Pelikan vs. Mont Blanc

[Calabria]

I agree with Rick's analogy that Montblanc is the Mercedes of pens. I only have one MB and it's a vintage 146 with a beautifully tipped F nib.

 

But my heart is more into Pelikan. Why is that? Nostalgia, because those were the pens of my high school days. An attraction to the striped Binde in all colors - the green is a design classic, the red is simply beautiful. And I like the variety of nibs. I'm pretty much familiar with the production runs post-1980 by now, and sometimes I love the vintage nibs, which have more character, and sometimes I like the current production rounded nibs which are just easier to handle in a variety of situations.

 

Pelikans are like Volkswagen for me - a fine brand, available in all sizes, sometimes a lemon, but mostly reliable and friendly.

[DrDebG]

Ah, yes! The endless debate - who is better?

 

Last year, I acquired my first Pelikan - a vintage piston filler. It is a very nice pen. I then acquired a vintage Silvexa which only takes cartridges. While that is a bit of a pain, it writes wonderfully.

 

Recently, my brother found a Montblanc 144 for me at an estate sale. It was made in the early 1970's and had been used only once - to sign a marriage license - and then stored away until the estate sale. After a good cleaning, I inked it up. This pen is one of the smoothest pens I have written with. I love it! It now has a permanent place in my rotation.

[carlos.q]

I agree with Rick's analogy that Montblanc is the Mercedes of pens.

....

Pelikans are like Volkswagen for me - a fine brand, available in all sizes, sometimes a lemon, but mostly reliable and friendly.

Well... If MB is the Mercedes Benz of pens I would say that Pelikan is more like the BMW of pens.

The Volkswagen would be Lamy.

[owen312]

My limited experience is Pelikan's plastic/resin is thinner and more fragile than Montblanc.

[plumasclub]

In my experience Montblanc is better.

[Lam1]

I like both brands, but my experience with Pelikan is better (hence I like it better).

Comparing my 149 with my M1000, it feels like the M1000 is sturdier. The 149 has a nice but very stiff nib, while the M1000's soft nib is a delight to use.

 

Comparing my M800s with my 146 is no contest! The 146 has a very stiff piston (to the point I stopped using the pen for fear of breaking it) and a very stiff nib, which unfortunately has terrible baby bottom (the pen is less than one year old). All my M800 are just wonderful.

 

I like the variety of colors offered by Pelikan, but I also like the variety of models offered by Montblanc. So, I'll probably keep buying both, but with a larger proportion of Pelikans .

[edwardt]

I own about a dozen modern Montblanc pens (mostly writers edition) and am looking to buy my first Pelikan. Given that most of you have experience with both makes, can you please tell me if the modern Pelikan nib widths (fine and medium) are broader/finer than Montblanc? I like using fine and medium with Montblanc but am undecided whether to get the white tortoise M400 in fine or medium.

 

Thanks.

[Lam1]

I own about a dozen modern Montblanc pens (mostly writers edition) and am looking to buy my first Pelikan. Given that most of you have experience with both makes, can you please tell me if the modern Pelikan nib widths (fine and medium) are broader/finer than Montblanc? I like using fine and medium with Montblanc but am undecided whether to get the white tortoise M400 in fine or medium.

 

Thanks.

 

 

This may be difficult because, in my experience, neither maker seems to be extremely consistent with their nib widths.

For example, I have a broad 146 that is much broader than any of my Pelikans B. I also have a medium 149 that is more like a Pelikan F. My son's medium 146 is on par with my Pelikans M, etc..

 

Since you like F and M in your MBs, I'd suggest a starting with a Pelikan F. If you don't like the width, you have 30 days to exchange for another nib (if you buy from an authorized dealer).

 

Good luck.

[EdeIstein88]

Pelikan M1000 is a really good pen if you writing in long time..

 

MB149 is a power symbol and status even if we meet with people who dont understand Fountain Pens they respect that white star,

so usually when i have business meeting i use my MB 149, i felt like my normal power increase to Super Saiya 4