Montblanc 146 vs Sailor 1911 full size

[goodguy]

I could also care less if people see me with a MB pen in my pocket or a Sailor. By your own admission the 1911 out performs the 146 so for me it is an easy decision.

Dont care much either about other people, I buy MB because I LOVE MB.

I guess I am a bit of a FP purist and maybe a FP snob and I need a self filling mechanism to truly enjoy the pe.

 

Enjoy your new pen, I am sure you will love it

[shrinknib]

thanks for another great review- I'm not sure I actually want either pen, but I really enjoyed the comparison and enjoyed the thread that followed which is very illuminating- re the history of the pens, re the social- political contexts.

I look forward to the next one!!

[1000km]

I wouldn't underestimate the importance of authenticity.

 

I'm frankly amazed that someone would write with a 1911, enjoy the nib and the feel of the pen, and then choose not to buy it because they find out it looks like the 146.

[goodguy]

I'm not sure I actually want either pen

Noooooo, you aint gonna get even one of them

 

Just joking of course

 

Thank you for the kind words

[Parkman]

^^Goodguy. Good review man. I'd like to see the 149 up against the Realo...any chance?

[bensuzuki]

Why not get the Sailor Professional Gear if you're looking for a different look?

Do they make the Professional Gear with a piston filler ?

 

Probably you already knew, they are going to make it and will become available sometime in March in Japan.

 

Nice review and I totally understand how you feel about these two pens.

 

I do not own current version of 146, when did its nib start to become really stiff?

[shrinknib]

I'm not sure I actually want either pen

Noooooo, you aint gonna get even one of them

 

Just joking of course

 

Thank you for the kind words

 

cheeky bugger!

Just for that I'll have to buy both!

:hmm1: :hmm1: :hmm1:

[goodguy]

^^Goodguy. Good review man. I'd like to see the 149 up against the Realo...any chance?

 

Well I will have to get a Realo which will not happened anytime soon.

I did do a comparison review of the 149 vs Sailor KOP if that interest you.

 

I'm not sure I actually want either pen

Noooooo, you aint gonna get even one of them

 

Just joking of course

 

Thank you for the kind words

 

cheeky bugger!

Just for that I'll have to buy both!

:hmm1: :hmm1: :hmm1:

I know you will love both

[Parkman]

I'll check it out, thanks!

[goodguy]

I'll check it out, thanks!

Here is the link

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/134766-montblanc-149-vs-sailor-kop-king-of-pen/

[v17sender]

Check this out.

http://image.www.rakuten.co.jp/buneido/img10033609761.jpeg

 

Not sure how reliable the source was, but supposedly its a professional gear realo. sweet.

[Bo Bo Olson]

I wouldn't b*itch too much about the Sailor copying the MB, both copied the Sheaffer New Balance, like many pen companies did. I have an Artus (pre-Lamy-Lamy) that resembles a New Balance. The Pelikan 140 also looks New Balanced, come down to it.

 

One must remember back in the old days, Japan copied everything good in the world

[Cyclopentadiene]

Hey Goodguy,

 

Thanks for the review! Do you notice any difference in the overall feel of the two pens? Some C/C fillers really do feel cheap, does the 1911 follow that pattern?

 

Thanks,

Badger

[Sailor Kenshin]

And how do the two pens compare in weight?

[dcwaites]

I wouldn't b*itch too much about the Sailor copying the MB, both copied the Sheaffer New Balance, like many pen companies did. I have an Artus (pre-Lamy-Lamy) that resembles a New Balance. The Pelikan 140 also looks New Balanced, come down to it.

 

One must remember back in the old days, Japan copied everything good in the world

 

I agree, the 1950's MB is such an obvious rip-off of the 1930's Sheaffer New Balance, their Blue-Black Iron Gall ink is such an obvious rip-off of the inks used by monks in monasteries for a thousand years, and even their name is a rip-off of the mountain.

 

I also feel that all the ongoing complaints of "Pen X is such an obvious rip-off of the Mont Blanc" are themselves obvious rip-offs of the original complaint that "Pen X is such an obvious rip-off of the Mont Blanc" (which I am too lazy to look up ...).

 

Can we lay this meme to rest, pretty please?

 

 

 

**Beware, there may be some sardonicism, nay, even mild sarcasm, in this post...

[goodguy]

And how do the two pens compare in weight?

 

Hey Goodguy,

 

Thanks for the review! Do you notice any difference in the overall feel of the two pens? Some C/C fillers really do feel cheap, does the 1911 follow that pattern?

 

Thanks,

Badger

Lots of water has ran under the bridge from the time I wrote this review and I dont own these pens any more but trying to work my old memory I think the 146 was slighly heavier then the Sailor.

The 146 did feel a bit better quality wise but the Sailor was plenty good too.

[eyesa]

Quality control is the biggest part of it. For sure, the best kind of post sale service is the kind that doesn't happen! I'm always surprised reading through the Italian forum and seeing over half the posts dealing with quality control, and the fact that getting a repair or replacement takes between 2 and 6 months (been there, done that)!

Coming years late to this thread...but this is the truest truth of all.

I have a 1911 Profit Standard with a 21k nib, bought for little over $100US. I don't think a new 146 could be found anywhere near in price, in fact it's likely 4X the price, and the HM nib of the 1911 is perfection! It writes with a precise but slight spring (not an absolute nail, even though an HM) with a wonderful feedback (like having a conversation with the page!) I don't mind if it's considered a knockoff! I don't mind the c&c fill, as I like to change inks and use highly saturated waterproof inks and iron galls...in fact I can use any kind of ink under the sun without worry because of the c&c, and change it as often as I like (or not.) For a budget minded girl, who likes to draw as well as write, and play with all kinds of ink, the 1911 answers for all. I love my Pelikan M400, but it cost twice as much used and I worry about what Ink I load into it (piston fill.) The F nib on the Pelikan, while delicious in expression is less precise, especially on cheap paper, where it tends to feather more. Of the 3 fairly comparable Japanese makers (Pilot custom 74, Platinum #3776 & Sailor), the Sailor 1911 is my favorite for its nib and build quality. It makes no difference to me that it is considered an imitator. The fact that it's considered the equal of, is at least a quarter the price of, with an excellent nib and high quality control (making for little or no customer service/returns), makes it an excellent buy.

Edited July 30, 2015 by eyesa

[Moynihan]

When it comes to black & gold pens, well. I have that in Montblancs, Parker (couple older than Montblanc 149/146) Pilots, Sailors, Platinums, Kawecos, etc..

 

Re the shape (cigar), a couple of the the folks above are quite right; the Sheaffer Balance (1930's) original, with its prominent white dot on the top front above the clip (cough, cough) pre-dates the Montblanc cigar.

 

Note: i do not have a single Sheaffer, but do have a 149 and a 1911* .

That 1930's Sheaffer is generally considered the archetype for the black & gold big pen, (apart from the much earlier big ebonite black with gold trim non-cigar shape put out by Waterman at the turn of the last century) that almost everyone makes some version of.

 

What distinguishes Montblanc, other than having perfected status marketing, is that apart from some ltd editions, they only do copies of that Sheaffer from yester-year.

 

* both of which i love, and both are great in the hand and excellent writers.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Moynihan

[DustyR]

The derivative design is one of the reasons I don't have, and probably never will have, a 1911. When I do get a Sailor I suspect it'll be a King Pro Gear.

 

Or consider the four-color "Seasons" Procolor set. I have one but am thinking about getting them all while still (sporadically) available.

[irondome]

Both equally stunning pen and awesome writers. Depends on what you want. I like people to take notice of my pen so I prefer the montblanc. I figure since I am already spending so much on a pen, why not make it count, hehe.