Montblanc Franz Kafka Le (2004)

[Rubicon]

My ownership of this MB is closing on two weeks- I got it the Sunday before my 18th birthday, so it arrived right on time from Spain. I procrastinated in writing this review because it IS my first review (so there has to be some jitters) and I'm afraid of what I would say. The seller bought this pen in 2004 and presumably never opened it, so right off the bat I had to rub off some of the tarnish from the silver, but that is to be expected and a little bit of it makes the pen look even better. My main criteria are design (aesthetics, balance, etc) and performance. I choose not to comment on value because if I bought it for almost 700 euros, something about it makes up for the price and I definitely was not thinking about how well it would write when I bought it.

 

Design/Presentation: 10/10

It's a very large pen that came with a nice-looking box in the shape of a book. In fact, carrying it around, people asked me what book it was. This is a side-by-side shot with my Lamy Al-Star, which I assume many on here would have. It's a pity I don't have a 149 to compare against, but I'm just a novice in fountain pen collecting.

 

 

Here's another shot of the pen in the extremely pricey MB pouch I bought. It's clearly too long, but I make it work- just don't clip it.

 

 

To be honest I'm not in love with MB's designs; Italian pens speak to me as they are more daring in design and aesthetically pleasing, not just a torpedo shape with some odd patterns on the finish- the Visconti Homo Sapiens (the one I almost bought over MB FK), for example, but I'm digressing. I was looking through the MB site because I know it's the one brand that will retain its resale value if I lose interest in my pen, and the designs of many WEs, in my opinion, were quite uninspired and do nothing to invoke the writers they were dedicated to- that is, until I stumbled upon the Kafka. It was love at first sight, eclipsing my fascination with my first "grail pen", the Waterman Serenite (hence why I got this instead of the Waterman, which is infinitely easier to find). I didn't want to trust the pictures because often times the real thing does not look nearly as beautiful, but in this case I got exactly what I expected to get. I remember keeping the pen in my pocket almost 24/7 and admiring it whenever I have free time. The finish feels velvety, and although not very heavy, does justice to the "bird splat" (or whichever you prefer) that it wears like a crown.

 

 

Can you find another design that's so clean and fascinating to behold? I certainly didn't want another 149 or Waterman Hemisphere, or black torpedo with gold/silver trims, but I didn't want something like Visconti's Alchemy or Waterman Serenite either. The more elaborate a design is, the easier it is to get sick of. The transparent precious resin leaking the color of wine (or dried blood) alludes to a troubled spirit, but having never read Kafka's stories, I'm settling for "it just looks good".

 

Nib Performance (7/10)

 

It would have gotten a five if it wasn't such an eye candy, but to be honest I didn't expect to use it like a workhorse so it gets more leeway on performance- that's why I got my destroyed Lamy Al-Star another nib, F this time instead of EF, so I can abuse it some more in the name of comfortable writing. Is it that bad? No, it's not, but it's certainly the most frustrating I own considering what I paid for it. It would not write at all, and the lines are grey instead of black they're supposed to be. It refused to give ink unless I press really hard, and I hate pressing really hard. It got better over the course of the week, but it's not as effortless as I'd have liked. One thing I would note is that it's considerably easier if I write in cursive, and only works really well (in print) with Rhodia notebooks. I can write on normal A4 sheets and even line paper, but it's miserly and hates giving ink to anything less than the best paper. It's smooth, yes, but I would like to not have to think about inkflow every other sentence.

 

 

Franz posing in front of his own writing, ie. my econ notes. Don't you just love that cockroach.

 

Final thoughts

 

I would like to be able to write regularly with it someday, which is why I think it'll definitely make a trip to a MB specialist to give it an attitude readjustment, ie. making it more generous. Right now, my Al-Star with the F nib writes like a dream, and in my opinion how well a pen writes should not be correlated with the price, and it's even more of a scandal if my Lamy works better than my Kafka. For now it's an expensive toy. Let your eyes feast on its impossible beauty.

Edited March 1, 2011 by Rubicon

[nicholasyeo]

Wow, this is quite minimalist! Where's the "kafkaesque" element?

[troglokev]

Sorry. I'm working on my defense.

 

K.

[Silvermink]

Nice! The Kafka is one of my grail pens, too - have yet to get my hands on one, though.

 

Wow, this is quite minimalist! Where's the "kafkaesque" element?

 

Along the theme of "transformation", the shape changes from a square cross-section at the back end to a round one at the cap.

Edited March 1, 2011 by Silvermink

[Ghost Plane]

Definitely send it in. Interim, do NOT press down to increase the flow, no matter how tempting it is. Sounds like the same problem I had with a 146. Describe what's wrong and even send a writing sample. They cured mine. MB is normally wet and luscious in flow.

 

When you get to the Italians, you'll love them. The nib sizes run comparable to the MBs and the Visconti Pd nib is indefinably special. I love both, but I have more Italian pens than MB - probably due to pricing and loving the colors. :embarrassed_smile:

[nicholasyeo]

Nice! The Kafka is one of my grail pens, too - have yet to get my hands on one, though.

 

Wow, this is quite minimalist! Where's the "kafkaesque" element?

 

Along the theme of "transformation", the shape changes from a square cross-section at the back end to a round one at the cap.

 

AH HA HA! There we go! No Kafka pen can be complete without being puzzling or perplexing...

[Lloyd]

Wow, this is quite minimalist! Where's the "kafkaesque" element?

 

It has an engraving of a bug on its nib in reference to "The Metamorphosis".

[nicholasyeo]

Wow, this is quite minimalist! Where's the "kafkaesque" element?

 

It has an engraving of a bug on its nib in reference to "The Metamorphosis".

 

That was truly a "kafkaesque" book. I absolutely couldn't get to the end of it.

I felt like pulling my hair out....

Edited March 1, 2011 by nicholasyeo

[prosimon]

Great review. I have a Kafka and love it. Have been using it regularly and find it to be good.

[spooney]

Nice photos. This is one of the Writer's Editions I really want to get, love the unusual body shape and the subtle red colouring.

[andybiotic]

 

Design/Presentation: 10/10

It's a very large pen that came with a nice-looking box in the shape of a book. In fact, carrying it around, people asked me what book it was. This is a side-by-side shot with my Lamy Al-Star, which I assume many on here would have. It's a pity I don't have a 149 to compare against, but I'm just a novice in fountain pen collecting.

 

 

 

Hi everyone, I have recently found this pen on a local online site and the price on it is good, but it is in a regular "black outside, white cushion inside" Mont blanc box/case, is that "normal" or could it be a fake? Do all Franz Kafka comes in the book like case? Thanks in advance.

[Painterspal]

 

Hi everyone, I have recently found this pen on a local online site and the price on it is good, but it is in a regular "black outside, white cushion inside" Mont blanc box/case, is that "normal" or could it be a fake? Do all Franz Kafka comes in the book like case? Thanks in advance.

 

I think they all came in the book-style box originally. Is it described as new? It may just have lost it's box along the way - the edition has been around for a while. As it's such a unique design I doubt it's a fake but I'm no expert. Suggest you check the pictures carefully against those of known MB Kafkas. The internal piston is particular to that model and I doubt any fake would bother to get that 'just right'.

 

I can say that it's a really nice pen though - I like mine and I'd go as far as to say that it exceeded my expectations.

[andybiotic]

 

Hi everyone, I have recently found this pen on a local online site and the price on it is good, but it is in a regular "black outside, white cushion inside" Mont blanc box/case, is that "normal" or could it be a fake? Do all Franz Kafka comes in the book like case? Thanks in advance.

 

I think they all came in the book-style box originally. Is it described as new? It may just have lost it's box along the way - the edition has been around for a while. As it's such a unique design I doubt it's a fake but I'm no expert. Suggest you check the pictures carefully against those of known MB Kafkas. The internal piston is particular to that model and I doubt any fake would bother to get that 'just right'.

 

I can say that it's a really nice pen though - I like mine and I'd go as far as to say that it exceeded my expectations.

 

 

No, it doesnt state as brand new... I will be able to see the pen in person before purchasing though... What else should I be looking for? I can't find many images online with the piston converter though...

 

I know about the stamp around the clip ring, should say something like "925" with a hallmark. on the resin near the clip ring should have a serial number XXXXX/18500 (a lot of fake ones has same number of 04581/18500 on it, too bad for the person who ACTUALLY owns the REAL 04581!). It should also have "Pix" on the inside of the clip... The nib should say 4810 on top near the tip, a cockroach underneath, then 18K 2004 750 (from left to right) in small prints, then lastly "MONTBLANC" nearest the section.... Right?

 

Exactly what does it says on the silver bit near the cap? I can only see "925" on images I found...

 

Another problem I have with the pen I found is that not only it has a regular (not book-like) box, it also has a regular looking service guide.

 

Here is a low resolution picture of the pen, nothing you can see on it though except that there is a hint of the translucence red resin as it should be...

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2011 by andybiotic

[redisburning]

honestly my MB experience, nib wise, mirrors yours.

 

ultimately, through a LOT of flushing, and moving to Aurora Black as the ink of choice in mine as well as using it on Rhodia (although I much prefer clairefontaine), I've mostly solved the problem. but not enough that I trust it to take notes in class, which incidentally would be economics as well. I too suggest sending yours in, if you want to use it as your only pen in a situation where time matters. mine is also quite broad, to say the least. good for some things, but not for notes for a person with small handwriting.

[andybiotic]

Now that I did a bit more research, I can confirm that the box AND the service guide in the image I post above is a fake, its quite a giveaway, what with " Writing In strument" printed on it! I actually found the same outter, inner box and the service guide for sale on some site indicating that its a fake!

 

Still not sure about the pen itself though... mmm

Edited April 19, 2011 by andybiotic

[Rubicon]

The box might be fake. Is this the only picture you can get of the pen? I've seen sites where some fakes do not have that red undertone. I researched this because when I was buying it I needed to make sure it was real (which it was. yay!). What's the price tag? It says "AG 925" on the silver portion beneath the clip in very small type, near the cap.

 

Your description of the nib sounds accurate.

Edited April 19, 2011 by Rubicon

[andybiotic]

The box might be fake. Is this the only picture you can get of the pen? I've seen sites where some fakes do not have that red undertone. I researched this because when I was buying it I needed to make sure it was real (which it was. yay!). What's the price tag? It says "AG 925" on the silver portion beneath the clip in very small type, near the cap.

 

Your description of the nib sounds accurate.

 

 

That makes sense, AG means silver and 925 is sterling. Yeah, I will be able to see the pen in person before paying the money so I can inspect it more carefully but as you say, although the box IS fake, I have a bit of hope with the pen with that slight red undertone showing even from a low resolution picture. The pen will have to tick all the boxes before I hand my money over!

 

It is NZ$300 which is about HK$1500-1800? So it is NOT dead cheap but still a lot cheaper than retail. However, it doesn't look like the seller knows a lot about it too, he said it was a "gift" to him many years ago and it has been siting int he drawer...

[ftnpenlover]

The Kafka is a great pen! I had one for a few years in my collection, but never inked it before I sold it off.

[Dark_Severus]

Beautiful review of a beautiful pen that pays homage to a beautiful mind.....

[Brian]

Anyone who has one of these can't help but be taken with this interesting design. So different from the usual classic fountain pen and with major attitude in the form of the nib...who would have thought of putting a cockroach on the nib were it not for it's symbolic representation of Kafka's work. I can't recall any other nib with a roach on it, and one that is really so finely detailed. I am most happy with it as an art piece and FP.