What should be considered when buying a high-quality fountain pen like the Montblanc LeGrand or Pelikan M800, and how do you store it correctly?

In the boutique all nib widths should be available for trial, which is mostly possible with Montblanc Meisterstücks; with the Pelikan M800 the selection at dealers is often more limited. A newly purchased pen should be a previously unused example and not the much-handled showpiece. Montblanc and Pelikan nibs differ noticeably in writing feel and absolutely must be compared. Anyone who writes a lot on flights benefits from the piston-cartridge Traveller model (147). For storage a leather case is recommended; at home the desk or an acrylic stand suffices.