Thoughts On The Mont Blanc 144

May 26, 2012

I have owned a 144, a 146 and now own a 149. My advice is go straight for the 149. You'll not regret it. The 144 had a nice nib, but it's too thin and fragile. The 146 feels better and is much more solid. And, finally, the 149 has everything you would expect from a high end pen; when you first got it, you realize that's the pen you always wanted!
So, again, my advice is save a little more and get yourself a kickass 149! (Sorry about the slang, but the 149 is more than cool )

That's the exact progression I followed (144 --> 146 --> 149). The 149 just feels great in my hand. Plus, you just can't beat the big, juicy nib on the 149.

my path was the exact opposite.

My first 149 was bought in 1994, second in 2009, and the first, second and third 146s came in 2011, followed closely by my first 144 accompanied with my third 149.

144 I have used without hesitqation in any circumstance

146 I use only in te hospital and in my clinic

149s I use only in the clinic when I am sitting down to write my notes, and do not take it out during ward rounds - I am a habitual poster and the 149s do not post well, and I fear the cap will fall down and break while I stand and write. No such thoughts with the 144. For more details see my revies posted after the thread was started.

June 1, 2012

I am a habitual poster and the 149s do not post well, and I fear the cap will fall down and break while I stand and write. No such thoughts with the 144. For more details see my revies posted after the thread was started.

I had the exact opposite experience!

I used to post the 144 and the cap fell down many times... No such problem with the 149...

December 14, 2012

Well I just won an auction for a 144 on Ebay. Will post pics when it arrived.

I'd been planning on a 146... But this one went for... $99 which was hard to pass up. And I'm a SMALL lady with small hands. Despite everyone's love for the 149 I fear it would be uncomfortably large for me. I was a little nervous about the 146 seeing it compared to other pens. The 144 seems like a good size. I do want a 146 someday, but this is a start. I've got a 244G with an antique flexi nib that I LOVE, but I'm a little afraid to use it as an everyday writer. That flexi nib just feels too sensitive. Hopefully the 144 will fill my everyday writer slot and I will stop hunting MBs for a while. They are addictive I tell you.

December 14, 2012

I've owned 4 Mont Blanc 144s in the past year and currently own a stainless steel 144.

This is my take on the 144....it's a wonderful "Starter" MB pen. It's a wonderful writer, simple, easy, and great for your first MB pen.

With that said, I eventually grew tired of my precious resin (plastic) 144s and moved on to the piston fillers. I have fairly large hands and much prefer the sizing of the 146. It is a much more solid feeling pen, feels less fragile (there is a difference between the two in my opinion), and the 146/149 are a better value.

As far as price:

1.) If I was paying full retail, I'd buy a 146 or 149 100% of the time. I would NEVER recommend someone pay full retail and buy a 144

2.) I'd buy another 144 if I could get it for under $125 any day of the week. All four of mine were purchased for around $90-125. Those are considered very good prices by many people's standards, but know that I'm a cheap A**

3.) A fair price for a new old stock pen from a private seller would be around $200-225. A fair used price would be in the range of $150-175.

I don't want to sound like I am not a fan of the 144 because I most certainly am. I still own a 144 stainless steel solitaire and it was one of the first fountain pens I ever purchased. The 144 is a perfect size for a smaller hand, and it's great to travel with or keep around for every day use.

Buy the 144 if you can get a good deal on it, prefer a thinner lighter pen, and if you want something low maintenance and very user friendly.

December 14, 2012

Does MB mostly cater to men? I ask because it seems their highest quality pens are HUGE (149). Not counting the special editions, some of which are like jewelry. ;-) But it seems their starter pens are fairly small and as they get higher quality and more expensive they get larger and heavier. For someone with small thin hands that's frustrating. I'd love a pen like the 149, but I'd need it to be the same size as my old 244...

(My old 244 is similar in size to my Pelikan M200, NOT a big pen.)

Edited December 14, 2012 by tandaina

December 14, 2012

Another option might be to go with a 1950's 144.. Made of celluloid with the telescoping piston. Absolutely fantastic pen. And built as well as a 149 of the same period.

This may help.

http://www.fototime.com/EFA963E7BC69D30/medium800.jpg

From left to right: Parker 75, Waterman Preface, MB 144, ST Dupont Classique, ST Dupont Gatsby standard, Parker 95.

OK, I know this is old, but... Does that Dupont Classique have GOLDFISH on the cap? I've been trying to find a pen with goldfish on it (I know, I have weird obsessions) and coming up with nothing!

December 14, 2012

Does MB mostly cater to men? I ask because it seems their highest quality pens are HUGE (149). Not counting the special editions, some of which are like jewelry. ;-) But it seems their starter pens are fairly small and as they get higher quality and more expensive they get larger and heavier. For someone with small thin hands that's frustrating. I'd love a pen like the 149, but I'd need it to be the same size as my old 244...

(My old 244 is similar in size to my Pelikan M200, NOT a big pen.)

I would dare say that yes they do cater to men. My reasoning is because men represent the majority of the luxury pen market. That's not to say that they don't sell pens catered to women as well.

Mont Blanc used to offer the 144 as a piston filler back in the mid 1900s, but it was obviously changed to a cartidge filler shortly after.

Mont Blanc certainly still sells high priced smaller pens. There are also several writer's editions named and designed after famous women. They also have the solitaire 164/163/144 line that are small metallic pens.

EDIT- BTW I'm glad you like the 244g. It is a fantastic writer and I enjoyed it. I never had a single issue with leaking although I was like you and did not want to use it every day. Then again, 90% of the use my pens receive are writing in personal and financial information. A vintage nib certainly makes that tough. Writing for pleasure....I'd use the 244g over even my two 146s and two 149s.

Edited December 14, 2012 by mmahany

December 14, 2012

I didn't even notice that post was from you, Mark! Yes, I love it! It is becoming my poetry and journaling pen because of how expressive the lines are. But yeah, I'm afraid my quick note taking could do bad things to that lovely flexi nib.

December 14, 2012

OK, I know this is old, but... Does that Dupont Classique have GOLDFISH on the cap? I've been trying to find a pen with goldfish on it (I know, I have weird obsessions) and coming up with nothing!

Nope, that one is the Colombus Five Hundred Year Anniversary pen.

It's a Caravel: http://www.fototime.com/83F787A4BA06954/standard.jpg

But many of the Japanese Urushi-e pens have Gold Fish on them and you can order a Nakaya with gold fish on the converter.

December 14, 2012

Ah thanks, the urushi-e and maki-e pens are definitely grail pens of mine, but far, far outside my price range. I'll keep looking for something in a more moderate range!

December 16, 2012

I love my 144, it's in rotation now. I purchased it used, bordeaux in color. I use either cartridge or converter, more often the former. And it does lead to the other "140's". For me a 149 then recently the 146. Haven't inked the 146 yet, a NOS pen, but have the 149. Additionally I have four older MB piston FP pens, two BP, one RB and like them all. And Sheaffer's, Parker's, Wahl Eversharp and Esterbrook's. Not done yet!

October 6, 2019

I just bought a 144 classique and I just need to know when this FP was manufactured. I can’t wait to get it. I have a new MB 2019 Starwalker FP and 146 but I am excited to for this 144. Any info much appreciated.