Review: Montblanc Meisterstück 149 PT Fountain Pen - Oblique Triple Broad @Montblanc_World @AppelboomLaren

Reviewing a pen I've had in my possession for a few years now. Appelboom lent it to me awhile back to review... and I couldn't send it back, so now it's mine forever!!! Muahahaha!

ABOUT

Body material: Precious resin
Trim: Platinum
Nib material: 18kt gold (two-tone)
Filling system: Piston
Ink window: Yes
Cap: Threaded
Posts: Yes, friction
Length (capped): 146.8 mm/5.78”
Length (uncapped): 131.7 mm/5.18”
Length (posted): 164.0 mm/6.46”
Diameter (barrel): 14.9 mm/0.58”
Diameter (section): 13.0 mm/0.51”
Weight (all): 32 g
Weight (cap): 12 g
Weight (body): 20 g
Price:  $724.70 USD (without tax)
Where to buy: Appelboom

PACKAGING

The 149 Platinum box is large but simple. I think the most ornate part of it is the outer cardboard box, which is white with a silver starburst. The top right corner has Montblanc and the logo printed on it, and the bottom left corner says "Meisterstück 149". Seeing this in a box from Appelboom made my heart go pitter patter, because I knew he would send something with a wicked nib.

The box inside is a hard, black clam shell box with a pebbled texture to it. The snow cap logo is printed on the top in silver. The box opens up and the inside is an off-white, creamy velvet. The pen is nestled in a squishy felt bed, along with a bottle of Montblanc's Mystery Black ink. A foam sheet keeps everything secure and protected. Again, I like this simplicity - it's clean and presentation is nice, but it's not over the top and (too) excessive.

There is also a large service guide that accompanies the pen. It's worth reading through, especially if you are unfamiliar with Montblanc and/or fountain pens.

APPEARANCE

The Meisterstück 149 is a large, elegant, cigar-shaped pen that has a pretty classic look and design. Both the cap and barrel are round, and the barrel tapers slightly into a rounded off point - torpedo ends, basically. The cap does the same. The finial is a very white, solid snow cap, set flush in the black resin. The clip is attached externally by a thin band set flush in the cap. The band is engraved with the pen's serial number in a very tiny font. The clip is very classy and simple - it has a rounded end and a rocker ball underneath it, but there are no markings or engravings on it.

The center band near the end of the cap has two thinner bands set flush in the cap, and these flank a wider, raised band in the middle. The raised band is engraved with: Montblanc - Meisterstück No 149" and the raised letters have a little lined texture to them so they are easy to read. There is one more thin ring on the barrel that marks the piston-turning knob.

A small detail that's nice is, unlike the small ridge leading from the barrel to the piston-turning knob on the Pelikan Souverän, there is no ridge between the barrel and knob on the 149. It's smooth to look at and to the touch (if such a detail concerns you).

There is a striated, clear ink window in the barrel, which is only visible when the pen is uncapped. It's a large window, though, so there is enough space to see where your ink is at when it starts getting low.

The section is round and fairly wide, with no taper or indent in the shape. The end has a matte plastic lip. Other than that, the cap and barrel are all a smooth, highly polished black resin. In the light at an angle, you may be able to see a subtle, deep red glow in the resin. It looks like the core of the pen is glowing and the black is trying to blot it out. It's a rather pretty effect!

Again, this is a simple, classic cigar pen that I really like. The cigar shape is one of my favorites, so this works for me. The pen is well made and well put together - there are no rough, unfinished edge or loose bits. Which you would expect, of course.

Top to bottom: Meisterstück 149 GT, Meisterstück 149 PT, Meisterstück 146 PT, Meisterstück 146 90th Anniversary

Top to bottom: Meisterstück 149 GT, Meisterstück 149 PT, Meisterstück 146 PT, Meisterstück 146 90th Anniversary

Top to bottom: Meisterstück 149 GT, Meisterstück 149 PT, Meisterstück 146 PT, Meisterstück 146 90th Anniversary

NIB & PERFORMANCE

This large, delicious two-tone nib is the main reason I could not part with this pen. It is an 18kt gold oblique triple broad. The nib has a single slit, a round breather hole, and a stunning wide tip. It is engraved with 4810, the Montblanc 'M', the gold content, Montblanc, and some flourishes.

Unlike the regular gold trim version of this pen, the flourishes are in the yellow-gold section of the nib, and the rest of the nib is rhodium plated. The gold version is the opposite. I think it looks fantastic - the small amount of yellow gold gives the nib a slightly warmer look, but the rhodium majority matches the trim perfectly. The nib is coupled with a large plastic feed.

Top: Meisterstück 149 Gold Trim

Bottom: Meisterstück 149 Platinum Trim

I did not flush this pen before inking it, because I forgot. Usually with a new pen, I flush it with dilute dish soap to make sure there's no machining oil left in the feed or on the nib. This isn't always required, but it doesn't really hurt either. Anyway, this time I didn't, and the pen performed beautifully. The nib is smooth and does not skip or hard start. It's a pretty firm nib as modern Montblanc nibs are but a little line variation is possible with some pressure. Ink flow is steady and consistent, and the line variation from the shape of the nib itself gives great character to one's writing. The downstroke is wide and the cross strokers are thinner. Ink flow is wet, and if the nib is aligned with the paper while you write, it will not skip.

What's the difference between an oblique triple broad and a "regular" triple broad? The regular has a round tip, whereas the oblique is ground at (in this case) a left angle, and this nib also has a stub shape. The left oblique is cut for right-handed writers who write with their pens slightly rotated so the nib hits the page at an angle instead of straight like with a round nib. (For more oblique and other great nib info, check out Richard Binder's Nibs II page).

The triple broad tip size is so fun. I love broad nibs and I also love stubs, so this is a wonderful combination for me. The oblique cut is visible to the naked eye, and although I comfortably write with round points straight on the page, I can also accommodate the rotation for an oblique. I really enjoy using this nib for regular writing, and it's certainly a generous tip - some may find it far too wide for daily use. I think it's just right!

IN HAND

The section of the 149 is the one thing that makes this pen difficult for me to use. Many users think of the 149 as an oversize, but it's not necessarily very long, it's actually quite wide! The section is thick and beefy, as is the pen, but the section also has no indent or flare or anything, so it's just a wide area to grip and hold on to. I can use it for awhile, but it's not the most comfortable shape for me. If you grip right at the front end of the section, the edge may bite a little, especially if you grip tightly.

The clip is practical. It works well for pockets pages, and pouches. I would avoid lifting and snapping it against the cap - there's a fair amount of tension in it. It's snug enough that the pen is secure and won't slip off your paper.

Unposted, the pen is thick in hand, but it isn't very heavy or long, and I find it well balanced. It looks a little naked unposted, but that's how I use it. The cap can be posted by friction, and it is secure. I love how it looks when posted, but I can only use it for a short while. The added weight makes the pen feel more substantial, and I can grip it just a little higher for the right balance. Given its size, you may not need it posted unless you like to post your pens.

PROS & CONS

OVERALL

People sometimes wonder if Montblanc is worth it, if it's overpriced, etc. Well, yes it is overpriced, but I think most pens (and things) are. It's a hard question to answer because the value of a pen varies from person to person. What also matters is your personal preference! What this pen does have is: 'status', recognizable, piston filler, ink window, attractive and elegant, great nib selection, not too hard to find. I don't really care for the status, I just really like the nib and that's worth it to me. It's not going to be worth it for everyone, and that's ok. The premium is high and the return will vary person to person. This is not my first Montblanc and it probably won't be my last, but I also have a pretty wide selection of pens!

So in summary: I basically bought this because of the nib. If it had any other nib on it, fine, medium, broad, I wouldn't have sprung for it. Oblique triple broad? That's a keeper!