Montex 333...mini-review...

[sam]

Montex 333

 

While I was in India, I looked around for some fountain pens…

or “ink pens” as they call them there.

Unfortunately, it seems that just about no-one uses fountain pens anymore, and they were hard to find. Many of the pen/stationary shops I visited flat out told me that they don’t stock them anymore as there isn’t any demand for them. So getting fountain pen ink was equally hard.

I eventually managed to find a shop that seemed to have some old stock still on hand.

With the limited supply, I chose whatever I could find, and “dry” tested the nibs for smoothness before purchasing. One of the pens I got was the Montex 333.

 

First Impressions:[/b]

The Montex 333 a is surprisingly nice writer that I now use as an everyday pen. I purchased it in India a few months ago, and

Appearance/Finish:

I like the appearance and color of this pen. Kind of a swirl of gold on purple…

I managed to also get a few other colors…

One thing that, at least to me, distracts from the look of the pen is the silver/aluminum finish of the cap with the gold trim of the clip….gold and silver just don’t mix imho.

Also, there’s the name and model of the pen nicely labeled on the cap…though this isn’t too much of an issue as this can easily be rubbed off with a fingernail.

 

Design/Size/Weight:

As can be expected from a plastic fountain pen, this pen is a light-weight. It’s not even as heavy as my Cross Verve let alone any of all metal pens I have.

Overall though, the balance of the pen is good.

 

Nib Design and Performance:

The nib is a two-tone iridium nib from Germany. As far as I know, there’s only one nib size available, which imo is about a M-F. The nib writes smoothly, and easily…not as butter smooth as my Verve Platinum (medium nib which seems to write on air).

 

Filling System:

This pen comes with a cartridge-converter and I believe it will accept international size cartridges. I haven’t testing this as I don’t have any at the moment.

 

Cost/Value:

For less than $10…what can I say? It’s the best .

 

Conclusion:

I was pleasantly surprised with this pen. Without much to add...this pen is now my daily writer...quite frankly, i can not ask more from a pen...

Edited October 23, 2007 by sam

[sam]

sorry...

didnt add a pic of the pen...

so i added a pic of the pen...

i've got 2 other pens...

one brown and one red...

[kansalvijay]

sorry...

didnt add a pic of the pen...

so i added a pic of the pen...

i've got 2 other pens...

one brown and one red...

I am using Montex REGAL it has inbuilt system to fill ink from the back, You can see the status of ink too. I am very satisfied

[Ed Ronax]

Thanks sam, nice review.

[Juicyjones]

Thanks for the review and good for you for having a sense of adventure too.

[hari317]

Montex is little known outside of India, Thanks for the review and to Kansal for reviving this review after nearly 4 years.

[Taurean]

Wow this was nostalgic..I used Montex 'Handy' fountain pens exclusively in my school days, they don't seem to be in production anymore.

kansalvijay, are you referring to the piston-filling Montex? I think I've seen one of those.

[diezysiete]

Nice review! I knew Montex Handy about a few moths ago here in may coutry, Argentina. I bought one of this pens with crystal clear bodie and cap. The nib is in two tones of metal and a very good and smooth writer. Here, this pens are for school use, very cheap (4,75 $ like a 1,25 U$S or little less than a Euro) its sold in a blister with a universal cartridge and a piston convertor. I'm too courious about indian pens, but its hard to find here. Regards!

Rodrigo

[hari317]

Nice review! I knew Montex Handy about a few moths ago here in may coutry, Argentina. I bought one of this pens with crystal clear bodie and cap. The nib is in two tones of metal and a very good and smooth writer. Here, this pens are for school use, very cheap (4,75 $ like a 1,25 U$S or little less than a Euro) its sold in a blister with a universal cartridge and a piston convertor. I'm too courious about indian pens, but its hard to find here. Regards!

Rodrigo

 

Montex is selling in Argentina? Wow.

[agraguy]

they are still ubiquitous in India. i yesterday bought 'Montex Handy Executive Fountain Pen' for INR 50. pen is solid build but It wasn't what i needed. its not smooth and it writes thick (grade is medium or a little more thicker .... i dont know much about grades , i am myself FP newbie ). I instead liked my Camlin Trinity, smooth and fine. rights with a light touch.