Mont Blanc - Is It Fake Or Genuine?

[jar]

Ray, here is a genUwine 1960-1970 Montblanc 149. It's a big image but shows the clip well. And another, a mid to late 70s model.

[Chrissy]

s-l16001.jpgIt took me reading directions to figure this out (I apologize). Here are two 149's, one with a "flat top" clip, and one with a non-90 degree (bump flows to the cap body). I submit that the "flat top" cap is a copy. Could I be wrong? Certainly, but I think manufacturing has come quite a ways and even if they cost 25-50-75 dollars to make, the current rate is almost all over $400 as of this morning. This is the fake version, note the flat area on top of the clip.

 

Yes, I am afraid that you are wrong.

 

I've just checked my authentic Montblanc Meisterstuck 149 that had it's clip, and many other parts, changed at Montblanc in Hamburg. The authentic clip on my pen has 'a flat top' as you describe it.

 

Just out of interest I also looked at my authentic Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 pens too, and they all have clips with 'flat tops'.

 

So I am sorry to advise you that your method of authenticating a Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 or 149 doesn't hold true.

 

In fact, even though the ink window is not very clear in your first picture, (post #19) I would have said that 149 is authentic.

 

The fact that an authentic 149 pen might not write for more than half a page is more likely to mean that it needs a service, rather than that it is a fake because it's clip has a flat top.

[Ray_NEMBFV]

(pulling arrows out of various and sundry body parts) Again, simply making an observation, I wish I had saved the ebay purchase, because it was definitely a fake as the second one I purchased, I could tell immediately was real.

 

I did not see the pic Jar referenced, but wouldn't think that there would be that much variance at that level of German manufacturing. I humbly apologize for any ruffled feelings. I perhaps had a one off, with a bad nib, bad flow, poor clip, underweight, etc.

 

I thank you for the discourse and learning opportunity.......

[Chrissy]

(pulling arrows out of various and sundry body parts) Again, simply making an observation, I wish I had saved the ebay purchase, because it was definitely a fake as the second one I purchased, I could tell immediately was real.

 

I did not see the pic Jar referenced, but wouldn't think that there would be that much variance at that level of German manufacturing. I humbly apologize for any ruffled feelings. I perhaps had a one off, with a bad nib, bad flow, poor clip, underweight, etc.

 

I thank you for the discourse and learning opportunity.......

 

 

No ruffled feelings at all.

[jar]

Ray, your basic premise is certainly correct. Making a fake with a piston fill system is certainly easy enough to do. Germany has been making cheap piston filled pens for about a half century at least. I've been saying for decades that the fake piston filled 149 was simply a matter of time and it will look identical, have the exact same weight and feel as the real one.

 

We can all get fooled.

[zaddick]

The 149 has been in production over 60 years. There are tons of variations across time, even with the clip. It is also possible that parts from different eras get put on a repaired pen (from the factory or folks at home). This is why there are multiple threads and fancy charts to track changes and date a 149.

 

Finally, a part like a clip could be replaced with a cheaper fake just to get the job done and then sold as genuine.

 

Certainly don't give up on efforts or observations. There is probably more variety than you have seen yet.

[jsolares]

Wasn't there a noticeable difference in weight with the early resin models that had no brass threads in the piston mechanism vs the ones with the brass there? and if it was indeed a late 60's early 70's 149 it might certainly write like (bleep) with the iridium tip a bit worn to the writing style of the previous owner.

Edited January 29, 2016 by jsolares

[zaddick]

Wasn't there a noticeable difference in weight with the early resin models that had no brass threads in the piston mechanism vs the ones with the brass there? and if it was indeed a late 60's early 70's 149 it might certainly write like (bleep) with the iridium tip a bit worn to the writing style of the previous owner.

Yes, there is a noticeable weight difference and the balance is also different (more towards the back on the exposed brass threads version).

[Ray_NEMBFV]

I don'r have a gram scale available (I measured my 146 vs the fake I received), but my 149 does date to 1970 with plastic threads. Now I really am curious(er and curiouser).

 

Aside from just figuring out how to get the images, is that a Pelikan 1000? I have a 150n, but those look really nice (sorry, wrong forum). And as if I haven't spent enough money as of late......

[jar]

The Pelikan with the vermeil cap (gold plated Sterling silver) is a 1050.

[FredRydr]

I bought my first Mont Blanc on eBay....What is your opinion?

 

 

Well, my opinion is this identical scenario fills the Montblanc forum with far too many threads. Newbie gets all excited about Montblanc or its prestige while refusing to accept the price, then turns to the cheapest source (eBay) and gets what he/she pays for. Then posts here "Is it a fake? There's a Rolex in your future, too.

 

Okay, okay. I realize I'm not going to make any impact on future "Is it a fake?" threads.

 

Fred

 

Edited January 30, 2016 by FredRydr

[Aysedasi]

Don't assume either that a real Montblanc will write perfectly and massively better than much cheaper pens. I have two (definitely genuine ) 149s and neither of them write as well as the Knox steel nibs that I have in my several Jinhao 159s.....

[zaddick]

Fred

 

 

Fred - stop teasing us with your collection or rare MB pens. I'm still saving for my trip to China....town.

[Keane]

Bah, I just fell for this scam as well.  The 145 seemed like a good buy, a good size and a converter pen sounded great!  I found a seller on ebay with years of positive reviews, so I felt comfortable buying it.  Shipped from Iowa, USA quite quickly, so not drop shipped, but the serial number search brought me here

[jar]

Sorry.  Hope you used a credit card.

[Keane]

1 hour ago, jar said:

Sorry.  Hope you used a credit card.

I did I beileve (or paypal at least), but at the moment they've accepted a return through ebay.  So I have a return slip at least, though I'm prepared for them to reject it.

 

They still maintain:

"

Please note that we source our products directly from Montblanc, Germany, ensuring their authenticity.

A lot of misinformation is floating around. People on reddit, and Quora and Facebook make comments as if they are subject matter experts. This misinformation is amplified by Social Media by people quoting the same misinformation and then it becomes a reality."

 

They ARE giving a return authorization because I'm "not happy", but this is frankly really disappointing They seemed like a reliable seller based on their feedback/communication, but between the lack of 'red'ness, the poor looking converter, and the same serial number as this thread, I'm thoroughly convinced this one was a fake.

[Keane]

MY Update: Ebay closed-as-invalid my report of counterfeit on the listing, so it'll continue to be up, despite selling as a Montblanc 145.  So nothing to do there.

 

I applied for a refund, which the seller agreed to because 'im not happy', and has since accepted, so I have the money.  They again tried to convince me to change my feedback-response of "this is fake, beware!", but I opted not to.

 

I've since purchased a Rose Gold 146 (er, LeGrand!) from Montblanc.com with a broad nib.  Despite some sub-par customer service (despite doing 'next day shipping' before 2pm EST, it took 3 days to receive the pen, and calls resulted in getting hung up on pretty consistently, but the email support eventually refunded my shipping costs/offered an ink bottle), I got it yesterday. 

 

The pen is beautiful, and obviously much higher quality than the fake.  I'm actually amused/disappointed in myself that I thought for a second that the fake was anything but a fake.  The B nib is interesting, definitely 'stub nib' esque, and perhaps a touch large for my handwriting, but I'm going to roll with it, I have plenty of other pens to write with, so its not a big deal.  I also found a used 149 from a respectable seller on /r/pen_swap with a F nib, so I'll have one of each now

[kazoolaw]

Congratulations on your dive into the deep-end!  
Hoping you have many hours enjoying them.

[Seney724]

On 6/7/2024 at 12:40 PM, Keane said:

MY Update: Ebay closed-as-invalid my report of counterfeit on the listing, so it'll continue to be up, despite selling as a Montblanc 145.  So nothing to do there.

 

I applied for a refund, which the seller agreed to because 'im not happy', and has since accepted, so I have the money.  They again tried to convince me to change my feedback-response of "this is fake, beware!", but I opted not to.

 

I've since purchased a Rose Gold 146 (er, LeGrand!) from Montblanc.com with a broad nib.  Despite some sub-par customer service (despite doing 'next day shipping' before 2pm EST, it took 3 days to receive the pen, and calls resulted in getting hung up on pretty consistently, but the email support eventually refunded my shipping costs/offered an ink bottle), I got it yesterday. 

 

The pen is beautiful, and obviously much higher quality than the fake.  I'm actually amused/disappointed in myself that I thought for a second that the fake was anything but a fake.  The B nib is interesting, definitely 'stub nib' esque, and perhaps a touch large for my handwriting, but I'm going to roll with it, I have plenty of other pens to write with, so its not a big deal.  I also found a used 149 from a respectable seller on /r/pen_swap with a F nib, so I'll have one of each now

Well, you did have an impact.

 

As you know, this Iowa based eBay seller has lots of purported Montblancs up for sale at any given time. (This same seller sells using two different seller names.)

When you first posted about your experience I went to their eBay sales site and looked at several of their sales posts for the 145.  Most had the same or a comparable photo of the floridly fake "Mont Blanc" converter.  Those photos are now all gone!!!  Unless this outfit no longer ships their supposed 145's with that converter (highly doubtful) all they have done is attempted to cover their tracks and insulate themselves from future like notifications to eBay of the fake Montblanc product.

 

I think it is shameful that eBay dismissed your valid report of this seller's counterfeit sales but, like many other members, I have a lot of concerns about their business ethics.

Thanks for making us aware.  And, congrats upon acquiring  a "real" Rose Gold 146.  I'm glad this ended well for you.