149 or 146

[I like mango pudding]

So, being a newbie here and seeing that I need to seriously add to my pen line up (compared to some of you!), I've decided to get yet another MB. Originally I thought the 149 was THE pen to get. I recall one of my colleagues brought it in and I was in awe of it. But then I saw the 146 and figured, it wasn't so fat and cigar looking. It is a good size, and complements the size of my Boheme. BUT, the 149 is the the iconic pen to get that started the MB fanaticism. Yet, on the other hand, the MB star seems so minute on the 149 cap, it almost appears subservient to the rest of the pen.

So, should it be the 149 or the 146? What say you geeks??

[heraclitus682]

Both. You'll end up getting both at some point anyways.

[I like mango pudding]

Both. You'll end up getting both at some point anyways.

eeks!!! I KNEW IT!!!!!

Someone would eventually say that!!!

[heraclitus682]

I personally like the feel of the older 149's with the plastic piston threads. Great pen there.

[Trivan]

I too had this choice 2 months ago, I went with the 149. I have a Visconti HS and I really like that it is fat and very comfortable in the hand. Thin pens are a dime a dozen, but an excellent quality fat pen is more difficult to find.

[carlos.q]

Maybe you should go to a MB boutique and try out both sizes. I have a 146 and find it very large for my taste, so I guess I won't be looking for a 149. (Emphasis on "my taste")

[Laura N]

I agree that you should try them out. I used a 149 with a great nib, but the pen was too large for me. The 146 is not small either, but it feels much better in my hands.

[I like mango pudding]

Our MB dealer doesn't have a 149 on display or in stock at the moment. She did give me another pen that was close to its size, but I need to see and feel the real thing, maybe smell it too, and caress it for a while, while its on my hands for those few seconds. (okay too much information..)

I guess I'll have to try another dealer for the moment.

[tiffanyhenschel]

If possible, spend more than one visit trying the pens. I went to a boutique to try the pens and nib sizes and thought I liked the 146 best. It's a great pen. Then I bought a used 149 from the Classifieds for a good price and learned to enjoy the size. Since then I've sold my 146 (and two WE's based on the 146 size) and have four 149s. I don't say that it is the best pen for everybody, but you might be surprised. I was!

[orfew]

I second the recommendation for both. Why not...its only money.

[I like mango pudding]

I second the recommendation for both. Why not...its only money.

Oh gee thanks (rolling eyes in sarcasm right now), should I rep you or thank you for that post

bah, I'll follow your advice and give you both!!! (the pen choices are still up for consideration though)

[CS388]

Which one first, you mean? There seems to be an inevitability in the air.

Personal tastes, of course. But I'm totally hooked on my 146. That said, today I've just spent the whole day using my 149.

Money wise, I'd recommend trying one out from the used market.
If you decide you don't like the pen, you can almost certainly sell it on and get your money back. May lose a small amount, may make a small profit.
If you buy new and decide to sell, you'll likely make a substantial loss.

Good luck.

[calluna]

146. 149 is huge. 149 later if you're still hooked.

[stevekolt]

I bought the platinum 146 first. Great pen, love it. Bought the 149 and matching desk holder for....my desk at home Looks great and keeps the pen readily accessible. But I bought the 149 with that specific role in mind, while the 146 gets it's share of pocket time.

[jar]

I find that my 149s almost never get used, even when compared to just my other Montblancs. But that is just personal preference. When we get to wide-bodied fountain pens with big nibs I find my Montegrappa Extra and 1939 Extra get the most use closely followed by Montegrappa Espressione or Classica, then Sheaffer Legacy family pens, then PFMs, then vintage Sheaffer and Parker pens, then the 149 and the Pelikan 1050 least of all.

But, as mentioned above, I do seem to gravitate to smaller pens now.

[I like mango pudding]

yeah, my Meisterstuck Classique is feeling a bit lonely now that I use the Boheme almost exclusively. I've come accustomed to the wider bodies. In fact my MB Rollerball is all but stored away now that I am a fp geek!

going to a boutique tomorrow to try out the 146 and the 149. Found one that has both of them on display. Just found out the MSRP on the 149 is in the stratosphere. Yikes!

[tiffanyhenschel]

going to a boutique tomorrow to try out the 146 and the 149. Found one that has both of them on display. Just found out the MSRP on the 149 is in the stratosphere. Yikes!

You can probably find a used one in very good condition for about half of that.

[I like mango pudding]

going to a boutique tomorrow to try out the 146 and the 149. Found one that has both of them on display. Just found out the MSRP on the 149 is in the stratosphere. Yikes!

You can probably find a used one in very good condition for about half of that.

agreed, that is where I am focussing my attention on right now. One boutique has it for sale for 500$ brand new, so I take the MSRP with a big grain of salt. (MSRP is around $900 on the MB website)

[I like mango pudding]

Okay, went to a dealer who had both in stock. The 149 is a bit too fat for me. The 146 feels right.

I could get a brand new display 146 for $450, all in with taxes. The other pen dealer I don't think could match this price.

What do you geeks think??? (The 149 was going for about $560, all in with taxes, also, only the display model, but I think I'm going to pass)

[jar]

The 146 is nice.