Montblanc 146 vs. Mahjong P136

[23109VC]

I am relatively new to FP’s.  I had been using a Metropolitan by Pilot to see if i liked them, and I thought it wrote great, which got me looking at nicer pens.  I ended up recently buying a brand new MB 146.  I then saw that there is a Chinese copy of the 146 called the P136.  I found one for about $35 and decided to buy one to compare to the MB.

 

Both pens showed up around the same time frame and I filled them both with MB Royal blue ink.  

 

My impressions are that the MB is clearly a nicer made pen, it feels nicer, as it should.  I paid $35 for the Majohn and got a “deal” of $400 for my authentic MB, which I found for sale at my BMW dealer.  The size/dimensions and weight are virtually identical.  If you closed your eyes and put one in each hand, you would not be able to tell them apart.  If you manipulate the cap, then you can tell, and if you feel the plastic, you can tell.  While not a huge difference, the plastic feels “nicer” on the MB.    Also, when you screw the cap on/off - it just feels more substantial on the MB.  Smoother and like the two pieces are sliding together perfectly.  There is nothing wrong with how the Majohn feels, it just isn’t buttery smooth like the MB.

 

The two pens I ordered were different nib sizes, so that is a big difference in how they each write.  The MB is a medium and the Chinese pen is a stub nib.  I love them both in different ways.  As to how they write - without addressing the nib thickness - the MB seems to be a bit more consistent in that it will put down a smooth line no matter what angle the nib is at, while the Chinese pen - still writes super smoothly, it just might be a bit more finicky if my hand is at the wrong angle.  When I am holding them just right - they both write super smooth.  In fact the Chinese pen sometimes feels smoother becuase it has a larger nib and is putting down a fatter line of ink….but at times, i get skipping.  Not a ton, but some.

 

I have come to really like how the stub nib writes - the line variation gives a more elegant look to handwriting, especially signatures.  I have found myself using the MB for longer notes, and using the Chinese stub nib for short notes and signatures.  

 

 

I find myself questioning where a super expensive MB is really worth it after using the cheapo Chinese pen.  The P136 writes fantastic.  I’d be tempted to buy another P136 in different colors, or different nib just to have them lying around - and if they get scratched or scuffed - so what. They are $35/each and aside from the snowflake on the top - they looking pretty much like a MB and honestly, write almost as well too.  Yes, it’s not a MB, but for $35 it’s a hell of a pen.  I was using the cheap one at work yesterday and someoen complimented me and said what a pretty and nice pen it was.  

 

I attached a couple of photos. You can see how similar they are.  If my P136 was in black, it woudl almost look identical to my MB but for the snowflake.  Maybe i can paint one on.. hahah

 

if you can get a Mahjon pen, I’d highly recommend it. Excellent pen for the money.

 

 

 

[helloMB]

We only recommend Montblanc here. 

[mizgeorge]

11 minutes ago, helloMB said:

We only recommend Montblanc here. 

Really?

Why?

And who is 'we'?

[helloMB]

2 minutes ago, mizgeorge said:

Really?

Why?

And who is 'we'?

 

It's called the Montblanc forum, isn't it?

We as in the forum.

Would you disagree?

[Sailor Kenshin]

The Mahjon looks slimmer than the Montblanc.

[A Smug Dill]

@23109VC Thank you for making the comparison and sharing your findings and views with us! 

 

5 hours ago, helloMB said:

We as in the forum.

Would you disagree?

 

This forum is for the discussion of Montblanc, including its shortcomings and/or how it compares (perhaps unfavourably, perhaps not) to its competition. So, no, I disagree 'we' only recommend Montblanc here. 'We' can also recommend against Montblanc, while we're discussing Montblanc products. As well, a fellow member has recently been recommending the Majohn P136 "demolition" tool, which he has proven to be compatible with Montblanc pens; and there is nothing wrong with recommending the tool albeit not a Montblanc product, in the context of the forum.

 

[CS388]

 

Thanks for the comparison 23109VC.

The quality of some the modern Chinese pens is unparalleled, at their price point. (I carry a Hong Dian daily) 

But, the Montblanc 146 is one of the leaders in its field. It's a superb piece of craftsmanship and withstands comparison from all its contenders . (I'm biased, it's my 'perfect' pen!)

That said, if I lost all my 146 pens, today - and didn't have the big money for a MB146*,  I'd definitely try the P136.

 

Enjoy the weekend.

 

*I don't. Greetings from the cost of living crisis UK!

 

 

 

Edited March 5, 2023 by CS388
expediency

[Karmachanic]

Uh. MAJOHN P136. Just sayin'

[Thymen]

I have one Montblanc 146, and recently was gifted four Majohn P136, with spare EF/F/M and 1.1 stub nibs.

 

The Montblanc 146 is a pen that oozes quality and refinement. Capping the 146, filling it using the piston knob.. it just feels great. That said, the P136 is no slouch either. And at 1/30th of the price of a 146, it is a steal, and once the nib has been fine-tuned, they write (almost) the same. And nib units for the P136 cost just €2 (or $2), so if a nib does not write well and tuning does not work or goes wrong, replacing it with a new one is cheap.

 

I assume that most of the members of this forum do not consider fountain pens just as tools for writing, but also as prized possessions. Therefor I think that the P136 is not a replacement for the 146. Even though I have four P136's, the 146 is the one in the top drawer of my pen cabinet, the drawer where I keep my most valuable pens. The same applies to my Montblanc 149, even though I have 10 Jinhao X159 now (less soon, as I plan to give most of them away).

 

The Montblanc pens are heirloom items, they will go to my sons after I have died. The Majohn and Jinhao.... not so much.

 

 

[23109VC]

Agree with you all - the 146 is a quality pen.  I’m not knocking the MB.  I carry mine daily.  I was just surprised how well

the  cheap pen wrote .  For something you can use and not worry if you lose it / scratch / break - it’s not a bad pen.

 

the overall quality of the Chinese pen is not up to MB standards.  It feels cheaper, and the cap screws on/off with a cheaper feel but what do you expect for $35.  
 

i just  thought you woukd

find the comparison interesting 

[Thinkpad_maven]

I bought a Montblanc 146 and did not like how it writes - too much feedback for my tastes. I ended up gifting it to my brother. I have purchased a bunch of Pilots, as my current arsenal is 2 vanishing points 1 in M 1 in fine, Pilot metal falcon Elabo M Pilot 743 M. I have purchased a Pilot custom Urushi to present myself next week and can't wait to ink it. I also purchased a 5 pen pensemble from Pilot. All in all some people love MB and some of us don't. As I am new to buying expensive pens my opinion is nothing more than my personal choice.

[Thinkpad_maven]

Also did your P136 post? the original ones did not, there are reports that the newer ones do.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Now I'm wondering if I should visit a BMW dealer.

[Thinkpad_maven]

On a similar vain if you get a good x159 it writes great for $10 - now is the 149 worth the difference? Well if you appreciate the craftsmanship and the heritage of the brand it might be.

[kazoolaw]

The thread title including "versus" identifies the two pens as adversaries, at odds with one another. They need not be, but they've been put into the arena.

 

The debate isn't a new one, and ranges across gold content, design vs copying/theft, labor costs, after-market support, how to weigh the worth of a luxury branded item, quality of materials, the cost of the an earlier model of the pen in the vintage market, the way the pen will be used [rough environment or office desk], purchase price, perceptions of the pens by others, purchase price, the availability of accessories of the same brand, and so on, and so on, and so on and .... 

 

I doubt MB is afraid of losing market share of the 149 to the 159, nor the 146 to the P139.  Put ink on paper and have fun.

 

 

 

[Andrew_L]

I am against cloning, replicating and copying, because we need to see further, over the next crossroad. I believe that MB is much better than a Chinese fake. By buying and encouraging others to buy cheap Chinese replica pens, you thereby destroy the modern industry of fountain pens and this is the way when there will be nothing on the market except Chinese and very expensive exclusive for those who have a lot of money. And when this happens, Chinese pens will cease to be cheap, but this will not addition quality not only to materials but also in design also.

 

On 3/6/2023 at 8:11 PM, kazoolaw said:

I doubt MB is afraid of losing market share of the 149 to the 159, nor the 146 to the P139.  Put ink on paper and have fun.

 

Nevertheless, everyone MB fans knows the lawsuit of the MB against to the Senator (President), which theoretically was devalue the MB 149, but this was in Europe. It is simply more expensive to file a lawsuit against Chinese companies, which can change the own name in 5 seconds and continue cloning, because there are no rights, there is no one to complain to, do you remember the case with Kaweco?

[fpupulin]

I believe there are relatively few other things as personal as one's pen. For those who, like me, frequent forums like this one, one could probably use the plural and say "one's pens", but fortunately for most people it is enough to have a good pen.

 

I don't think it is impossible for anyone, even if with some effort, to put aside the 800 dollars for a Montblanc Meisterstück 146, with its beautiful gold nib of choice. A pen with a wonderful story, a forever pen, to bequeathed to someone when saying goodbye.

No matter how well it writes, the copy of a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 doesn't perform the same function as "one's pen," which means many other things. The fact that it looks too much like a Montblanc Meisterstück 146, but without a gram of its history, condemns it in my opinion to an object of mere utility, something that writes but which represents no one.

I have two 159X's that I use with permanent black ink to write the flower tags that I keep in glass flasks with alcohol, so I don't worry too much about the maintenance of my Montblanc Meisterstück 149s. If they didn't look so much like 149s, I could also use them for go to the office. But too much resemblance makes me feel a little ashamed...

Without feeling the need to wave them under anyone's nose, the faithful Montblanc Meisterstück 149 are "my own pens", something I identify with.

[amberleadavis]

[amberleadavis]

@23109VC Thank you for your comparison.

 

Like @fpupulin, I don't like that the pen looks too much like the MB.  I broke up with a boyfriend who gifted me a fake MB (and pretended it was real).  I'd rather have a real Bic than a fake MB. I have many pens in my life now days, but I admit, Pilot Varsity pens go with me out in the wild. I give them away and enjoy using them immensely.  Inexpensive doesn't necessary mean poorly made.

 

Again, thank you for sharing your experience.

[a student]

9 hours ago, fpupulin said:

I believe there are relatively few other things as personal as one's pen. For those who, like me, frequent forums like this one, one could probably use the plural and say "one's pens", but fortunately for most people it is enough to have a good pen.

 

I don't think it is impossible for anyone, even if with some effort, to put aside the 800 dollars for a Montblanc Meisterstück 146, with its beautiful gold nib of choice. A pen with a wonderful story, a forever pen, to bequeathed to someone when saying goodbye.

No matter how well it writes, the copy of a Montblanc Meisterstück 146 doesn't perform the same function as "one's pen," which means many other things. The fact that it looks too much like a Montblanc Meisterstück 146, but without a gram of its history, condemns it in my opinion to an object of mere utility, something that writes but which represents no one.

I have two 159X's that I use with permanent black ink to write the flower tags that I keep in glass flasks with alcohol, so I don't worry too much about the maintenance of my Montblanc Meisterstück 149s. If they didn't look so much like 149s, I could also use them for go to the office. But too much resemblance makes me feel a little ashamed...

Without feeling the need to wave them under anyone's nose, the faithful Montblanc Meisterstück 149 are "my own pens", something I identify with.

 

6 hours ago, amberleadavis said:

@23109VC Thank you for your comparison.

 

Like @fpupulin, I don't like that the pen looks too much like the MB.  I broke up with a boyfriend who gifted me a fake MB (and pretended it was real).  I'd rather have a real Bic than a fake MB. I have many pens in my life now days, but I admit, Pilot Varsity pens go with me out in the wild. I give them away and enjoy using them immensely.  Inexpensive doesn't necessary mean poorly made.

 

Again, thank you for sharing your experience.

 

 I think anybody carrying a Majohn in the hope that it may be mistaken for an MB is not the smartest con-person on the planet.

 

On the other hand, I often use a Sailor but no one has ever mistaken that for an MB, though the creation back in 1911 (?) was apparently inspired by MB. Also for those friends who like to explore the inside of a pen (I of course lack the courage, even if had the know how), if a non-MB tool does the job to full satisfaction and is readily available at a reasonable price- well that is stroke of luck.

 

(Majohn seems to be moving on from replicating MB. I spotted a couple of wooden pens in an Istanbul store window (on Istiklal) earlier this month, and I thought they may be Hakase (the first image below). I went in and inquired- they turned out to be Majohn! And were retailing for around USD 30~40; the store had had no complaints. Next visit there, I might get one. The store had all kinds of interesting stuff (the second image) including antique stuff that was inside.)