"]Hello,
my Mont Blanc which I bought in 1981 was stolen:( I loved that pen and used it constantly, gold nib, medium size. I'd like a recommendation for a comparable pen, or better.
I fill it with ink, don't use the fillers.
I'd like something beautiful to hold in my hand as well as smooth writing and durability.
thanks for your consideration. Eleanor[/size]

Major bummer.

Well, you can still buy another Montblanc. They still make the black Classiques, I think. I've tried and liked some Pelikans, too. However, I can't give you any specific model recommendations. I'm sure some of the experienced folks will chime in.

Well, welcome to FPN. Sorry that you had to enter on such a somber note.

Do you know what model your Monte Blanc was?

I hate to hear that someone stole it from you. That would totally devistate me. I rarely give people an opportunity to take my pens by never leaving them where someone can get their hands on them. They are either in their case in my purse or in my pocket.

I have a Monte Blanc or two in my collection and as much as I like them I am head over heals in favor of late 20th century Parkers Duofolds which come in two sizes - the Centenial size which is a large body and then the small International size, Parker 51's, or the Sonnets are very nice also. I'm not overly impressed with the newer, current models of the Parkers. I am currently in love with the Pelikan Souverns and of course the Original of Time limited edition series.

Let me know what your size preference is and I'll see if I can give some more ideas.

A friend of mine had his Mount Blanc pen stolen at work, and three months later, it turned up on his boss's desk. Apparently, he likes to pickup any pen he sees laying around. Gotta watch out for those sticky fingered supervisors. In reality, I think a Pelikan M600 or M-800 series would be ideal. However, the M-1000 is the largest and is on my future wish list.

Nonetheless, welcome aboard the FPN, and I am sure you'll love it here.

I would strongly recommend buyin another MontBlanc, if you can. They're VERY smooth writers. And it will heal the hole in your heart.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Welcome to FPN and group of helpful pen lovers.

Hello Eleanor, welcome aboard, my condolences about your MB. People are rather a mixed bag, aren't they.
Falling in love might make you feel better, take a look at the Pelikan Souveran white/tortoiseshell 400: lovely nibs, piston filler like your old pen, beautifully made, and tastefully gorgeous. It will lighten your heart. Pam Braun has a few left for $99, an astonishing price for a pen that's already starting to attract a premium from collectors.
Yours, Jonathan.

Add my sympathy for the stolen pen. It seems that when a favorite pen is "lifted" or on "permanent loan not of your volition" there is a hole made in the trust we have. Some people apparently didn't get that lesson in kindergarten that "my stuff is my stuff and your stuff is your stuff and I won't take your stuff without asking first".

I've never left many fountain pens lying around, but I did figure when I worked in a law office that pen theft would be minimal. I was wrong.

I did a little "modification" on pens to insert a plastic dot with my initials on it into the cap or into the barrel for the "not so expensive, but I wouldn't want to lose it" pens. I used a little "dot" out of the hole puncher, with my initials on it, and inserted with a water soluble glue. That way, the dot could be removed easily with a simple tool like a dental pick, and with no damage to the pen.

This allowed me to identify the pen as absolutely mine after a supervisor or co-worker had "borrowed" it from my desk. One supervisor discovered, to his public humiliation, when a co-worker spotted my pen (I didn't even know it was missing as I'd spent the day out of the office). The co-worker got a flashlight, a tweezer, and the identifying "spot" revealed the truth. The pen was returned, but the sticky never left his fingers.

A few weeks later I bought an obvious "fake" and glaringly illegal copy of a certain well known non-snow-capped mountain logo bearing fountain pen. I filled it, but made sure the cartridge wasn't seated properly and left it on my desk. Sure enough, the "supervisor" ended up with huge ink stain on his shirt.

I never lost another pen to the "super" thief either. The guy in question was an Intellectual Property attorney who made his living prosecuting people for stealing ideas, logos, trademarks and assorted acts of plagiarism.

Of course, the sticky fingered super should have known better. The pen eventually was an exhibit in a copyright infringement suit as a way of showing just how prevelant trademark infringement and theft of intellectual property can be.

Now, if you are replacing the "lost" pen, I'd look at shops where you can actually try out the fit and feel of pens. Then forget the whole logo, prestige, or even cost of the pen and just get a pen, any pen, you like. You might find that after a few weeks you want a larger barrel or something different in the nib. That advice was so important to me, as my pens are solely for writing, not for "collecting".

If the Mont Blanc was a large size pen, you might want to check out Laban Mento or other large (full size or "jumbo") size pens at ISellPens (no affiliation). They have lots of pens in varying sizes to give you various examples to try, but not break the bank in the process. Some of the Laban pens are made of beautiful resin, come with solid gold nibs, and are great writers. They also don't look like every other black pen.

Good luck to you.