I come from a watch collecting background and know that basically every watch with a retail price over 1000usd has been faked.... some are eerily accurate to the unknowing.... and in the realm of fountain pens, I'm the unknowing.
Other than the obvious Montblanc and Cartier and a few Parkers (all I could really find using both "search" and some "offering" auction site that doesn't frown on fakes of anything) what other makes or models have been faked that I need to be aware of? I'm not talking the "homage" offerings of Hero.. but outright knock-offs that aren't of usable quality.
Basically I know that the 51 demonstrators and "first years" that are on the *bay are pretty much all fake... guessing that scary big percentage of the MB and Cartier offerings are as well...
Are the vintage MB's as likely to be faked?... if so I perhaps just bought one... won an auction for a MB #22 with a cracked star logo that should make a decent daily beater... 55$ shipped so can't complain too much either way.
I'd guess that just from the retail prices the Omas pens have probably been faked?
How about Pelikan? I've got my eye on a few Pelikan models....
Any particular makes that I should reserve my purchased to AD's such as my local pen shop?
I'm sure I'll make most of my purchases from my local shop and a few of the online merchs... but I just can't resist the *bay....
I'm guessing if I stick with the lesser known brands and lower retail priced models I'd be safer.
Thanks in advance for all the advice and insight I'm sure will follow.
