to handle permanent inks
• Extremely precise ink flow characteristics
• Precise line
• Ideally a flex nib with EF/EEF type characteristics up to a 1.5mm flex or more, with emphasis on the very very fine line (I'll give up maximum variation to have a finer line)
• Not too sensitive to flex (so I don't have to be too careful in the nib pressure on various strokes)
• Did I mention precise line?
• Durability of the nib over time (I do use my pens a lot)
• Scratch resistance (I've had some lacquered pens that didn't stand up well versus the MB resin)

And here are some things that I do not care about:

• Nib "scratch", as long as it writes without skittering, and lays down an even, fine line, I'm okay
• A "wet noodle"
• Super wet writers (I find that they don't allow precise lines)
• The easiest to maintain pens
• The heaviest pen
• The pen balance (i find that this doesn't affect me too much within reason)
• Whether the pen can post or not
• Whether the nib is gold or steel (though nibs with the characteristics I like have had a tendency to be gold)
• Whether it's made out of plastic or not (provided it doesn't scratch too easily)
• The cost

There we go. :-) What about you? For my part MB does the above well, and other manufacturers also produce some pretty decent products, but the MB Calligraphy has been extremely good relative to the competition here.

[DrDebG]

Here's a fun exercise, why don't we all enumerate what qualities we look for in a pen? I'll bet that will illustrate why everyone seems to have different opinions on this. :-)

 

Here's mine:

 

• Good ink flow
• Larger ink resevoir
• Visible ink window
• Screw on cap that won't easily wear out
• Piston or akin filling mechanism that won't easily wear out
• Minimalist styling with a sensuous look
• No leaking
• Able to handle permanent inks
• Extremely precise ink flow characteristics
• Precise line
• Ideally a flex nib with EF/EEF type characteristics up to a 1.5mm flex or more, with emphasis on the very very fine line (I'll give up maximum variation to have a finer line)
• Not too sensitive to flex (so I don't have to be too careful in the nib pressure on various strokes)
• Did I mention precise line?
• Durability of the nib over time (I do use my pens a lot)
• Scratch resistance (I've had some lacquered pens that didn't stand up well versus the MB resin)

And here are some things that I do not care about:

• Nib "scratch", as long as it writes without skittering, and lays down an even, fine line, I'm okay
• A "wet noodle"
• Super wet writers (I find that they don't allow precise lines)
• The easiest to maintain pens
• The heaviest pen
• The pen balance (i find that this doesn't affect me too much within reason)
• Whether the pen can post or not
• Whether the nib is gold or steel (though nibs with the characteristics I like have had a tendency to be gold)
• Whether it's made out of plastic or not (provided it doesn't scratch too easily)
• The cost

There we go. :-) What about you? For my part MB does the above well, and other manufacturers also produce some pretty decent products, but the MB Calligraphy has been extremely good relative to the competition here.

 

Sounds like you could start a quiz with this - it would be interesting to see the results, but you would really have scale the options back to something like Montblanc 146 vs Pelikan m800. Obviously only those who have both pens could objectively participate.

Edited December 19, 2019 by DrDebG

[Penryn87]

Well to put my ideal pen characteristics in a list.. (please note: being a good writer and not leaking goes without saying; so that is not a characteristic listed).

 

• The feel in the hand should be effortless and be remain so regardless of being posted or not posted.
• The ink level remaining in the pen should be easy determinable.
• The design suitable to a lifetime of enjoyment.
• The exterior and nib should be able to 1) remain cosmetically satisfactory over a lifetime of use and 2) mechanically require only a rare tune-up.
• The feed and ink reservoir should be very easy to clean.

Clearly, the Souverän is the only true King. Appropriately named too!

 

I do own a modern 146: the LeGrand as they wish to call it these days. It's a lovely pen with a timeless design. It is the best pen by virtue of having survived, but Montblanc has made a lot of other pens that are no longer around anymore..

 

And that may never change since Montblanc has kind of boxed themselves into a certain price point: the MSRP for their entry level pen is 470 dollars. Yes, this is pennies to some pens out but crucially it has kind of handcuffed them creatively. Of course, they do express creativity in their annual special editions that sell for thousands of dollars to for people buy and look at in cases. To me, a pen is a pen and should solely be a pen and stand on it's own as a pen. To that end, It's hard to try something different when the brand requires you to price a pen for 500+ dollars and you have to sell a lot of them. The inability to broaden the brands base is something of a real missed opportunity these days as Montblanc is the last place in most major markets you can actually try pens before you buy them. All that said, there is some signs of hope: over the last few years, the annual special edition inks have enjoyably different and interesting hues and the recent "flex-ish" nib offering shows some signs that Montblanc is flirting with the idea of being a pen company again.

[arcfide]

Well to put my ideal pen characteristics in a list.. (please note: being a good writer and not leaking goes without saying; so that is not a characteristic listed).

 

I think it's actually important to define what a "good writer" is. In fact, that's probably one of the most important characteristics that separates different pens, IMO. What some people would call a good writer I wouldn't, and what I would call a good writer others have called horrible.

 

And I know some people who prefer a leaky-ish pen because such a design has advantages in terms of price, flexibility, and expendability, so it's not actually a given that a leaky pen is inherently undesirable. I know that on some pens, the design of the pen is such that the pen will have leaky behaviors with some inks and other inks will write okay, even if those inks would normally work fine in other pens. Some people are willing to take that finicky nature in order to have the writing quality that they want with the pen on certain inks.

 

So, good writer is important.

 

I also don't know about other people, but I've certainly worn out MB nibs. For normal wear, it took me about 10 years give or take 3 years on an EF 146 nib. I don't know whether people would consider that acceptable or not.

[Penryn87]

So, good writer is important.

 

I also don't know about other people, but I've certainly worn out MB nibs. For normal wear, it took me about 10 years give or take 3 years on an EF 146 nib. I don't know whether people would consider that acceptable or not.

 

well I would qualify a good writing pen as having the following characteristics:

• consistent ink flow sufficient in design to ensure drier inks flow well and wet inks don’t overwhelm it either.
• smooth but not extremely polished so a small amount of feedback remains to allow your hand to feel what you’re writing.
• No leaks lol. I travel with my pens so I expect them to only leak when I want them to.

 

As to wearing down the iridium tipping, I switch pens around quite a bit and have usually 4 inked at any one time. This usually consists of one or two ‘grail class’ pens and 2-3 non-grail pens; there are (as grail to me) are probably 6 grail-class pens in my collection that qualify for that status.

 

Which would be my three M800 pelikans, the pilot urushi 845 vermilion, the Visconti Homo sapiens and I suppose the meisterstuck 146.. lol.

Edited December 20, 2019 by Penryn87

[arcfide]

I wonder how many people prioritize smoothness vs. feedback in a nib? I know that many people don't like rollerballs either because they lay down "too much" ink or because they feel too rough to them, and prefer gel pens that have, essentially, zero feedback for the ultimate smoothness (to them). There are some super wet writing fountain pens that have just about ice skate like smoothness, and I wonder how much that is a desirable characteristic to many people?

[Intensity]

My favorite are Sailor nib finishes: very smooth but at the same time with very pleasant feedback, a bit like writing with a soft pencil. I wish all of my nibs has this property.

[Tom Kellie]

My favorite are Sailor nib finishes: very smooth but at the same time with very pleasant feedback, a bit like writing with a soft pencil. I wish all of my nibs has this property.

 

 

~ Intensity:

 

Thank you for such a vivid description.

It brings to mind the Pelikan IB nibs with a Fritz Schimpf Italic Grind.

Both are wonderfully smooth yet have exquisite feedback.

Tom K.

[DrDebG]

When I write with my fountain pens, I want the nib to flow almost like floating on the ink. The closest analogy I can give is rafting down a quiet river - it is really more floating down a quiet river. The current just moves you along with no resistance whatsoever. That is the sensation I want when I write.

 

I only have a few pens that give me this experience - my Montblanc LeGrand Unicef, Lamy Studio with 14K nib, Lamy 2000 and Waterman Carene. I have a FC Panther with Masuyama 14k nib that is almost as smooth, but does offer a tiny amount of feedback which is acceptable. All of my other pens offer some kind of feedback which I do not find as pleasant.

[arcfide]

When I write with my fountain pens, I want the nib to flow almost like floating on the ink.

 

How much precision in the line are you willing to give up to get this? As in, what width of line, and how much line variation, predictability, and sensitivity do you want/need? It would seem to me that getting that kind of nib would necessitate a relatively broad final stroke size (to me at least).

[Intensity]

Ink used has a huge impact on the gliding effect. Some inks (like Aurora Black and some Iroshizuku inks) provide that gliding cushion. Others (like Pelikan Edelstein Aquamarine, Graf von Faber-Castell inks) do not, and you feel paper texture and nib texture really well.

[arcfide]

Ink used has a huge impact on the gliding effect. Some inks (like Aurora Black and some Iroshizuku inks) provide that gliding cushion. Others (like Pelikan Edelstein Aquamarine, Graf von Faber-Castell inks) do not, and you feel paper texture and nib texture really well.

 

No doubt, but I'm not convinced that something like a Japanese EF or EEF nib would ever be able to provide that sort of feeling to most people. Could it? That's what I mean. There would seem to be a point at which a nib design target in terms of line characteristics exceeds the capacity of materials and ink to deliver that experience and still meet other design criteria, no?

[Intensity]

But it's also a very different experience to write with a broad or italic nib that's super smooth and with a super fine point. It's a lot more difficult to control a super fine point for neat symmetrical curves, unless you write in a tiny script. Some small amount of feedback is helpful for control in this case. And still, the right ink can provide a fairly gliding feel even for very fine nibs. I have 2 Sailor EF (21K and 14K) nibs and depending on ink and paper used, they can write with more or less feedback. And they are never scratchy. If paper has fibers that are catching, then you will feel paper texture, since the nibs are so fine, but it's not sharp, more like feeling rounded bumps on the road as you slide over them. But the nibs themselves, with a lubricating ink, can feel very very smooth.

[Tom Kellie]

When I write with my fountain pens, I want the nib to flow almost like floating on the ink. The closest analogy I can give is rafting down a quiet river - it is really more floating down a quiet river. The current just moves you along with no resistance whatsoever. That is the sensation I want when I write.

 

~ DrDebG:

 

Your eloquent description above brings to mind two types of fountain pens on my writing desk:

• Montblanc 342s & 342-Gs in any nib size

• Pelikan M800 IB nibs with a Fritz Schimpf Italic Grind.

Tom K.

Edited December 24, 2019 by Tom Kellie

[DrDebG]

 

How much precision in the line are you willing to give up to get this? As in, what width of line, and how much line variation, predictability, and sensitivity do you want/need? It would seem to me that getting that kind of nib would necessitate a relatively broad final stroke size (to me at least).

 

 

Yes, I prefer broader nibs. But my Lamy Studiois a fine nib and the Lamy 2000 and the Carene are mediums. They are, however, wet nibs. And of course ink selection is a huge factor.

 

I must confess that I really don't have much choice. I have osteoarthritis in my hands with the misshapened joints and crooked fingers. This necessitates a very easy writing experience. Some ask why I don't give up on writing and stick to typing. But it is good exercise for my joints as long as I stretch and move my hand periodically. So, a pen that is too heavy, too thin, too big, too small or that I have to "push" around isn't pleasant for me and can be painful. That is why my Montblanc Unicef LeGrand is as close to perfect as I have found so far.

 

For those who are curious the Montblanc Unicef LeGrand is a limited edition pen produced for a few years that is basically a Montblanc Meisterstuck 146.

Edited December 24, 2019 by DrDebG

[DrDebG]

 

~ DrDebG:

 

Your eloquent description above brings to mind two types of fountain pens on my writing desk:

• Montblanc 342s & 342-Gs in any nib size

• Pelikan M800 IB nibs with a Fritz Schimpf Italic Grind.

Tom K.

 

That is wonderful! I hope to be talking with Sebastian at Fritz Schimpf in the new year about either the Pelikan m800 or another Montblanc 146. And perhaps later this year I can make one of the pen shows and possibly find a Montblanc 342/342-G. Truthfully, though, I know little about vintage Montblancs that I will have to find a reputable dealer.

[tanalasta]

A bit like double edge razors ... you pick one depending on your mood for the day and what you’re hoping to achieve out of it.

 

My criteria for a fountain pen is that it should exemplify the idiosyncrasies, characteristics and epitome of that particular manufacturer.

 

For instance:

Lamy - Lamy 2000. Utilitarian. Holds a gallon of ink. Smooth, reliable piston fill and I’ve dropped it so many times, it still holds up as a daily writer. I’m on my 6th Lamy 2000 now ....... That’s how long I’ve used them for. Otherwise, The safari.

 

But on topic: MontBlanc - Either the writer/POA etc... editions that appeal to you. Or I agree, the Meisterstuck. MB lost their way in recent times with the broadening out of their range to suit the mass market. Perhaps a sign of the times? The MB 149 and 146 (as long as one doesn’t drop them) epitomises a well designed, balanced, cigar shaped pen with a hand-tuned nib.

 

For me, I love the Dumas (for it’s 9 sized nib) and style. But my daily go-to for a MB would either be a MB silver rollerball (sorry) ; or the MB 146. For letter writing at home or suit carry, the 149 but it’s a little ostentatious in my workplace.