Jump to content

Is There Really No Way To Determine A Montblanc's Nib Size?


hit2cho

Recommended Posts

Hey all!

 

Once upon a time, not so long ago, I had a 145 Chopin with a fine nib. I loved the pen's look, and the size was nice, but I never liked the nib. At times, I felt the nib on my old beater Pilot Metropolitan was better than this one. So I sold the pen and vowed to stay away from Montblanc for as long as I could, which was just under two months.

 

I decided to look into used 146s and found one for the right price. The seller did not know the nib size, except that it was an oblique. I've had it for about a week and have fallen in love with this oblique nib, to the point that I may consider moving towards obliques from this point on. I've read over and over that it's nearly impossible to give modern Montblancs a nib size just by looking at them and seeing a writing comparison.

 

With that being said, to those of you who own oblique Montblancs, what does this look like? The feed has a small letter D, which I doubt will lend any help to identifying nib size.

 

Also, I've read on here that it's darn near impossible to find a counterfeit Montblanc piston filler, and while I'm not having any doubts about this pen, I am curious as to if Montblanc is putting "Pix", "GERMANY" and "metal" on the back of the cap clips. I've seen Pix and GERMANY, but haven't heard of "metal" (lowercase) being on the back of these clips.

 

Help and thanks!

post-116940-0-48392800-1428812055_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-49989800-1428812067_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-35093300-1428812071_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-14504800-1428812075_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-15396700-1428812079_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-86392200-1428812082_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-13073200-1428812086_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-59378800-1428812089_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-85786800-1428812092_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-49847800-1428812111_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-23811000-1428812115_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-82070600-1428812189_thumb.jpg

post-116940-0-44355500-1428812191_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 20
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • meiers

    4

  • jar

    3

  • torstar

    2

  • I like mango cheesecake

    2

My guess would be OM.

 

Also, I've read on here that it's darn near impossible to find a counterfeit Montblanc piston filler, and while I'm not having any doubts about this pen, I am curious as to if Montblanc is putting "Pix", "GERMANY" and "metal" on the back of the cap clips. I've seen Pix and GERMANY, but haven't heard of "metal" (lowercase) being on the back of these clips.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think there's a systematic theory about putting 'metal' on the back of the clip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think OB. Hard to be sure from the picture.

 

If you can get to a boutique, you can compare the the 146 tester set.

If you want less blah, blah, blah and more pictures, follow me on Instagram!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

hit2cho,

I recently picked up a 90th Anniversary 145 from a reputable dealer and on the back of the clip it is marked "made in Germany" and under that is the word

"metal" . My 1990 149 has no markings on the back of the clip. My 2007 Starwalker is marked "Germany" "metal" and "PIX". So no discernible rhyme or reason to the markings, at least from where I sit.

Pat Barnes a.k.a. billz

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While the pictures seem to show an OB nib the writing sample seems to show a fine nib. When you used it did you keep the face of the nib on the paper?

 

My Website

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While the pictures seem to show an OB nib the writing sample seems to show a fine nib. When you used it did you keep the face of the nib on the paper?

It's my first oblique, still getting used to it. I'm right handed and writing with the nib pointed to my left.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's my first oblique, still getting used to it. I'm right handed and writing with the nib pointed to my left.

 

It's my first oblique, still getting used to it. I'm right handed and writing with the nib pointed to my left.

 

It's my first oblique, still getting used to it. I'm right handed and writing with the nib pointed to my left.

 

Yup. Relax. Slow down a while and look at the nib on the paper and rotate the body until the whole surface is on the page. Trust me. You will love the results.

 

My Website

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's my first oblique, still getting used to it. I'm right handed and writing with the nib pointed to my left.

 

Play around with the angle. You'll get it.

Oblique nibs are the preferred choice of many.

 

Although, I never fully along got with them. Sold my obliques and went back to straights.

 

 

I'd say that your nib looks OB, from the photographs, only? Or a generous OM?

As you get used to it, the angle you hold the pen at will alter the writing sample and give a clearer guessing guide.

 

Nice pen. Congratulations.

 

Edit: Jar beat me to it. Good advice.

Edited by CS388
Link to comment
Share on other sites

hit2cho,

I recently picked up a 90th Anniversary 145 from a reputable dealer and on the back of the clip it is marked "made in Germany" and under that is the word

"metal" . My 1990 149 has no markings on the back of the clip. My 2007 Starwalker is marked "Germany" "metal" and "PIX". So no discernible rhyme or reason to the markings, at least from where I sit.

To top that off the cartridge holder on my 147 says " metal" on it too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As far as I can tell, Mont Blanc doesn't put any indication of nib size on their nibs or feeds. If you don't have the original box or the little sticker on the pen, you just have to look at the tip, write with it, and take a guess.

 

I went to my local MB store on Sunday. They have a new drawer system to hold their demo pens. It also contains giant, approximately 2x3 cm, cast nibs to show the different styles of their nibs. One for extra-fine, fine, and medium; one for broad and double broad; and one for the obliques. The one for the broads is more like an italic nib.

"One can not waste time worrying about small minds . . . If we were normal, we'd still be using free ball point pens." —Bo Bo Olson

 

"I already own more ink than a rational person can use in a lifetime." —Waski_the_Squirrel

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to list all my pens down here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's my first oblique, still getting used to it. I'm right handed and writing with the nib pointed to my left.

 

May take a few hours of writing to find the sweet spot without thinking of it. As a lefty this footing of the oblique requires an unnatural in-turn (or out-turn??)

Edited by torstar
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

May take a few hours of writing to find the sweet spot without thinking of it. As a lefty this footing of the oblique requires an unnatural in-turn (or out-turn??)

 

The problem is getting off on the right foot with a left foot nib. :P

 

My Website

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

The problem is getting off on the right foot with a left foot nib. :P

 

Very droll, much appreciated...

 

So I understand there are right footed nibs out there, but my acquisition days are winding up and I don't think I will be missing much in the long run....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think OB. Hard to be sure from the picture.

 

If you can get to a boutique, you can compare the the 146 tester set.

Boutiques and authorized dealers can show you writing samples comparing various nib sizes. You can probably find it on line, too Edited by meiers
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

I haven't been online in awhile, but I did a photo comparison to my Left OM and I agree with the others. You probably have a left OB based on my measurements.

 

But it really doesnt matter what it is if you enjoy the pen, unless you are looking to find more obliques. And the nib maker can influence how well it writes.... as well as the skill of the writer.

 

So enjoy!

 

And seek out other pens and nib combinations, they are wonderful and allow a range of expression in your writing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

Announcements


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33501
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26627
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...