The Starwalker is the only Mont Blanc pen that I own, I was lucky enough to receive it for my birthday. In terms of styling I really like the design of the pen as it moves away from the traditional black Mont Blanc style. It looks modern yet classic and stylish.

It is a well constructed pen and it feels solid and of good quality. It is made of black resin and has platinum trim. The threads are all metal and it screws together securely. The section is also metal. When using the pen unposted it is light and comfortable to use, in my opinion it feels a little top heavy when using posted, but then I don’t like to use any of my pens posted.

My pen has a medium nib and writes smoothly, the nib has just a bit of give to it. It is not an overly wet writer but it is by no means dry. I like the styling of the nib it is chunky and solid looking. The nib is 14K and has the usual Mont Blanc logo.

The cap is a screw on type and also screws on to the end of the body for secure posting when writing.

The only thing that disappoints me about this pen is that it is a cartridge filler; this is due to the slim size of the pen which is about the same size as a 144 or Generations model. Mont Blanc say that it does not take a converter as the body is too slim to take one and I don’t have one to try so I will take their word for it. I will refill the cartridge myself when it’s empty.

My conclusion is……

I like this pen very much 9 it will be in my regular rotation. I do feel that the brand is overpriced in comparison to other brands of similar quality but I am glad that I have this pen its lovely and is a wonderful gift which writes beautifully and looks good. I am really going to enjoy using it and it has already received some complimentary comments at work.

Dawn

Edit - photo from World Lux as I didnt have one

Thanks for the review.
I really like its clean lines and look forward to test driving one.
I was thinking that having at least one cartridge filler would
be advantageous in situations where opening a bottle to refill one's
pen would be inappropriate.
Congratulations and Happy Birthday!

Very nice! I'm glad you let us know how you liked it.

The Starwalker is a very pretty pen.

Maybe you could try the converter designed for the slim model Targa?

Hi guys

Yes I agree Jeen it makes sense to have a cartridge filler for those times that I run out of ink, I have popped a box of cartridges in the pocket of my pen case so I am ready to go. The only think I dont like about cartridges is the ongoing cost for relatively small amounts of ink it seems like a waste of money, but I have to agree they do have a place in the pen world.

I will certainly check out the Targa convertor, thanks for that Meanwhile.

Cheers
Dawn

This may be a silly question ... and thank you for a nice review ...

but even though the Starwalker is a cartridge-only pen, is there anyone who makes a convertor that would fit this pen?

If there is, I will get one (free from Eurostar!), but otherwise I might not because I'm not keen on cartrige pens, not least because I have som much invested in bottles of ink

Chris

Hey Chris

I will do some convertor testing and when I find one that fits I will let you know.

If the pen is free I would get it anyway, even if your not keen on cartridges!

Dawn

Thanks Dawn, that is very kind.

Actually, you are right. I could get some wine with my points, but a free MB has to be the best value.

And I can always refil the cartridges with real ink right?

Chris

Thanks for the review.

I am considering buying a mont blanc FP for my dad as a present.

I want to know whether the resin or the rubber+metal one is better (i.e. more durable) Am undecided on look and feel.

I've also heard whispers about lack of durability of the precious resin of modern mont blancs in general (sorry to add a negative note here). Can anyone speak to those from experience? Read in one of the posts on this site that it shatters.

Before plunking down $$$ to buy this pen, and a really special present for dad, I want t o be sure it's worth it, and will live long.

Which is the most reasonable priced place to buy them from in the US? Live in the DC area. ebay seems risky, and the physical stores charge list price.

Thanks!

Why not get him a Pilot VP Raden? They're gorgeous!

It makes far more sense to me to refill your cartridge with a syringe rather than fooling with converters. Your cost is no more than bottled ink. I'm medical and can get all the straight needles and syringes I want--but I think I've seen syringes for sale at some of the dealers. I've been doing it for literally 35 years and continue to. You should feel lucky that you can carry extra cartridges with you should you need them; it's much easier than hauling bottled ink. Also, you can see when you need a refill ahead of time!

When I need to clean my Starwalker, I use the convertor for a 70s-era Montblanc Classic (which later was renamed Generations). It works well for that, but is too long to fit into the pen itself. :doh:

Love the pen -- bought it for myself during a Caribbean cruise in January and have used it pretty much ever since.

jdw

Hi,

I think that that little converter Tryphon has should fit. Nice pen you have there. I tested on at the boutique, but it was to fat for my hand.

It was a nice concept though. I would be getting the 145 and 114 instead though.

Dillon

I hope that I'm not committing a breach of forum etiquette by replying to an older review, but after my recent experience with Mont Blanc Starwalkers I'd like to contribute an opposing viewpoint.

I recently received a Starwalker with medium nib as a gift. The ink flow was irregular, producing blotchy lettering, and much wider than I would have expected, given that their nibs go all the way up to extra-broad, and this was only a medium. So I exchanged it for a Starwalker with a fine nib (as suggested by the dealer; they could not exchange only the nib, so the entire pen was returned and replaced).

The (first) fine nib pen was worse than the one with medium nib. The line produced was thicker, not thinner, and there were more blobs and blotches produced. The ink feed also cut out periodically, especially on downstrokes, so speedy writing was out of the question. This pen was exchanged, and a third Starwalker (the second with a fine nib) was sent to me. This third Starwalker exhibited exactly the same problems as the first two. The line was about the same as that produced with the medium nib, it was irregular and blotchy, the ink feed cut out rather often, and it was prone to producing ink droplets on the top of the nib which would then slip down and mark the page.

I'm not one of the (apparently numerous) anti-Mont-Blanc legion. My first good pen, and the only one I would willingly use for the last twenty-two years, was a Mont Blanc Meisterstück ballpoint. When it died in a tragic accident involving my clumsiness and a tile floor, I didn't even consider another brand, both because of the good reputation Mont Blanc enjoys and the sentimental value. So this is not a rant against Mont Blanc from someone with an agenda, nor is it intended as an absolute refutation of Dawn's review. I hope that my bad experience with the pen is unique.

The majority of Mont Blanc pens may well be every bit as good as the one Dawn received, and I hope this is the case. But anyone considering purchasing one should be aware that the quality of Mont Blanc pens is not always as excellent as their reputation leads one to expect, and if one is unlucky the pen may be of very poor quality indeed.

Dawn:
Check this: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?s...6fsoo%3D1&fgtp= (the German cartridges and they are Schneider).

I find them very decent for the price. I've been buying from this lady a while from now. It's true I never leave inked pens for more than 2 wks: this ink has never clogged my pens and it dries fast. They are not too saturated but leave a nice uniform line that also photocopies well . I'm very well satisfied with them , only that in terms of color they are very limited.

Thanks for the link, I will check it out

I like the textured section. It has a machined beauty and a practical use. I wish some company would produce a fountain pen with a section and the barrel with a similar texture to make holding them a lot more fixed and secure. The only company that I have seen still producing something like this is Nakaya with their stone finish. The old Parker 75 had a section that kind of molded to the way you held a pen and you can also dial it to zero in to your sweet spot of the nib each time you pick up the pen.

Just purchased the Starwalker last week. It doesn't start unless I turn the nib over and then skips more then a playground ful of kids in a skipping competition. Its going back to the shop to get fixed/exchanged/ refunded.
Shame as I really like the style, and already have the ballpoint with the rollerball next on the list.
I really hope it can get resolved.

Well, went to the MB shop, they ground the Nib as the salperson didi say 'that it isn't a EF in my opinoin'. Came back with finer lines but very scratchy. Hadit ground down in the shop was a lot better, BUT not very smooth and blotchy. My Cross Century FP with a fine nib is miles better, as is my Cross Solo XF. Seems pricew and 'brand' doesn't guarantee quality after all.

i wasnt into the Starwalker series initially, but that time i wasnt into fountain pens too..

got this Starwalker in Extra Fine nib as a Xmas present from my mom and I must say though the nib is not as fine as i hope, it writes really well and is very smooth. I am currently using the blue black catridges that came with it.. and no complaints at all

Current Montblanc nibs generally run very wide, this is to be expected.

My recommendation would be to not even bother trying to get the nib reground by the MB shop; people have reported only trouble with this. Instead, pay $40 to get it done by Richard Binder, and your MB will write flawlessly. I've had 2 MBs reground by Richard so far and I am beside myself with the results. Not only are they now true extra-fines, but any imperfections in the ink flow, etc., have magically disappeared. And yes, I know that your pen is under warranty and it's MB's job to provide good customer service, etc., but if we're talking about the reality of things as opposed to what "should" be happening, forget arguing with MB and send your pen to Richard.


Also, for those asking about a converter for the cartridge-only Starwalker, they are available:
http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...p;mode=threaded

Thanks for the info QM2. Dose anyone know of te reliable nib grounder in London UK?

Thanks for the review Dawn.

While an apparent drawback to the pen is the lack of a converter by MB, you can use an international size converter that will fit the pen very nicely.

Might be easier than refilling cartridges.

What I still don't understand after a couple of years, is how "high end" pen companies can get away with producing bad nibs. I mean, buy a cheap Parker Jotter with a mass produced steel nib, and it writes every time. So why can't manufacturers of expensive pens produce flawless nibs? In my opinion, there is no excuse for e.g. producing nibs with a baby bottom tip or feeds with an extremely stingy ink flow. Is it lack of interest? Frugal quality control? Or don't we hear about the bad Parker Jotters because they are thrown out without much fuss?

Sending a pen to Richard or another specialist will probably solve the writing problems, but that should not be needed on such an expensive pen anyway!

Any international size converter will fit? Doesn't MB use proprietary cartridges, meaning this one won't form a tight seal when attached to the feed? Either way, I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU! I'm so going to get a MB Starwalker whenever I can! The cartridges were the only thing holding me back, and I don't like mini fillers! I wonder if this will fit in the Greta Garbo, or the Dietrich? (want to convert sister, cartridges are pricey, and I don't want to play with needles...)

I concur, I had a medium nib on my starwalker. I returned to the shop, they could have it send for me to montblanc, where it would be exchanged for an XF nib. I too suspect it is being groud, since I got it returned I noticed the nib is a little a-symmetric. Don't know how it exactly was before, but after receiving it back, the shape suddenly seems different.

About the the actual writing, the lines are indeed finer/thinner, but like kubalai, also very scratchy. What a shame...
I am pretty disappointed with montblanc in this matter.

Grt,
m

It s a great looking pen and I was close to buying ne duty free at Chicago airport recently, was talked out of it by a colleague, now seeing the price in the U.K. and the reviews part of me is saying I should have bought one part of me is saying I'm glad I didn't as I've purchased about six pens for the price I would have paid for the MB need to start saving again!

i've gotten 2 starwalkers and they both work excellent, maybe it's because i got them here of of FPN With one i had to tweak the nib a bit, but now runs smoothly. I enjoy writing with then, but i like the 146 more..but that's a different writing experience i have to say....

i might be missing something, but the pen in this pic is not of the MB Starwalker... right????


edit: darn pic didn't show... i'm refering to the pic of the Baoer????!!! a few posts before this one, dated feb 1, 2008.

My local pen shop re-grinded the nib, now it is not so XF anymore, but at least it flows very nicely. Not scratchy anymore.

Also, I used a tip from another forum member (a surgeon if I remember correctly), he uses medical injection needles to transfer bottled ink to the cartridge. And it works perfectly so far for all my fountain pens. Although I do change the cartridge every once or twice a year. I fear that removing the cartrigde to many times it might cause leakages. So far, no problem with it... yet.

Grt,
m

I don't think you're breaching etiquette here. It is important that unbaised/wide variety of reviews are available to flush out product or company flaws. I for one have been VERY disappointed by my Starwalker. I received it 1 year ago and now it sits ina a drawer quietly leaking ink. The cap also no longer fits snugly as the thread (!!!!) wore out. Not sure what warranty I have as I have yet to hear back from the company. I get the distinct sense that some of the current Montblanc's are nowhere near the craftsmanship instruments they used to put out.
Anyways, I have since steppen over to Nakimi for my daily FP needs but that is another review.
I'd give my Starwalker 2 out of 5 Stars, mainly for the looks and as an 'ooh and aaah' conversation starter. As a FP it has missed its mark for me. 400$ should have given me a LIFETIME of use and warranty...

I would like to add my two cents here too. I've had my Starwalker for about a year and half now, and its smoothness and consistant character still surprise me. My usual rotation consists of vintage/antique pens from several makers with a variety of nib types. I'll agree that my medium point writes a litttle wider than most other mediums, but I've never had a problem with blotching or anything else for that matter. I'm sorry to hear about some of the problems that people have had with this pen. I guess I can count myself lucky for getting this beautifully made, wonderfully tuned pen straight out of the box. I hope that, in the future, my great experience may be enjoyed by other buyers as well.

Good luck to all,

Cholupa

My biggest problem with cartridges is that I'm picky about my inks. Give me some cartridges with PR Ebony Purple and I might feel compelled to keep them around. In the meantime I keep syringes full of my favorite inks with short, dull needles and refill my converters or existing cartridges at the office or hospital. At home, of course, I break out the trusty bottle when possible.

I have tried to use temp plugs on open cartridges , but could not find something that works reliably.