What Pelikan Are You Writing With Today? (2024 Edition)

[DilettanteG]

5 minutes ago, Baka1969 said:

If the M1000 feels anything like the MB 149 in the hand, I understand. As much as I like the way my 149 writes, it's not great as a daily writer or for long writing sessions. I do, however, like it for signatures. 

I love my MB146 and 147s, and have been tempted by the 149 flex calligraphy. However, if it's anything like my M1000, it wouldn't make it into the rotation often enough to justify its hefty price tag. Guess I'll just have to get the ink sac on my Waterman 52 stub replaced for when I want some serious flex.

[Bo Bo Olson]

18 minutes ago, Baka1969 said:

M8xx really is the best size.

No!

The 600 is, and is more nimble.

I only have a a medium large 605 (now a stub).....and an old fancied up 400 called a 600. And lots of 400s. I like a 400nn that tad more than the 400's. It only took me three years to decide the 400nn had better balance.

...........................

Then we get to ink capacity. Modern 400/600 @ 1.25cl, the large 800, @ 1.35cl, the over sized 1000 not sure but no more than 1.45cl.

1950-65 400/400nn, 1.95 or 2.00cl, depending on who's measuring.

So by me the medium long 400nn comes in first.

The medium large 600 next because it is nimble and you can put a much better semi-flex nib on it or an 82-97 400 nib or an '85-2017 200 grand steel nib as good and springy as the semi-vintage 400 gold nib with tear drop tipping for a clear line on a 600 and have an ideal pen.

 

IMO the double ball of the post '97 400/600/800.1000 and the 2017 200's nibs do not lay a clean line. A '50-65 stub or a tear drop tipped '82-97 and '85-2017 200's nibs lay a nice Clean Line.

Of course I'm real AR on woolly lines ...which in part are from the nib as well as the ink.

(have my very own system and a honking big magnifying glass or two....don't use a 10X loup in everything is woolly then.)

 

[Baka1969]

1 minute ago, DilettanteG said:

I love my MB146 and 147s, and have been tempted by the 149 flex calligraphy. However, if it's anything like my M1000, it wouldn't make it into the rotation often enough to justify its hefty price tab. Guess I'll just have to get the ink sac on my Waterman 52 stub replaced for when I want some serious flex.

 

For me, the MB 146 (I have three) feel the best in my hand. I like how the 144 and the 149 write, but, the 146 is just so great. So, if the M8xx feels anything like the 146, it's probably the best Bird in the Hand.

[Baka1969]

3 minutes ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

No!

The 600 is, and is more nimble.

I only have a a medium large 605 (now a stub).....and an old fancied up 400 called a 600. And lots of 400s. I like a 400nn that tad more than the 400's. It only took me three years to decide the 400nn had better balance.

...........................

Then we get to ink capacity. Modern 400/600 @ 1.25cl, the large 800, @ 1.35cl, the over sized 1000 not sure but no more than 1.45cl.

1950-65 400/400nn, 1.95 or 2.00cl, depending on who's measuring.

So by me the medium long 400nn comes in first.

The medium large 600 next because it is nimble and you can put a much better semi-flex nib on it or an 82-97 400 nib or an '85-2017 200 grand steel nib as good and springy as the semi-vintage 400 gold nib with tear drop tipping for a clear line on a 600 and have an ideal pen.

 

IMO the double ball of the post '97 400/600/800.1000 and the 2017 200's nibs do not lay a clean line. A '50-65 stub or a tear drop tipped '82-97 and '85-2017 200's nibs lay a nice Clean Line.

Of course I'm real AR on woolly lines ...which in part are from the nib as well as the ink.

(have my very own system and a honking big magnifying glass or two....don't use a 10X loup in everything is woolly then.)

 

 

1 minute ago, Baka1969 said:

 

For me, the MB 146 (I have three) feel the best in my hand. I like how the 144 and the 149 write, but, the 146 is just so great. So, if the M8xx feels anything like the 146, it's probably the best Bird in the Hand.

 

Or not. lol 

[DilettanteG]

35 minutes ago, Baka1969 said:

 

For me, the MB 146 (I have three) feel the best in my hand. I like how the 144 and the 149 write, but, the 146 is just so great. So, if the M8xx feels anything like the 146, it's probably the best Bird in the Hand.

The MB146 is a bit more rounded in shape, but it is probably pretty similar to the m800. The modern 146 with its plastic innards is also a reasonably light pen. My Black 146 had a heavier, but lovely old brass fill mechanism, but then I sent it into Montblanc for repair and they replaced everything with plastic. And that was really the end of my love affair with that brand, though my 146s are rarely out of the rotation.

 

Just dropped my 146 Bordeaux yesterday and broke the barrel. 😭

 

Edited to add: My 80s Montblanc 146 versus my W. German M800 both manufactured at about the same time, both with 14kt nibs.

 

 

Same MB versus a 90s German M800:

 

[Baka1969]

30 minutes ago, DilettanteG said:

The MB146 is a bit more rounded in shape, but it is probably pretty similar to the m800. Just dropped my 146 Bordeaux yesterday and broke the barrel. The modern 146 with its plastic innards is also a reasonably light pen. My Black 146 has heavier, but lovely old brass fill mechanism, but then I sent it into Montblanc for repair and they replaced everything with plastic. And that was really the end of my love affair with that brand, though my 146s are rarely out of the rotation.

 

I have four 146 pens. How do I forget that? Oh well, All four of them weigh differently. They're also either from different eras or different materials. 

 

22.86 g, 39.13 g, 24.79 g, and 30.33 g capped

14.75 g, 16.56 g, 15.15g and  20.49 g uncapped

 

All four are inked.

[Baka1969]

Sorry about your broken pen

[Bo Bo Olson]

I do have two large 146's....that are not as nimble as my medium-large 605....my medium-large '48-60 146 has great balance and a better nib than the large 146...

 

It all comes down to, from what era you are from. Those who grew up thinking large pens were normal have a different feel than me who grew up when there were standard pens like Wearevers, Esterbrooks, P-75....400's and to us a medium-large pen like a P-51 was a large pen, and the thinness of the Snorkel  slipped it by because of it's great balance it was a Large pen.

Well advertised on Christmas fountain pen advertisements and in the better mags,I never saw a PFM in real life.............it was clunky.

 

I do admit, large and flashy enough to be seen across the boardroom table did save the fountain pen industry.....but that was just for note taking....not hours of writing.

 

There are those who dislike un-posted standard sized pens because their large pen  is over balanced if posted. And they refuse to post. But standard and medium-large pens were designed to balance well, and be posted, or no one bought the unbalanced fountain pen.

 

My Waterman 1918 and later, Gothic fountain pen is the same size as my large 146, and the slightly thicker 146 has slightly better balance posted....But the non-overlayed thinner lighter Waterman 52 is the best balanced of the three.

 

Could well be in I use the 'forefinger up' method of grasping a pen, effects pen balance.

[DilettanteG]

7 minutes ago, Baka1969 said:

Sorry about your broken pen

Thanks, it's been a trooper and I've already ordered a replacement part. I'm hopeful I won't have to replace the entire pen. (The matching ballpoint and highlighter would get lonely.)

 

Edited to add: Added another, later M800 above for comparison. To help you decide which model you may want to add to the flock. I really miss that nice, clear, easy to read ink window, The MB is full of Noodler's American Eel Black.

[Lam1]

5 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

...

 

Just dropped my 146 Bordeaux yesterday and broke the barrel. 😭

 

...

 

 

Ouch! I am so very sorry. 

[Baka1969]

5 hours ago, DilettanteG said:

Thanks, it's been a trooper and I've already ordered a replacement part. I'm hopeful I won't have to replace the entire pen. (The matching ballpoint and highlighter would get lonely.)

 

Edited to add: Added another, later M800 above for comparison. To help you decide which model you may want to add to the flock. I really miss that nice, clear, easy to read ink window, The MB is full of Noodler's American Eel Black.

 

It looks like the size I prefer. 

 

For my black ink needs I've switched from Noodler's Heart of Darkness over to Platinum's Carbon Black and have been happy with the result. 

[Lam1]

5 hours ago, Baka1969 said:

 

The      M8xx really is the best size. I just want more options. 

 

Surely one of them must be nice enough... 😉

 

 

I must say that I like large pens and the M1000 and MB 149 feel very comfortable for me to write all day long.

I also prefer the M800 over the MB 146 (I have 5 or 6 MB 146, but I seldom use them). Somehow the tapered blind cap of the 146 makes it less comfortable for me.

[DilettanteG]

5 hours ago, Lam1 said:

 

Ouch! I am so very sorry. 

Thanks, I’ve really warmed to the 146 over the years. Pelikan's are my favorites, but the MB Le Grande is a really dependable and comfortable pen. Their special editions don’t seem as ergonomic as my Pelikan models, but they do seem to really increase in value. Probably better for my bank account if I don’t develop a taste for them.

 

 

[DilettanteG]

@Lam1 I meant to add that is a mind blowlingly nice tray of M800s. Is that a Brown Tortoise next to the Grand Place (Palace?) One of these days I'm going to snag one, but every time the sticker shock stops me in my tracks. So jealous 🥰

 

Today, it's an M400 for a change. I think that's all the Pelikans in my current rotation.

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

Lam1,

That is a much prettier flock than mine.

[Baka1969]

7 hours ago, Lam1 said:

 

Surely one of them must be nice enough... 😉

 

 

I must say that I like large pens and the M1000 and MB 149 feel very comfortable for me to write all day long.

I also prefer the M800 over the MB 146 (I have 5 or 6 MB 146, but I seldom use them). Somehow the tapered blind cap of the 146 makes it less comfortable for me.

 

That's one heck of a squadron. I see a few I wouldn't mind adding to my fleet. 

[Lam1]

10 hours ago, Baka1969 said:

 

That's one heck of a squadron. I see a few I wouldn't mind adding to my fleet. 

 

Thanks.

Yes, I highly recommend the M800.

I had a few M600 but they did nothing for me and I sold them all (except for one M640 that is still for sale). To me the M600 is neither here nor there, it is too close in size to an M400 that I might as well just use the M400. But, then again, your mileage may vary... My wife, for example, swears by the M600 and collects (some of) them.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Good for your wife...........I have a W.Germany 800 and a 2000something 805 and don't use either. The are a bit clunky if posted and too short un-posted for the way I hold a pen, 'forefinger up'. Tripod must be able to get by for a so short of un-posted pen.

 

I only have one 605 bought on sale, in new pens were always too expensive and the price of the 600 never seem to go down.

I have a lot of used 400/400nns. & same size new then affordable 200's. Even Celebries and a 381, which is a different balance , that it helps they are so thin.

[Lam1]

@Bo Bo Olson Does your W. Germany M800 have a 14k nib? 

Those are the best modern Pelikan nibs, in my opinion. 

 

For the way I hold the pen, most Pelikans (even the M600) work, and I never post. But I just prefer the M400 to the M600 and, in fact, the vintage version (400, 400N and 400NN, of which I have a few). I also like the M200 and the M250, particularly the old version with the derby cap. I am in fact using one, as per the photo below (to stay on topic 😁).

 

[tacitus]

 

I really should post this in another thread, but please forgive me for posting something other than Pelicans. These are my everyday items.