Montblanc Pens, Fake V Real

[Paul80]

Hi all

 

there have been a number of posts on the forum asking how to tell a fake from a real Montblanc, and although to many it is quite easy to those new to Montblanc its not always quite so obvious.

 

For a change I thought it would be appropriate to show the differences between a fake and a genuine pen.

 

So in this example I am using the montblanc 145 for this comparison as it is one of the more copied pens at the moment, now that everyone recognises the fake Starwalkers.

 

Both pens measure the same and almost weigh the same as well with the real one coming in at 20.76gm and the fake coming in at 18.61

 

For comparison which you cannot see in the photographs

 

Both have Montblanc-Meisterstuch-Pix- on the main cap band

Both Have Pix under the clip

Both Say Germany on the Clip Band

Both have a serial number consisting of two letters and Seven numbers

Both have the same markings on the nib

Both gave of a Red Glow when a bright light was shone on them.

 

The other interesting thing to note is that the Cap, Barrel and Section Threads are the same so all three are interchangeable. I had to keep a close eye on which bit went where once they where in parts and was glad I weighed the individual components first as the weight difference was often all I could use to tell the parts apart.

 

The only obvious difference between these two was that the Montblanc Converter was a Screw fit and the Fake converter was just a standard international with Mont Blanc screen printed on the side, and the nib which was etched on the fake and stamped on the real pen.

 

 

So to the pictures, excuse the quality, my Camera does not do close ups very well.

 

Here they are side by side

 

 

Here they are Caps off

 

 

Here they are broken down

 

 

The obvious difference is the Nib Quality

 

 

 

And the converters

 

 

Hope this has been of help in helping new montblanc owners to not get stung.

 

And for though who couldn't guess and you know who you are

 

The fake pen is the top one.

 

Paul

Edited December 11, 2013 by Paul80

[PAKMAN]

Great comparison! Very helpful, thanks!!

[josephchow42]

I believe there are several versions of fake MB converter pen. I will be even more excited if there is a side by side to compare all the fakes~ LOL

[Paul80]

But who is going to admit to buying more than one.

 

Paul

[HermetiC]

There is an obvious difference that you have not pointed, but is clear in your pics:

 

 

 

The top one is a fake; the one in the bottom is a legit MB 145

 

As you can see in this post:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/post-104163-0-63265600-1386780590.jpg

 

the 145 feeder has a characteristic notch, the pictures by hari317 show it very well:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/MB145/IMG_9073.jpg

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/MB145/IMG_9070.jpg

[talkinghead]

If the fake one writes well.....does it really matter?

 

 

 

Rick

[Paul80]

Funny you should say that Rick, the fake one is a very nice writer with a silky smooth slightly on the fine side nib.

 

Paul

[Paul80]

There is an obvious difference that you have not pointed, but is clear in your pics:

 

 

 

The top one is a fake; the one in the bottom is a legit MB 145

 

As you can see in this post:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/post-104163-0-63265600-1386780590.jpg

 

the 145 feeder has a characteristic notch, the pictures by hari317 show it very well:

 

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/MB145/IMG_9073.jpg

http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af39/hari3171/MB145/IMG_9070.jpg

 

 

Yes you are correct, I knew about that one as well but forgot to put it in my post.

 

How long before the notch does appear on the fakes, like the Pix on the inside of the clip has or the glow red resin I mean plastic has, the way these fakes are getting closer how long before the only difference is the nib.

 

This wasn't meant as an exhaustive list, just trying to help new comers out, that's all

 

Paul

Edited December 11, 2013 by Paul80

[Paul80]

I suppose we should be grateful for one thing and that is that its sometimes easy to spot a fake fountain pen, especially if the original has some complicated mechanical feature, like a Piston Filling Mechanism or a retractable nib, it must be so much harder with roller-ball or ballpoint pens.

 

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l312/Paul-80/Pens/_DSF1250_zpsb1a5af4f.jpg

Edited December 11, 2013 by Paul80

[bernardo]

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing

[bernardo]

If the fake one writes well.....does it really matter?

 

 

 

Rick

 

Funny you should say that Rick, the fake one is a very nice writer with a silky smooth slightly on the fine side nib.

 

Paul

 

The problem would be the price they asked. Surely, they would ask a price similar to that of a legit MB, but if not, I think it would be OK...

[WestLothian]

I was given a Montblanc Starwalker that was bought at a very low price in China (less than a bottle of rice wine). It is an obvious fake and after a year it has sharp edges on plating and other degradation to the finish but it still writes really well.

 

An important consideration is not to travel through airports or border customs with fake goods, no matter how you got them or the age it could still get you into a lot of trouble!

[da vinci]

Thanks Paul, and other contributors, for a very useful thread

[I like mango cheesecake]

good compare, Paul.

 

I'm sure there are many websites that sell these fakes, some better than others.

 

The problem with accepting the fake as the genuine writer if the fake writes just as well is essentially giving into the counterfeiters.

 

I don't think that is the intention of any true pen collector on here.

[Paul80]

Talking of the notch mentioned above, anyone know what the number visible at the bottom of the notch means, I have so far seen "1" & "2" does it signify anything?

 

Paul

[CS388]

Interesting. Thanks, Paul80 .A very convincing fake.

 

I'm sure that they've corrected the serial number glitch they had (they all used the same serial number, once). Could you post the serial number of the fake, please.

 

Also, have you tried the threaded converter in the fake? I had a fake 145, which had threads for the converter inside, even though it was supplied with a push-in fake converter, like yours..

 

Thanks.

[Dillo]

Talking of the notch mentioned above, anyone know what the number visible at the bottom of the notch means, I have so far seen "1" & "2" does it signify anything?

 

Paul

 

It's probably the ID number of the mould that the feed came from. This way, they can easily identify it if there are any production problems.

 

Dillon

[Paul80]

As requested above the serial number on the fake is EN1340786 on the Rollerball its EN1340788 and on the Ballpen its EN1340786 the same as the fountain pen, what happened to 87?

 

Paul

[Garyfph]

As requested above the serial number on the fake is EN1340786 on the Rollerball its EN1340788 and on the Ballpen its EN1340786 the same as the fountain pen, what happened to 87?

Paul

May I ask what would a real serial number look like?

 

Thanks for the post, Paul! Very useful.

[Chrissy]

Good comparison, but the close-up pictures also show that the GP bands are slightly different, and the grip band next to the nib is different too.

 

It would be really helpful if ebay sellers always showed their fakes next to an authentic version LOL