Please help me see if this MB 149 is fake or not

[RaduOG]

Hello everyone,

Can you please help me with the authenticity of this Montblanc 149? I found it at a local vintage seller at a good price and I don't have the experience to give a good opinion.

This is my first luxury pen purchase and I want something classic.

Also any opinions on the age and condition of the pen would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Radu

[OCArt]

See if a magnet sticks to the nib-- if so it's a fake.

[RaduOG]

Thank you very much @OCArt

[Beechwood]

It looks very good to me, I guess that you have checked that it is working as it should.

 

 

I have read on here that the fakers have worked around the magnet test, a good indicator of fakedom but not a guarantee.

[RaduOG]

4 minutes ago, Format said:

It looks very good to me, I guess that you have checked that it is working as it should.

 

 

I have read on here that the fakers have worked around the magnet test, a good indicator of fakedom but not a guarantee.

Much appreciated! I hope to go to the MB store and test their pens for feel & writing sensation then I have some more data if I decide on preowned/vintage.

[Beechwood]

32 minutes ago, RaduOG said:

Much appreciated! I hope to go to the MB store and test their pens for feel & writing sensation then I have some more data if I decide on preowned/vintage.

 

It is a long time since I test wrote at MB but the testers then were the 146 in a range of nibs.

 

The 149 is a big pen , some people who have smaller hands may enjoy the 146 a little better.

The nib choice can be confusing. My usual advice is that a Medium suits most people but in MB a Medium writes more like a broad which is good if it is a signature pen but not as good as a finer nibbed pens for office notes etc.

 

The nib in your pen looks like a Fine to me.

 

My advice would also be to buy a MB leather case, it keeps the pen looking perfect and if ever you sell the pen then most buyers would like to buy a matching pen case, you are unlikely to lose.

 

I would also buy some MB ink at the same time, they often throw this in at nil cost.

 

[RaduOG]

1 hour ago, Format said:

 

It is a long time since I test wrote at MB but the testers then were the 146 in a range of nibs.

 

The 149 is a big pen , some people who have smaller hands may enjoy the 146 a little better.

The nib choice can be confusing. My usual advice is that a Medium suits most people but in MB a Medium writes more like a broad which is good if it is a signature pen but not as good as a finer nibbed pens for office notes etc.

 

The nib in your pen looks like a Fine to me.

 

My advice would also be to buy a MB leather case, it keeps the pen looking perfect and if ever you sell the pen then most buyers would like to buy a matching pen case, you are unlikely to lose.

 

I would also buy some MB ink at the same time, they often throw this in at nil cost.

 

I hope that they have at least one 149 in the showroom if not to ink up at least to hold for comfort. I dont have small hands so I suppose the size will be nice for me.

[RaduOG]

Just now, RaduOG said:

I hope that they have at least one 149 in the showroom if not to ink up at least to hold for comfort. I dont have small hands so I suppose the size will be nice for me.

As for the nib itself I was looking for a F. I plan to use it for daily writing needs not signatures.

[Beechwood]

52 minutes ago, RaduOG said:

As for the nib itself I was looking for a F. I plan to use it for daily writing needs not signatures.

 

It sounds like a 149 is good for you, the trouble with Montblanc, at least for me is that if you decide that you want one then only a 149 will do, it is no good buying a lesser model because you will still want the 149. a little bit like the Porsche, if you want a Porsche then you need to buy a 911, no point buying the 718 and kidding yourself that it is almost as good, you still want a 911.

 

[RaduOG]

9 minutes ago, Format said:

 

It sounds like a 149 is good for you, the trouble with Montblanc, at least for me is that if you decide that you want one then only a 149 will do, it is no good buying a lesser model because you will still want the 149. a little bit like the Porsche, if you want a Porsche then you need to buy a 911, no point buying the 718 and kidding yourself that it is almost as good, you still want a 911.

 

Hehe, true, true!

I had the exact thought process but haven't excluded a 147 traveller yet due to convenience of cartridges. Still need to see them both tho

[Seney724]

You've mentioned you have a potential interest in MB vintage FPs.

You'll not find any at the MB store.......

 

Many of us, myself included, strongly prefer the vintage pens.  If you are truly interested, you owe yourself an opportunity to check them out before you make a purchase decision.

Lots of reasons why; in my mind the amazing nibs which MB produced years ago has to be at or very near the top of the list.  They are completely different from what you will acquire outfitted on their "modern" pens.

 

Probably the best ways to familiarize yourself with them are: 1. Going to a pen show with some vintage dealers  2.  Going to a meeting of a local pen club.  3.  Determining if you have a friend who might have some in his or her collection.  IMO, option # 1 is probably the best way to go about it.

 

Good luck!!

[RaduOG]

3 hours ago, Seney724 said:

You've mentioned you have a potential interest in MB vintage FPs.

You'll not find any at the MB store.......

 

Many of us, myself included, strongly prefer the vintage pens.  If you are truly interested, you owe yourself an opportunity to check them out before you make a purchase decision.

Lots of reasons why; in my mind the amazing nibs which MB produced years ago has to be at or very near the top of the list.  They are completely different from what you will acquire outfitted on their "modern" pens.

 

Probably the best ways to familiarize yourself with them are: 1. Going to a pen show with some vintage dealers  2.  Going to a meeting of a local pen club.  3.  Determining if you have a friend who might have some in his or her collection.  IMO, option # 1 is probably the best way to go about it.

 

Good luck!!

I haven't seen any such events in Bucharest so far. But I only just started looking into pens after getting a Lamy safari and realising I like to write woth a FP.

[Beechwood]

1 hour ago, RaduOG said:

I haven't seen any such events in Bucharest so far. But I only just started looking into pens after getting a Lamy safari and realising I like to write woth a FP.

 

 

There is  huge difference between a Lamy and a Montblanc in every respect. I was 20 years into the hobby before I bought my first MB.

 

I wish you every joy in the journey

[RaduOG]

1 hour ago, Format said:

 

 

There is  huge difference between a Lamy and a Montblanc in every respect. I was 20 years into the hobby before I bought my first MB.

 

I wish you every joy in the journey

Thank you very much!

I m not a collection kind of guy though; I like having a good all around instrument and using it fully. I m the same way with watches and other things. Do research, buy quality products and use the life out of them

[Paul80]

Did you check the nib with a magnet, obviously not a 100% guarantee but unless the fakers are using high quality stainless steel its likely to be gold if its not magnetic.

 

Does it have a working piston filling system, the early 149 fakes had a cartridge converter fitted and a blind cap that unscrewed to reveal the end of the converter.  Newer fakes thanks to the Wing Sung 630 have a fully functional piston.

 

If it does have a piston, if you have the tool to unscrew it, is the spiral plastic or brass, if plastic its Montblanc if brass its Wing Sung.

 

Having said all that the nib does look genuine, being stamped rather than laser etched.

[RaduOG]

9 minutes ago, Paul80 said:

Did you check the nib with a magnet, obviously not a 100% guarantee but unless the fakers are using high quality stainless steel its likely to be gold if its not magnetic.

 

Does it have a working piston filling system, the early 149 fakes had a cartridge converter fitted and a blind cap that unscrewed to reveal the end of the converter.  Newer fakes thanks to the Wing Sung 630 have a fully functional piston.

 

If it does have a piston, if you have the tool to unscrew it, is the spiral plastic or brass, if plastic its Montblanc if brass its Wing Sung.

 

Having said all that the nib does look genuine, being stamped rather than laser etched.

Thank you @Paul80! Appreciate the info!

will check when i have it in hand

[DimitriDiak]

Hello, it is a 1990/91 pen with a two-tone EF, 18K nib and split feed.  I love mine and yours looks great.  New ones are also very nice but the nib is not as soft which might not matter to you.  

 

You will be able to write with it since it was probably not cleaned by the previous owner and may have left over ink or just add a couple drops of water to the nib.  It might be scratchy but it can easily be tuned to your taste by someone knowledgeable.  The piston should have brass threads.  Check it by unscrewing it gently and see if it moves smoothly and if not then soak the nib and feed for a half hour in water and then repeat to unscrew to see the bubbles in the water and screw shut to soak up the water into the chamber.  You can write with it now but I would let it sit with water for a half hour and then empty it and repeat two more times with fresh water to see if it starts to clean out the old ink and repeat again with fresh water if not.

 

I would not get the Traveler 147 it is the smaller 146 pens with cartridges.  I find the piston is easier to use with fewer problems.

 

Emil at Pen Venture is very helpful and it is worth the visit he is located in Romania and I love his YouTube videos.  Also very helpful when contacting him on Messenger.  Good luck.

 

 

[RaduOG]

Thank you all for such amazing and useful comments. As fate would have it when I was just about to call the owner of the Montblanc I caught a pretty good discount for a GvFC Classic Pernambuco and just went ahead and bought that (love that pen also but mostly the decision was made around it being new and the warranty).

I like it more than the 146 I tested at MB, but still have no idea how the 149 feels like.

Wish you all the best and cheers for your help.