Thrift Store find... is it authentic?

[MHBru]

I picked this up for two bucks and on the surface is seems real but on closer inspection I am not sure.  The clip band reads "Germany" but no discernable serial number.  There is no discernable engraving on the underside of the clip. The nib has many similarities to other MB nibs I've seen but not an exact match.  I'm much more of a Pelikan guy but for $2 how could I not buy this.  What do you think?  Real or No Real?  (sorry Howie Mandel)  Yes it is a thrift store find but the thrift store is at a very upscale senior care and independant living facility and more often than not it's the real thing around here

[Karmachanic]

Speculation on my part.  Looks to me like a late 80's 146 with an early 90's clip. Transitional maybe.  Hopefully someone better informed will pipe up.

 

[MHBru]

I neglected to mention that it is a 146 per the engraving on the center band that reads Montblanc Meisterstruck No146

[jchch1950]

It looks OK for me. For two dollars it was worth the risk of buying a fake one.

[Doc Dan]

What color is the pen? Is there any engraving on the underside of the clip?

[Karmachanic]

pix on the underside of the clip started in the mid 90's.  Serial numbers started 1992.

 

Germany clip band engraving was used  60s- 1985 and then after 1991. So disregard the "Transitional" above .

 

Congratulations on your sumguy find @MHBru

 

[MHBru]

@Doc Dan  the pen is "black" but shows amber/red when backlit with a bright light and I do not see anything on the underside of the clip.

[txomsy]

Has a the signs of being a legit one to me. But I am not that much of an expert.

[Doc Dan]

52 minutes ago, MHBru said:

@Doc Dan  the pen is "black" but shows amber/red when backlit with a bright light and I do not see anything on the underside of the clip.

That's the right color. I don't know much, but I do know that if it was made after 1997 it would have PIX engraved on the underside of the clip, but those before would not. So, pre-1997, if my memory is any good. 

[Paul-in-SF]

I hope yours is genuine, because it shares virtually every identifying point with mine, for which I paid a good deal more than $2. I determined, using the linked chart in the first post in the "Dating Montblanc 146 (LeGrand)" thread (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GhjNqcZwmrFJMyS7sn9A517VQQxDPbotERorBwRqMgI/edit#gid=0) that mine was probably made 1978-1980. Your pen seems maybe 1/16" longer than mine, but it's hard to tell from a photo. 

 

Congratulations on a great buy. 

[CS388]

Congratulations, that's a beauty.

 

Early modern 146 with monotone nib (highly prized by some aficionados)(including me)

I've never seen fakes of this particular model.

Hasn't got all the  bells & whistles of some of the grand editions, but still one of the best pens Montblanc made, imho.

Have one in my daily rotation, at the moment. Totally reliable, day after day.

 

Enjoy it in good health.

[Christopher Godfrey]

<...Your pen seems maybe 1/16" longer than mine, but it's hard to tell from a photo>  Parallax error, I imagine -- photo not taken from immediately above the pen.

[MHBru]

Update.....  I sent the pen to Ron Zorn for restoration and it came back in astounding shape.  The pen is not only authentic but according to Ron, in mint condition.  The piston needed lubrication and was completely jammed but otherwise it was fine.  For the $2 I paid in the thrift store plus Ron's quite fair pricing I got an amazing pen.  It's currently loaded with Akkerman DM #8 Stormachtig Blauw and writes like a dream.

[NoType]

9 hours ago, MHBru said:

The pen is not only authentic but according to Ron, in mint condition.

@MHBru This is indeed wonderful news!  Felicitations on a fabulous find and wishes for lasting enjoyment with this classic beauty.

[PAKMAN]

Congrats on a great find! What a steal!

 

[Mark from Yorkshire]

Congrats on a brilliant find. The thrift store obviously did not know what they had under their nose

[Cjtamu]

Wonderful pen and a great story to boot. Can’t beat that. Congrats.

[Misfit]

Wow, truly a great find. There is a large presence of John Knox Village in my town. Unfortunately the thrift store closed. I wonder if it got relocated. 

[niksch]

You got a Some-Guy find there! Congratulations!