Pelikan M600 / M400 / M200
Lots of colours to choose from.
I haven’t recommended the M800 / M1000 on the basis they may be too big for her hand.
I have a nice Montblanc classic which Mrs Berin keeps borrowing.
Could anyone recommend a nice fountain pen, that isn’t Montblanc but similar quality that I could get her so I get my own back please?
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Pelikan M600 / M400 / M200
Lots of colours to choose from.
I haven’t recommended the M800 / M1000 on the basis they may be too big for her hand.
Loads depending on budget.
Sailor King of Pen has one of the best nibs in the business but they're steep at 700+
Conway Stewart and Onoto are excellent and around the 500-600 mark.
Scribo are also very good but their nibs have a little bit more flex to them than CS or Onoto, they're about 5-600
For the 100-150 I really like Leonardo, steel nibs but v smooth writers and a great range of colours. Momento zero and momento zero grande are worth looking at.
Under 100 - the Kaweko steel sports is pretty unbeatable imo.
I use a Pilot Capless. I've found it really handy to not have it dry out (which may not be an issue if you use a pen a lot) and be quick and easy to get into use.
Can't beat a Parker 51. If you want new maybe try a Lamy 2000, even the stainless Studio is a fantastic pen. Depends on what you want to spend though. A second hand Montblanc 146 would set you back £200-£250 and will do pretty much all anyone needs. A £750 Nakaya is a wonderful thing, as Verv says a Sailor King Of Pen is a magnificent thing but up there with the Pelikan 1000. If it were me, I'd go for a Parker Duofold Maxima from the 1950s, a brilliant pen.
"A man of little significance"
Pelikan m205 demonstrator
Montblanc were good in the past, they had high quality metal parts and ebonite. Now replaced with Chinese plastic and way overpriced
This one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154747972...mis&media=COPY
There isn't a better pen unless you are spending a grand. This has the best nib you can buy at that sub £1k level. It is a phenomenal pen.
I used to have a few Mont Blancs. Got fed up of servicing them regularly and they still leaked. Had a Pelikan M800 for several years now. Use it everyday and love it. Good ink reservoir. Never leaks.
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So many choices.
Classic workhorse Lamy 2000, Pelikan available in a variety sizes (have a soft spot for them - 14 at the last count), Onoto sturdy and well built (dont overlook their steel nibs they are delightful), Leonardo great value for money, Pilot 823 similiar styling to Montblanc.
If you fancy another MB or something preloved take a look at izods.ink they have a great selection of pens.
Most pen enthusiasts consider the Parker 51 to be the best ever.
Its build quality is second to none, it must be the most bash proof pen ever made and there are thousands being used on a daily basis.
Strangely enough good ones are still readily available.
I really feel I need this in my life
https://www.montblanc.com/en-gb/foun...298707857.html
It's basically just a Meisterstuck so it is wildly overpriced but the colour scheme is amazing and completely unlike any other Montblanc as the brand tends to be somewhat more conservative with the themes around its special edition pens
More specific
Ball point, fountain, gel pen?
I'd recommend you let her keep the Montblanc and get yourself a Pelikan M800/M805, and also the Pilot Custom recommended by Ryan.
Kaweco Dia 2 black with gold trim.
Check out "Cult Pens" down in Devon.
It's a slippery slope : )
Good luck.
Another vote for Parker 51.
I have a few ink pens - Mont Blanc / Cross /Sheaffer and other Parker models but it is the '51 that is my choice
I’ve got various pens, but for a little while the Visconti’s have been my go to pens. Well and the TWSBI, Kaweco add infinitum.
I will also recommend Cult Pens, although no longer an independent they have not dropped their quality of service at all.
If you have large hands you should have got their Homer 149
OP - many good suggestions here, can you get to a physical shop that stocks a range? NOTHING beats holding them in your hand and trying them out.
If you like your MB and can handle one a little larger, the 146 (Le Grand) is very good. Unlike others here, I've never had an issue with any of my MB or Pelikan pens.
I use sailor & OMAS both brands are brilliant though OMAS is no more.
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Another reason for endorsing the Parker 51 is that the Queen us the same one for most of her life. She could have had the pick of any pen but she stuck with the 51.
Just saying.
Thanks for all the help, everyone. I live near Henley on Thames, it would be nice to see the pens first but I doubt there's much in the way of decent retailers nearby. I'll research the recommendations a bit and then post back - but I do like the idea of handing over the stolen Mont Blanc and getting a new one!
What's the difference between a Pelican 800 and 805? Same price, look the same.
I'd suggest getting a good condition Parker 51. I have one in teal with a gold cap and medium nib. Wonderful writing experience and perfect aesthetic. Lamy 2000 and Pelikan M1000 are good pens too. However the 51 is my absolute favourite. I actually dreamed about it the night before I found it on ebay!
Pen choice now resolved, thanks to everyone for their suggestions and thanks to an offer from a forum member.
Unfortunately it looks like another situation where one isn’t enough…..
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I rather foolishly forgot to mention that if anyone decides to buy a Parker 51, because they are a very good pen, make sure the tassie is fitted on the cap. Very often no tassie equates to no sale. In case you don't know what the tassie is, it is that little half pearly thingy that is screwed into the top of the pen cap.
I could well be out of touch now but in my buying days the grey body with a gold top was the one to have. My favourite colour is the burgundy.
The colour is really down to personal taste but both gold or steel are readily available but gold will cost more. I prefer steel and all of mine are steel because I have a dislike of gold when it is used to look flash.
Now that the pen is sorted, OP, it’s time to investigate the world of inks!
For my money, MB inks are consistently excellent writers, stable over their life, and really quite pleasing :)
This thread seems to be the ideal opportunity to ask , and I have no idea of the answer, so it is a genuine question , … what was the ink pen that King Charles lost patience with ?
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Diamine inks, loads of different colours, not expensive.
"A man of little significance"
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
I am now out of touch with prices but there is loads for sale on eBay and the like. The main thing is that it works, has the tassie on it and not over scratched.
There is a thriving cottage industry of small businesses and even retired guys who can repair pens and return them as good as new within a few days. Maintenance and parts is not a problem.
However the Parker 51 is virtually bomb proof so everyone of them can be brought back to as new.
As always google and Youtube are your friend.
I have a vintage 51 and clutch pencil. I like hooded nibs. I find traditional nibs too flexible for my hard writing style. This could be garbage, but it’s what I think. I also like the 61.
Looks like the 51 has been reintroduced by Parker.
Loads of online sellers.
Quick search.
https://www.penhome.co.uk/collections/vintage-parker-51
https://www.vintagefountainpens.co.u...Parker-51.html
https://www.parker51.co.uk/pens/p/19...d-pencil-set-3
https://www.theonlinepencompany.com/...SAAEgI9L_D_BwE
https://www.penheaven.co.uk/pen-bran...yAAEgKbQfD_BwE
https://www.cultpens.com/c/q/brands/...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://parkerpens.net/parker51.html
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Check out the inks from J Herbelin and Robert Oster too.
Mont Blanc make scented ink!!!! I like diamine from cult pens in cartridge format but Pelikan Edelstein seems good
Thank you .
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Parker 51, burgundy, medium nib £55.70 at Amazon. Looks great value.
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Bu@@er. Back to the drawing board then...
Best modern hooded fountain pen...?
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Is the Lamy 2000 hooded?
Thanks to this thread I bought a Lamy 2000 fountain pen last night - I hope you’re proud of yourselves.
Cult Pens are doing them for £146 delivered, or £150 with a bottle of ink worth £10 included.
You automatically get 10% off both at checkout too.
There are other discount codes available for another 10% discount on top again.
I have affection for anything Bauhaus inspired, so I’ve been meaning to try this design classic for ages.
Good price for a ‘Made In Germany’ piston filler pen with a solid 14ct gold nib with platinum coating made in-house. The pen bodies are assembled and ground/polished by hand on belts at the factory to ensure even brushing where the steel and macrolon parts meet.