Help Me Choose a Montblanc Pen for My Graduation Gift

[misterjj]

Posted Monday at 01:02 PM (edited)

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to buy a Montblanc pen as a graduation gift for myself and need some advice. I’ve narrowed it down to three options, but I’m having a tough time deciding. I want something timeless, high-quality, and enjoyable to write with.

Here are the three models I’m considering:

1. Montblanc Meisterstück 146
2. Montblanc Meisterstück 146 LeGrand
3. Montblanc MB 146 LeGrand Fountain Pen F 14k Nib 

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Which one would you choose and why? Also, what’s a good price range to buy each of these for? I want to make sure I’m getting a fair deal.

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[VacNut]

Are you limiting your choice to MB? 
They are quality pens, but there are numerous counterfeits on the market. You should purchase it from a trusted source.

The qualities you are after can be met by other mfrs. You may consider a vintage pen that has been time tested. Newer pens may not match the writing quality of vintage pens.

[Portia_of_Belmont]

I recommend posting this to the Montblanc specific section.  There are some really knowledgable people in there who are always so helpful and gracious with their advice.

[Wahl]

Does it have to be a Montblanc, Pelikan makes nice pens 😉

[Penguincollector]

  I really like the monochrome nib. Does it have the ebonite feed? If so, that one gets my vote. 

[Bo Bo Olson]

A 1948-59 medium-large 146, has the balance the 1970-now Large 146 misses. Has a great semi-flex stubbed nib, vs an ok springy nib.

I find the Large 146's to be stately...not lively or nimble...lacking a tad of balance. I'm from the end of the era when balance was still demanded of a fountain pen.

Back in the Day of One Man, One Pen, bought once a decade.

 

I have this medium-large 146....1948-59. Very good balance, great maxi-semi-flex nib.

Looks the same but is that bit smaller, in size...therefore in balance.

 

I ended up with a couple 146's.... In they are from @ 1990, expect that to be the regular run-of-the-mill two toned 146. 

I don't know which those two names below are.

On 3/6/2025 at 1:22 PM, misterjj said:

•  
• Montblanc Meisterstück 146 LeGrand
• Montblanc MB 146 LeGrand Fountain Pen F 14k Nib 

 

I have 5-6 less stately MB's that I'd recommend before that Large 146.

Vintage (@ 1950-70)= semi-flex factory stubbed nib, besides the medium-large 146, a standard sized 234 1/2 (shocked me by being my best balanced pen.), a medium-large 264 very nice balance, 

 

medium-large 14...nothing else...good balance, ...... the 22 above it needs a bit of repair, has a stuck piston.              

and a real nice and nifty gold nibbed 32 (in line to test against my second best balanced pen a Geha 725...designed to stomp MB into a mudpuddle and did.) 

 

Looking back, I really should have chased the 22 and 32 long ago. But I think I was a bit snobbish.......................................

The Large 146 is a better balanced than a Pelikan 800.........I just now found my self debating with my self about selling them.

In there was a problem with another pen in a live auction lot, I didn't bid on it, and it had a thin and dainty MB 144 cartridge pen in it. Thinner and smaller than I expected.

 

All of these are gold nibbed.

 

I do have an MB Virginia Woolf, that I don't use...too pretty. Do love that my eye only nib bling. With permission of Pentime...he makes a great picture.

Balance is not as nice as I'd like....but sure is pretty.

 

I do have a 149 that was in a live auction lot, that I'll never use in its way, way too big for me.

I also have a pre-'22 MB Safety Pen....that was a real luck story... You have to screw the nib out, held up, or the ink will drip out.

 

I suggest you save money, buy a nice vintage semi-flex stubbed MB, use the extra money to buy good to better paper and some fine inks.

 

Writing is 1/3rd nib flex and width, 1/3rd paper and 1/3rd ink; and in that order.

 

Paper is the dance floor your nib and ink tango on.

[SpencerianDream]

Realistically all three of your pens are the same model. And it’s a great model. 
 

The 146 is called LeGrand these days I believe. 
 

I have one from the late 1970s and it’s nice. More modern ones have a brass piston mechanism that increases the “stateliness” of the pen’s handling (to borrow a turn of phrase from Mr. Olson above.) 

 

The 149 is bigger and is “the” iconic Montblanc oversized signature pen. The 146 is still regal and distinctive but is better to actually write with for most people. 
 

Any variant will be good, which you buy mostly depends on your budget. New retail is around $800 USD I think. Used they are more reasonable, a few hundred. 
 

A Montblanc is, it could be argued, overpriced when new compared to other pens. It’s a great pen though and has a very famous name and look attached to it.