Montblanc for a lady's hand - which one?

[nullnull10010]

Hey all,

 

Well, meticulous researcher that I am, I come to you asking for advice [long] before I purchase (receive) my first Montblanc pen. My mother has promised that she'd be willing to get me a nice FP for my high school graduation (next May...), and I want to start looking now. I'm fairly sure I want it to be a Montblanc.

 

I need help picking out the perfect pen, and I figured you all would be a great help!

 

It needs to:

 

1) Be able to be filled from a bottle

 

2) Fit well in a small hand (I mean, I am a teenage girl here.)

 

3) Be classic-looking

 

4) Preferably come in EF (though even that, I've read, won't be particularly fine)

 

5) Be under $500 (not necessarily at MSRP, but I should be able to reasonably find one at this price somewhere reputable)

 

Thanks so much!

 

P.S. Just for reference, I've looked at the 146 and 145 so far (online only). Are these possibly a good fit for my criteria?

 

 

[PAKMAN]

I would try the 145 or 144.

[jicaino]

the best option in montblanc sizing would be getting a Pelikan M300 or M350 or even 2 or 3 of them for the price of one cheap plastic made but gloriously called precious resin pen

[Bryant]

the best option in montblanc sizing would be getting a Pelikan M300 or M350 or even 2 or 3 of them for the price of one cheap plastic made but gloriously called precious resin pen

Booooooooooooooooooo!

[Blade Runner]

The 146 is not a huge pen, and you should try it. It's a piston filler with good ink capacity.

The Fitzgerald is shorter than the 146, is also a piston filler, and can fit your budget (if you can find one). This piston filler doesn't have a ink view window like the 146.

My Fitzgerald fine is a true fine. For a 146 an EF would probably suit you. Best to try prospective pens before you buy.

[Bryant]

You can get a lot of pen for under $500, just be careful on what and where you buy your pen. If you are looking to used, best stick to this forum or someone you know. I think a 144 would be good, I just don't like converters, but if you are looking for something smaller, I think that's all you are going to get... I dont think there are any MBs that have piston fillers that are small.

[PAKMAN]

Another neat option for a small Mont Blanc is the Boheme take a look at them.

 

 

[PenTieRun]

I'll just touch on the nib part of your question. Yes, the EF nib on my 146 is similar to a Fine or Medium-fine depending on the ink I use. MB violet gushes from the nib (though it's a beautiful ink) yet MB bordeaux creates a finer line. Conventional wisdom seems to say that all hand-made nibs will have variations within a size designation. Humans aren't machines, thank goodness. Best of luck with your search.

[jicaino]

I must insist... now without bashing on known MB quallity issues, the Pelikan M3XX is a fantastic pen. Is way more luxurious and better crafted than your average "downscaled" fountain pen from any other recognised brand name. This is actually a pen that got designed that small from scratch. Most other makers just seem to be like "Ohh.... what we're going to do for smaller sizes...???" and they release that: scaled down versions, in wich not only the size is reduced... but the quality of craftsmanship, nib choices, etc etc. I wish my wife would appreciate small pens so I can give her the beautiful M300 I got just for kicks, this is so nice a pen that I actually use it myself sometimes, I have big hands (but slender fingers) and I can use it posted or unposted with very acceptable comfort and it doesn't "bites" on my penmanship (like other pens that have lousy balance and makes you write ugly when sizing is not a perfect match for your hand... I mean, I bought the Mozart just because I loved it but I cannot write one understandable sentence with it!)

[piembi]

Get a vintage 342!

 

It is a small pen. Both of mine are very reliable and those old MBs have wonderful nibs.

I have a MB 144 and try hard to like this pen but I always come back to my 342.

 

And from the money saved you can get some other nice pens

[jicaino]

most accurate indeed. I thought we were talking about new pens. Those vintage MB's are really nice and they're still in business thanks to those pens!

[nullnull10010]

Wow, these are all really helpful responses, thank you so much!

[ribbit]

I don't own a MB, but I played with a few at a boutique once. I would suggest not automatically limiting yourself to tiny pens because you are a teenage girl. While no longer a teen, I have smallish hands (6.5 glove) and find that 'medium-large' pens happen to be much more comfortable for me. I rather liked the feel of the 146 I tried. Of course, there are other ladies on here that like tiny pens, so YMMV.

Edited June 21, 2008 by ribbit

[Pravda]

If you are willing to compromise on the bottle filling (I prefer bottle filling too btw) I would have suggested a Boheme.. They are truly amazingly nice pens for a young lady

 

I dunno I just feel that the Mesiterstsuck line is a little too black/dull for women Or maybe not that, it just gives me this corporate identity fixture but you are saying that you will be graduating high school and probably you will be onto college.. do you want to write with a Meisterstuck there?

[nullnull10010]

I happen to like the Bohème, too. My only question with that is whether it's possible to find a converter to fit in the pen. Or does it strictly only take cartridges?

[Bryant]

I happen to like the Bohème, too. My only question with that is whether it's possible to find a converter to fit in the pen. Or does it strictly only take cartridges?

I was told that you could by them, so I did from... I think its called Tryphoon... But they did not fit mine, so from my experience... No...

[PigRatAndGoat]

I believe that I have heard mutterings that the fixed nib boheme will take a converter. You probably want that really cool retractable nib stuff, but from what I've read, the amazement wears off and its becomes a hassle during quick jotting.

I personally really like the classic lines from the Meisterstuck lines, and I would invest in a pen line that made Montblanc what it is today, and then diversify. Since you're comfortable with bottle filling, get the 146. There should be enough ink capacity that you won't get caught with an empty pen. I really don't believe that size will be an issue. If you want the converter option, you don't necessarily have to move to a 145. You can get the 147, the same size as the 146, and it comes with a nice traveling case to prove it's a mobile pen.

Regardless of what you may decide, get a pen you really like!

 

PRAG

[Rolex]

I happen to like the Bohème, too. My only question with that is whether it's possible to find a converter to fit in the pen. Or does it strictly only take cartridges?

 

I have a Boheme Noir with a convertor. Hope that helps

[dcom]

Another option on the Boheme is to re-use the cartridge and fill it with bottled ink using a syringe

[nullnull10010]

I happen to like the Bohème, too. My only question with that is whether it's possible to find a converter to fit in the pen. Or does it strictly only take cartridges?

 

I have a Boheme Noir with a convertor. Hope that helps

 

If I may ask, where did you find this? Does it have a specific model number, or could I just purchase it at the MB boutique?