Battle Of The Full-Sizers...

[sjs]

Interesting thought experiment to jack up the notional replacement price and gauge your willingness to replace it. I may try that myself.

[markiv]

Quite a novel approach of reviewing pens. Thank you for sharing.

[geoduc]

Thanks, I really enjoyed reading the comparison. I own or have used all but two of these pens, and I'd be hard pressed to pick a winner (although it would be easy to eliminate a few).

 

Well done!

[mongrelnomad]

I could almost feel my heartbeat aloud as I read through the last paragraph! Fantastic review and conclusion!! Out of all three categories, which one winner would you choose?? The game continues!! :roflmho:

 

You're right, maybe we're not done yet. After all, there's the podium comparo, plus it would be unfair if I didn't do a shootout of all those not-quite-so-easy-to-categorise pens and LEs...

 

Interesting thought experiment to jack up the notional replacement price and gauge your willingness to replace it. I may try that myself.

 

It was the only way I could think to finish... I was so overloaded with info and had reached a dead-end. The surprising thing was how efficient a mechanism it proved: I went through the process of elimination from twelve to one in five minutes flat!

 

 

Quite a novel approach of reviewing pens. Thank you for sharing.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Thanks, I really enjoyed reading the comparison. I own or have used all but two of these pens, and I'd be hard pressed to pick a winner (although it would be easy to eliminate a few).

 

Well done!

 

Come on, you've got to throw your hat in the ring!

Edited July 17, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[mongrelnomad]

A great review of some heavy weights. The review seemed like a Grand National race of some sort - a credit to you in making it compulsive reading all the way.

 

I was backing the Aurora 88 (well I love that pen), I just didnt see that 146 come up from behind

 

As we got to the last two, I thought the 360 (you had a great specimen for review here) would win no doubt. But...

 

Seeing how you arrived at the conclusive winner makes sense. Congrats on the 146.

 

Some how I felt the Lamy was unfairly pitched for this race - carrying a wrong weight

If it was boxing I'd pitch (price) it as middleweight.

 

Very enjoyable review.

 

F

 

The 146 really proved the dark horse of the lineup. It consistently scored at or near the top, but I didn't really even realise it was there until its peers started to fall by the wayside. A real sleeper...

 

As to the Lamy: it's sad, but the basic truth was that it was seriously outgunned in this test. As I hope I made clear, I have huge amounts of affection and respect for the 2000, and for Lamy as a company. But... when it came down to it, it wasn't in the same league, and although it's relatively cheap, it is very much of its price.

 

 

I have one MB 146 18c750 extra fine semi flex nibbed from 1986 and a MB 146 18c750 olblique flex nibbed from 1986 as well and both are outstanding pens

 

OK.. now you're just making me jealous

Edited July 17, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[mongrelnomad]

I enjoyed that review. I am getting use to writing with my OMAS 360 LE today and it is well an adjustment.... I find the triangular design so unique.

 

 

The Sailor and Pelikan's would have faired better in my estimation and I would edge out my MB 149 for the Pelikan as the nibs are changeable at home and I can be sure it is apart and clean. The Pelikan has form and function with a bold simplicity. I also like the pinstripes. Alas, I wear my pinstripe suites more than my solid blue and black ones too.

 

The Omas is a truly amazing pen - enjoy yours in good health. As I hope I made clear, the triangular design initially seems like a gimmick, but after a while you do find yourself wondering why more pens aren't like this.

 

As to the Pelikans: different strokes for different folks. Form and function I can agree with. Bold simplicity... well, IMO, no. I think the Lamy, the MB and the Aurora far better fit that description. I find it funny that I love my vintage birds, but just can't seem to bond with their modern descendants, even though they are so very similar. They are just so detached, so free of passion.

[mongrelnomad]

Just realised that there weren't many photos of the final two (see? This is what happens when the result surprises even the author!) so I've remedied that. More 360 and 146 goodness for everyone's delectation!

[Koshy]

Excellent review. Very educative and impartial. I too am a fan of the MB 146!

[Hex]

Very well done and I really like your writing style.

It kept me interested until the end.

Oh yeah, can I have your discards ?

[mongrelnomad]

Excellent review. Very educative and impartial. I too am a fan of the MB 146!

 

Thank you!

 

Very well done and I really like your writing style.

It kept me interested until the end.

Oh yeah, can I have your discards ?

 

Happy you enjoyed it, and thanks for the compliment. I greatly enjoy writing and, as attested to in another thread, have written a novel which is attempting to find a place in the increasingly difficult world of publishing.

 

I'd be happy to give you my discards. All of them. Only issue is that I'm a compulsive accumulator who's not particularly adept at the reverse :bonk:

Edited July 17, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[raging.dragon]

I'd probably choose the 360 over the 146... Actually the 360 is the only pen in this comparision that I own (though I have a different CS and have tried various MB's), so I found your comparision helpful in evaluating the others.

[vondauster]

Terrific review, well done!

 

I have a few of the pens you went through in the review, and agree with most of your conclusions, with the exception I may have put the M800 up a little higher on the scale - I kinda like the striated blue and gold balance on mine, and the nib has been great from the start. Having said that, the 146 (mine is also a 14C), it seems to me, has always had the exact right balance of weight, handling, ink capacity, nib size and feel, section size, overall size, etc, to stand up to heavy note taking or journalling. There are enough people hating on the whole Montblanc boutique chic thing, which I understand, but they are still damn good pens.

 

Will

[breaker]

excellent review and pics!

thanks!

[Bill Wood]

You have gift of writing. And in my business I've read a few. Fantastic and entertaining. I have an 823 and a Lamy 2000. Would buy them all over again. If... If .. You can promise me that MB would write that way out of the box... Id pick one up. Thanks again.

[mongrelnomad]

I'd probably choose the 360 over the 146... Actually the 360 is the only pen in this comparision that I own (though I have a different CS and have tried various MB's), so I found your comparision helpful in evaluating the others.

 

If you only have the 360 (great pen btw), I fear you're morally obligated to try some others. Not that I'm enabling or anything :roflmho:

 

 

Having said that, the 146 (mine is also a 14C), it seems to me, has always had the exact right balance of weight, handling, ink capacity, nib size and feel, section size, overall size, etc, to stand up to heavy note taking or journalling. There are enough people hating on the whole Montblanc boutique chic thing, which I understand, but they are still damn good pens.

 

Will

 

Yup. I too feel that MB's marketing does a diservice to their pens. The bottom line is, watches, bags and toffs notwithstanding, they are still first and foremost a pen company, and it shows.

 

 

excellent review and pics!

thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

 

You have gift of writing. And in my business I've read a few. Fantastic and entertaining. I have an 823 and a Lamy 2000. Would buy them all over again. If... If .. You can promise me that MB would write that way out of the box... Id pick one up. Thanks again.

 

Thanks for the compliment!

 

Regarding the MB: I've had pretty good experiences with them out of the box. Out of the 10+ modern 18k MBs I've bought new, only one wrote what you'd call badly (a scratchy EF which, after a quick reset and smooth by a nibmeister is now among my favourite writers). The nibs are still made in-house and finished by hand, so there's a lot of variation in personality, but I'd say not much variance in quality...

Edited July 18, 2012 by mongrelnomad

[bizhe]

I remember reading that the caps on currently produced 146s wiggle slightly (as described by OP) when they are closed. Is this still the case?

[hari317]

I remember reading that the caps on currently produced 146s wiggle slightly (as described by OP) when they are closed. Is this still the case?

 

I have a recently made 146 in my pocket today. I just checked, there is NO wiggle.

[mongrelnomad]

I remember reading that the caps on currently produced 146s wiggle slightly (as described by OP) when they are closed. Is this still the case?

 

I have a recently made 146 in my pocket today. I just checked, there is NO wiggle.

 

I have a modern solitaire silver 146 and there is no wiggle in the cap. Of my MBs, this is unique to this specific 146 and my Agatha WE.

[JGA]

Rarely has one so passionate about their writing instruments dedicated themselves so deeply to prioritizing their loved ones....great for those of us who appreciate the analysis ...but sad for the hurt feelings of the ones that didn't make the cut

[mongrelnomad]

Rarely has one so passionate about their writing instruments dedicated themselves so deeply to prioritizing their loved ones....great for those of us who appreciate the analysis ...but sad for the hurt feelings of the ones that didn't make the cut

 

Perhaps fountain pens should be like kids: never admit to loving one more than another. (I have only one kid, so this clearly doesn't apply to me!)