Montblanc Starwalker - Dissapointment

[Albinoni]

A story here that I would like to share here and I am not here to basg MB at all but perhaps I am being picky, I dont know. But if I had a pen that would do this it would annoy the (bleep) out of me, well here is my story.

 

This afternoon after work I decided to pop into my local pen shop here in Perth, Western Australia and had a look at some (about 3) MB Starwalker fountain pens also these were original and not replicas. Well any how the sales lady gave me the first one to look at, now when I unscrewed the cap off and screwed it on the back of the pen i.e Posting the clip to the cap did not line up with the nib and was upside down. Than I tried another MB Starwalker (rose gold version) and this time the clip again did not line up with the nib but was more so on the 9 O' clock position i.e slightly to the left, the 3rd one I checked was same as the first where the clip was upside down instead of inline with the nib.

 

You will find that when most people post their cap on a FP they line up their cap clip with the nib i.e inline and quite honestly my replica MB does this.

 

So is this a fault with MB or are the Starwalkers generally like this ?

[jar]

Lots of pens are like that. If it bothers you it can often be adjusted.

[BrandonA]

If you search this forum you will see an old thread on this subject. Basically the nib rotates so you can quickly and easily rectify this issue without any special tools or damaging the pen.

 

I'm guessing the shop was not a MB boutique as I'd hope their staff would know this.

[vickiehof]

If you search this forum you will see an old thread on this subject. Basically the nib rotates so you can quickly and easily rectify this issue without any special tools or damaging the pen.

 

I'm guessing the shop was not a MB boutique as I'd hope their staff would know this.

Thanks Brandon,

 

I don't usually post my Starwalker (purchased from my local MB store) and I just noticed that my clip is not aligned with the nib. I gently but firmly held the section in one hand and the barrel in the other hand and GENTLY twisted the section to bring each into alignment. A little stronger twist will start the section to unscrew from the barrel to access the cartridge. This part of the pen could easily become misaligned while changing cartridges.

 

It's good to learn something everyday.

[Albinoni]

Montblanc should of fixed this issue when they designed the pen, I mean if the Chinese company that made my replica did it (and yes it aligns up perfectly) than so should the Montblanc.

[BrandonA]

Montblanc should of fixed this issue when they designed the pen, I mean if the Chinese company that made my replica did it (and yes it aligns up perfectly) than so should the Montblanc.

You are clearly a Montblanc hater, even though your first sentence on your original post stated otherwise.

 

I bet the nib on the Chinese pen is not changeable. If you read Vicki's post she explained how easy it was to change her pen and she stated that the nib would come off if you completely unscrewed it - this is the whole point of the feature as it lets people replace damaged nibs cheaply and easily.

 

Have fun with your Chinese knock off and leave this forum to those who enjoy their quality pens.

[Newjelan]

I've had a MB Starwalker for several years and I love it. It's the now discontinued blue one (cool blue?). Anyway, I can honestly say I'd never noticed this. Although I have about 70 pens (about 20 of which would be in a similar price range to the Starwalker), it has never occurred to me to look at that alignment on any pen. Well, you learn something new everyday!

[Albinoni]

You are clearly a Montblanc hater, even though your first sentence on your original post stated otherwise.

 

I bet the nib on the Chinese pen is not changeable. If you read Vicki's post she explained how easy it was to change her pen and she stated that the nib would come off if you completely unscrewed it - this is the whole point of the feature as it lets people replace damaged nibs cheaply and easily.

 

Have fun with your Chinese knock off and leave this forum to those who enjoy their quality pens.

 

Hi Brandon,

 

Thank you for your reply and I just thought I would sit here and write this reply to answer some of your questions:

 

1. No as a true fact I am not a Montblanc hater, infact I do have two very nice Montblanc 146's, one fountain pen and one

matching rollerball and as a fact I do quite like Montblanc, bur certainly not my favourite pen, why, because I think there is

better and cheaper out there by far, and to my own personal the Pelikans are a way better writer.

 

2. True the nib on my Chinese pen or Chinese replica is not changeable, I agree your corerct, but:

 

a. My so called Chinese pen was given to me as a gift from my girlfriend and she lost her father in July last year 2013, so to me

this is sentimental value regards of how much it costs etc, my Father once said to me, its not the cost of something that

counts, its the thought that counts. And to be honest I dont even think that she or family know this is a replica, because her

Father got it as a gift from his dentist who was a Dutch guy.

 

b. Being a replica I can say it does write very nice and quite smooth too and to me it writes just as good as my MB 146 and this

is the truth, but what I like about it more is that it comes with a converter and this means I have a big variety of ink too choose

from and not limited like what the original Starwalker has, i.e you must only use MB cartridges/ink, btw I am using J.Herbin

Bleu Pervence at the moment and loving every moment of it :-)

 

c. Actually as a fact I have got many nice beautiful fountain pens and originals too, here are some and I am sure you would love

to own some of these:

 

Waterman Patrcician set (Blue) in FP and Ballpoint

Sheaffer Legacy I (green jade colour with gold cap and touch down filling system)

Sheaffer Targa gold, actually made here in Australia and rare too

1x Pelikan M800 which I bought back in 1997, a better writer than any MB I have tried including my 146, a superb pen the M800

1x Pelikan M600 another beautiful writer

1x Pelikan M215 with steel nib, lovely writer

2x Pelikan's M200 (one green marble and one blue marble) both lovely writers, both again with steel nibs

1x Visconti Vangough, dont use it much but I like it

1x Aurora piston filler, not sure what model but had it for a few years now

1x Beautiful Parker Duofold set (FP and Ballpoint) in Maroon, bought back in 1998 still in mint A1 condition

About four beautiful Parker 51's plus in there also a beautiful Parker 51 Gold signet all again in mint condition, love my 51's

 

4x Lamy 2000's (3 black and one stainless steel)

 

My newest bay, a beautiful Visconti Homo Sapiens 25th years edition.

 

As a fact I am not here to bash MB what so ever but let me tell you what I dont like about MB.

 

1. Their pens are way too overpriced, eg had a look at some of the Starwalkers today in the pen shop and they were close to

over AU$1000, the Visconti Homo Sapiens with gold or brass trim were much cheaper and proably better writers too.

 

2. What I heard of the grapevine, but if you buy a MB FP and put say Iroshizuku or some other brand ink in and something

goes wrong, MB's warranty wont cover it. I cant think of any other pen manufacturer with that stupid policy even Pelikan.

 

3. They rave on about this so called precious resin but really is it ????

 

Even the lady that works in the shop and she also sells MB's but she said there are better writing pens out there by far, eg Pelikan, ST Dupont, Caran D Ache, Omas, Visconti etc

[Chrissy]

Albinoni, We know that you have a replica Starwalker that you love from your other thread about the Starwalker

 

The Chinese nib is glued in with the cap on so that it will never be misaligned with the cap. If the nib is damaged then the pen is so cheap to make it's designed to be thrown away. The materials used to make it are nothing like those used to make the authentic Starwalker.

 

No authentic Montblanc pen has it's nib permanently fixed, as their nibs are always replaceable. So Starwalker nibs and Boheme nibs can become misaligned if users choose to post their pens. It's easy enough to fix it, but your local pen shop just didn't know that. A Montblanc boutique would have advised you differently and would probably have been able to fix it immediately. It isn't that big a deal.

 

I don't think you should randomly label all Starwalkers as a disappointment, based on your known preference for your Chinese copy and your local pen shop not having a full knowledge about them.

 

Some people love their Starwalkers while some prefer Meisterstucks or Bohemes. Everyone is different.

 

I don't have a Starwalker FP but my Starwalker doue ballpoint is great and my first choice ballpoint that I pick up for quick notes on my desk.

[Albinoni]

Hi Chrissy sorry I'm a bit confused here when you said glued in with the cap on. Actually my cap to my Starwaker actually screws on the back and has a thread just like the original.

 

I am not sure if the nib is glued or inserted just like the others.

 

Now my other question here is I have a genuine Montblanc 146 so can I actually change the nib to this myself or do I need to send it to a Montblanc boutique to do it.

 

Thanks

[eckiethump]

Lets face it you own a fake, no matter it's sentimental provenance, so now you diss the originals, saying your fake is better, good be happy.

FWIW, I handle many MB's for repair and the Starwalker is the least well designed and constructed in my experience of handling.of the brand.BTW it would be nice to see pictures of your very extensive fine collection of pens listed earlier.

[Chrissy]

Hi Chrissy sorry I'm a bit confused here when you said glued in with the cap on. Actually my cap to my Starwaker actually screws on the back and has a thread just like the original.

 

I am not sure if the nib is glued or inserted just like the others.

 

Now my other question here is I have a genuine Montblanc 146 so can I actually change the nib to this myself or do I need to send it to a Montblanc boutique to do it.

 

Thanks

For the replica Starwalker I meant that the nib is permanently glued in with the cap posted on the pen barrel.

 

Some experts can change a Montblanc nib, but you need a special tool and a lot of skill. I would send mine to Montblanc

[HermetiC]

Changing a 146 nib is very easy, but you need a specific tool (you can even make it, is easy)

You also may use a converter in an authentic MB Starwalker; here you can see mine charged with Diamine Syrah (sorry for the Iphone pic):

http://imageshack.us/a/img821/5618/fbo5.jpg

Anyway, if you prefer your cheap fake chinese copy of a Starwalker for sentimental reasons, please, feel free to enjoy it.

Edited January 4, 2014 by HermetiC

[Keyless Works]

Everyone one is entitled to their own opinion. I don't think purposely buying fakes is ethical but I don't see any issue with inheriting them.

[eckiethump]

Everyone one is entitled to their own opinion. I don't think purposely buying fakes is ethical but I don't see any issue with inheriting them.

Granted, but it does not make the originals bad pens as the OP is striving unethically to do.

et

[daddyburns]

I've been lucky enough to grow a large collection of MB "items" over the past 8 years. It started with a 146 my wife bought me for my 30th and she was recently another gem by presenting my with a Starwalker Doué Platinum Plated Founain Pen to wish me luck with a big promotion interview - I got the job :-)

 

Having used a meisterstück for the past 8 years I didn't know what to make of the starwalker. Funny enough the first thing which impressed my was that the clip lined up spot on to the nib when posted!!

 

I actually prefer the weight of the starwalker to my 146 but both pens are superb in my eyes and both have there sentimental values!!

 

My 'only' gripe with the starwalker is that it's a cartridge pen, but that's a very minor gripe

 

You may think they're over priced but they're considered collectors and their value is only increasing. I personally can't think of a better brand - stylish!!!

Edited January 5, 2014 by daddyburns

[orfew]

I have 3 Starwalkers and love them all. I have a black resin fine liner, a cool blue ballpoint, and a cool blue fountain pen. I must say that I like the metal bodied Starwalkers better than the resin fine liner. The cool blue pens are among my favourites of my 34 MBs. They feel great in the hand, write very well, and look beautiful. Its too bad they discontinued the line. I might try one of the other metal bodied Starwalkers in the near future.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh320/Orfew/2013-07-12053705_zps3719c977.jpg

[Albinoni]

Lets face it you own a fake, no matter it's sentimental provenance, so now you diss the originals, saying your fake is better, good be happy.

FWIW, I handle many MB's for repair and the Starwalker is the least well designed and constructed in my experience of handling.of the brand.BTW it would be nice to see pictures of your very extensive fine collection of pens listed earlier.

I'd be more than happy to post the pictures of my fine pens that I mentioned and listed earlier. And btw these are definitely 100% genuine, because as for myself I do buy genuine pens.

[Albinoni]

Granted, but it does not make the originals bad pens as the OP is striving unethically to do.

et

Did I actually day that the original Montblanc's were bad pens, no. What I said was that Montblanc pens were or are too overpriced for what you get, simply they are a very overated pen and yes I do like them because I've got two in my collection, being 146 models. But with all my fountain pens, I use my Montblanc's the least, why, because I believe my other pens are better writers and one of my favorite writer's is my Pelikan M800 which has a buttery smooth nib, even I would say my Parker 51 Gold signet is a better smoother writer. Mind you my 146 came with a EF nib. I took it to the Montblanc boutique here in Perth and they wanted to charge me almost $400 to replace it with a new one, ridiculous if you ask me. Some Srarwalkers here are over a $1000 ridiculous again when you can get a lovely Visconti Homo Sapiens with a Dream Touch nib or even a lovely Omas.

[max dog]

There's more to a nice nib than smoothness. The stubbish qualities in MB nibs are awesome, as is the juicy wet flow which Montblanc seems to have perfected. It's hard to state in words, but MB nibs have character and deliver a pleasurable writing experience very few manufacturer have achieved.

 

Montblanc's precious resin is a nice plastic compilation that maintains a nice shiny black sheen even after many years. Superior to plastics used in most other pens.

 

With my Meisterstucks I like the fact that the money went into a superb hand finished nib, instead of a fancy finish and lesser nib.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wegi5MH9Bmc&feature=player_embedded

Edited January 5, 2014 by max dog