Thinking about a montblanc

[Hbanger]

Hello, my pen collection is mostly Parker Vacumatics, I have a couple of vintage Sheaffers, a contemporary Sheaffer and Waterman and a couple of new Chinese fountain pens that I like to write with. I am thinking about a few other makers and Montblanc is one of them, I know nothing about them except that they are very popular as collector items and as users. I would be looking for a user and I find many of them are very ascetically pleasing so what would be a good model for a first time Montblanc owner / user? Thanks 

[AcLondon]

My two favourites are the 1970/80s 146 with monotone nib and ebonite feed or the 1950s 144 celluloid.  Both historic pens and really pleasing in my mind to write with. 

[Dione]

If you have a B&M store where you can try out some pens then that's your best bet. A Le Grand (146) is a good starter for someone wanting a piston filler or the 145 is a smaller C/C pen. The 149 is the largest and fattest pen. Another piston filler. Also depends on what you want to pay. Modern pens can easily be serviced by Montblanc. Vintage can't.

[gerigo]

It is a much maligned brand today primarily because their product are on the pricier side and they have diversified into the world of watches, leather and fragrance. In many people's eyes especially those that love the original Montblanc as a pen maker, is a step closer toward selling their soul to the devil. However, if you're able to look beyond that, they are one of the better pen makers today that because of both their business model, and also the organization they belong to. Montblanc able to offer quite a wide range of pen models, from the never ending yearly limited editions, which year on year, drive great demand as well as the much loved classics.  They also have nib selections for a wide variety of writing styles.

 

This is not really known, but Montblancs' nibs are quite deliberately ground to either Asian writing or Western writing. EFs and Fs are ideally suited for Asian calligraphy because of their mild architect grind, while their B, BBs, OBs and OBBs are stubs that make Western writing look quite nice. Their mediums are all purpose and are ground on the slightly finer side.

 

While I collect many other brands, I still return to Montblanc year on year primarily because they make a great product and their nibs are really awesome.

[lionelc]

as they are quite pricey, i would suggest try before you buy - there is a nib swap programme if you are not happy with your purchased nib but it is a bit of a hassle to send an expensive pen away and then wait for its return.

[bsenn]

Assuming a used pen is okay for a user, my favorites are the 12, 14, and 22. Relatively inexpensive piston fillers  available in a variety of nibs from fine to broad to oblique. Good quality, good feel in hand, and write nicely.

 

There is a pinned thread on that series explaining the differences.

 

Brian

[meiers]

The MEISTERSTUCK 146 and the 149 are my personal favourites. Try before you buy is excellent advice. 

 

[como]

9 minutes ago, meiers said:

The MEISTERSTUCK 146 and the 149 are my personal favourites. Try before you buy is excellent advice. 

 

+1. And you have to buy both, because whichever you buy, your curiosity will haunt you until you get the other too 😀!

[meiers]

If you do decide to purchase one, deal with a trustworthy and respected seller. 

[Hbanger]

I have been looking at a lot of pens and I am going to try a 420 cartridge converter pen as a starter, it’s West German with a 14k nib, this one just jumped out to me.  I also very much like the meisterstuck’s, but don’t want to pay that much yet, so here’s where I’m gonna start. Thanks for all of the ideas 

[meiers]

Wonderful. Can you show us more photos? Maybe even a writing sample?

[Toll]

19 hours ago, Hbanger said:

I have been looking at a lot of pens and I am going to try a 420 cartridge converter pen as a starter, it’s West German with a 14k nib, this one just jumped out to me.  I also very much like the meisterstuck’s, but don’t want to pay that much yet, so here’s where I’m gonna start. Thanks for all of the ideas 

That looks like a very nice pen to start with! Congratulations on the decision!
 

[Hbanger]

13 minutes ago, meiers said:

Wonderful. Can you show us more photos? Maybe even a writing sample?

When it arrives, it will be a late Christmas or early New Years gift to my self, I am quite excited hopefully the post office gods are swift but cautious.

[Hbanger]

It finally arrived and i am quite impressed with it, it has a very flexible nib much more flexible than any other that I have used before I think it’s going to take a bit to get used to it. It sure seems to be a nice pen, I’m glad I got it.

[meiers]

Enjoy it.

I would be very gentle with this beautiful pen... fountain pen users sometimes exert too much pressure on the nib. The section where the resin meets the nib is quite fragile.