Montblanc 146 calligraphy nib

[AJ50]

I’m thinking about the 146 with the calligraphy nib. Is this pen and nib as good as the 149?
 

[dbs]

No, 146 flex nib feels more rigid when writing. 149 flex nib feels just like a more finer version of Pelikan M1000, kind of soft. 

 

But the results on the paper look similar -- you cannot tell which is which, so just 146 flex feels more "rough" when writing. 

 

146 flex is much more reliable than 149 flex. I have both. My 146 flex never skips a single line, while 149 flex skips at least 10%, not reliable at all --  it is very picky on ink.

 

If I were you, I would pick 146 flex. The black resin version is still available, the burgundy metal version I guess you can still reserve on line. 

 

[AJ50]

Thank you for advice, greatly appreciated 

[nm4]

Love my 146 flex.   Great line variation and much less pressure needed than my other modern flex pens.  I think it breaks in and becomes softer with use.   I agree though the 149 seems even softer.  If they were available at list price I’d pick one of those up too.

 

N

[fpupulin]

I understand that these are semi-artisanal, difficult to produce, and sort-of-customized nibs, which perhaps explains why Montblanc does not offer them as an option for the regular line of pens. This would in part anticipate why the are - so to speak - less standardized and more individually characterized than other nibs of the Meistetstück series.

 

That said, I believe overgeneralization isn't helpful to the topic. Stating that the Calligraphy nib of a 149 is unreliable and that it skips 10% of the strokes based on a single nib specimen is treading on shaky ground.

 

For example, I own two 149 Calligraphy pens, and neither exhibits any skipping whatsoever, and both are super tolerant of the inks I use. Again, just two pens are a very small sample size to generalize about their behavior, but it's still sufficient to indicate that the reliability of a given model may be due to the individual characteristics of a specific pen rather than the model itself.

 

150 strokes, no skipping

 

As for the differences between the Calligraphy nibs of the 146 and 149 pens, I believe they've already been discussed on this forum several times. These two nibs have very different geometries (the 149 is very tapered/pointed, the 146 is almost rhomboid/acute), and they behave differently. Due to its design (and perhaps its size), the 149 nib is more flexible and slightly less springy, while the 146 has a more pronounced snapback but less flexibility (it requires more pressure to produce the same line width).

 

 

149 Calligraphy (on the left) and 146 Calligraphy nib (right)

 

I had the opportunity to try out a friend's 146 Calligraphy for a while and found it to be an amazing pen.

 

146 Calligraphy at work

 

Since I've been using a Meisterstück 149 for 45 years, my hand is very accustomed to that size, and I find the 146 a bit small for my habits. Of the Montblanc Calligraphy pens I've tried (two 149s and a 146), I find the 149 to offer a more pleasant writing experience.

[Uncial]

Best to be aware also that a flex nib was produced for the lacquered black and gold 146.  This was a little before the annual or bi-annual speciality nib releases and it has quite a different feel and very different results. It is extremely soft with disappointing snap back resulting in a very wet medium to broad line that is somewhat hard to control. I write with a very light hand and quite enjoy it but any weight or pressure to the pen in writing creates a very heavy flow. Its really pleasant to write with but requires both skill and a serious level of concentration to get the best results out of it.

[dbs]

On 11/8/2025 at 7:40 AM, fpupulin said:

That said, I believe overgeneralization isn't helpful to the topic. Stating that the Calligraphy nib of a 149 is unreliable and that it skips 10% of the strokes based on a single nib specimen is treading on shaky ground.

 

 

After reading your post, I carefully rechecked my language, I said:

 

"I have both. My 146 flex never skips a single line, while 149 flex skips at least 10%, not reliable at all --  it is very picky on ink. "

 

Meaning, I own both versions of flex nibs. My 146 flex never skips, and my 149 flex skips at least 10% of lines, only works on certain types of ink.

 

I never said your 149 flex, or his 149 flex, did I?  

 

[fpupulin]

You are right, and I apologize for making you say things you didn't say...

[dbs]

3 hours ago, fpupulin said:

You are right, and I apologize for making you say things you didn't say...

You are always a gentleman! 

[Arcadian]

I have the 146 Flex, 149 Flex, Solitaire Burgundy Flex, Gold Leaf Flex and Montblanc X Fritz Schimpf The Expressive. If I were to rank them in order of "wonderfulness", it would be: 

 

1. The Expressive 

2. Solitaire Burgundy Flex

3. 149 Flex

4. Gold Leaf Flex

5. 146 Flex 

 

The reason the 146 Flex comes in last is that it struggles with ink flow, which causes it to be reluctant to lay down ink on the page. Some inks are better than others with it (Wearingeul For Whom The Bell Tolls seems to be best). I maybe should dedicate more effort to breaking it in, or send it in for service. 

 

The Expressive is such a sumptuous, luxurious writer that I almost get giddy every time I use it. 

 

The Solitaire Burgundy Flex really writes wonderfully. It's a bouncy, wet every day writer, where the increased weight of the metal of the body really pairs well with the flex nib, making it more effortlessly bouncy. 

 

The same is the case for the Gold Leaf Flex. However, there is a slight scratchiness to it, which I think comes from the inside of the nib slit. The tines spread a little too eagerly, perhaps. 

 

The 149 Flex cannot be described better than what fpupulin has done here and elsewhere on this forum. 

 

 

 - P.  

[dbs]

I believe 146 and Solitaire Burgundy Flex use the exact same nib unit. They are new type of Montblanc nib unit --- without red silicone glue, and with build in white gasket ring at the end of nib housing. You can unscrew it by fingers -- just like Pelikan nibs.

 

[sav]

It's my understanding that Montblanc makes 146 aka LeGrand flex available again while 149 is still unobtanium, correct?

[dbs]

Yes, you can order 146 flex from montblanc.com now. It was $900 before "Liberation Day tariffs", and now about $1100. 

 

I believe 149 flex is still available at major Asia market. It was not targeted for US market. 

[Nick T]

On 11/11/2025 at 3:34 PM, dbs said:

I believe 146 and Solitaire Burgundy Flex use the exact same nib unit. They are new type of Montblanc nib unit --- without red silicone glue, and with build in white gasket ring at the end of nib housing. You can unscrew it by fingers -- just like Pelikan nibs.

 

 

@dbs The 146 Flex nib is safe to remove with the proper tool? Please confirm!

Being able to safely remove the 146 Flex nib unit with the Montblanc tool would come in very handy indeed!!

[Karmachanic]

On 11/11/2025 at 8:34 PM, dbs said:

 You can unscrew it by fingers -- just like Pelikan nibs.

 

Yes. One can do this, but I'd recommend the appropriate tool, as the 146 feed fins are delicate and bend easily.