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Hey guys, I'm close to killing myself due to my piston knob being stuck. I wanted to refill my Meisterstück 146 fountain pen today and instead of activating the drawing mechanism by turning the knob, I removed the piston completely and thereby found out that the drawing mechanism is somehow stuck. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. My life is in your hands. suicidal mb-user from Germany

Hello guys, I would love to get some opinion on the size of pen. I've been thinking about getting the famous 146 (which I would have to order online, probably some nice second-hand if available--don't have any place to buy MB in my area) but I'm not sure if it will really fits my small hand. In my collection, I have: 145 classic Poe (away for fix) St. Exupery 2017 149 (Oh, well...) - I've been using either Lamy2000 or 145 as my edc, both of which are pretty nice to hold. - Poe is good also (as far as I can remember, hadn't used it that much). - 2017 St. Exupery is somehow not something that I really like to pick up. I'm not sure if it is because of the size or the metal screw that makes it feel weird. Or because its metal part makes it more slippery, thus, feeling harder to use. I'm sure I feel better with Poe. - I have tried 146 at the boutique in Chicago once...(I didn't try it that long though. The lady who is a store manager (whom I, thinking back now, will not at all feel guilty to refer to as 'overly-arrogant') in MB Bloomingdale seems to have an attitude and lose interest in me right away after I hesitated when she asked me: "Do you want to take one home today?" (Ma'am, it's almost a 1000$ pen!) Another nice employee who took care of me also unintentionally mentioned: "I don't want to get into trouble because of the manager.") So it's a somewhat weird visit. yet, as much as I remember, that short holding and writing in 146 doesn't feel the best to me. Probably somewhere between good and okay. - On the other hand, 149, which I had always overlooked due to my small hands, feels pretty comfortable to use. While gigantuan, it seems to float in my hand. As though it was in there just doing its big job--like it's an airplane and I'm only a small pilot controling it! (In contrary to lamy2000/MB145, which are nice pens, but don't seem to have much characterstics in my hand.) Considering my hand kinda gets fatique when writing in 2017 writer edition, (Can't pin down if it's the size or metal part that might require more effort when it gets slippery). Do you think this is legitimate enough to say that I'm one of those people who are more of 149 than 146? Particularly, there are small-hand people who either go small or big? (146 platinum is just so gorgeous and tempting! But I'm so undecided about acquiring one. Esp. given my location, I can't try it. It's as though whenever I might wanna get one I get writer edition instead!) Thanks for your opinion!

Hello. I have been given this pen for my eighteenth birthday, and i love it... but i have some questions whether it is real or not. It was given to me by my grandfather i i have no idea what year it is(surely not new) and some aspects don't match... help me please! I was using red ink, so the slot for the ink capacity is red for that reason, i have polished it with micromeshed and tampered with the nib a bit because i wanted to tune it perfectly, and i love doing this stuff by myself

*Waves hello* I would like to solicit some opinions from experienced collectors if that's ok. I'm in New Zealand, and on our local equivalent of eBay there is currently a MIB 146 bordeaux with the original paperwork, showing a purchase date of 1995. it looks unused and even still has the M nib sticker on it. The seller has a Buy Now of NZ$940 on it, which equates to around US$685. Would you consider that a reasonable price for this pen? A bargain? A bit steep? As you can see I have no idea! a VERY long time ago I used to sell all kinds of flash fountain pens for a living, but the only MB I ever got to own was the Hemingway ballpoint - and I sold that when I was a starving student trying to pay my rent :/ Now I'm starting to get back into fountain pens a little. Montblancs rarely come up for sale here, and if I bought one overseas I'd get hit with $NZ150 or more in import duties. I could buy this, but it'd empty my bank account. (Right now the most expensive fp I own is a Kaweco Liliput Fireblue.) I'd greatly appreciate any opinions/advice, thanks in advance!

Has anyone tried the new MB146 notebooks at all? Are they any good? I just noticed that the paper is 85 gsm - where I can get 100gsm for a fifth of the price. Is the paper any different than other stuff?

Dear All, Hope that some of the experts here are able to help me. I am moving my interest from vintage to newer versions. Thanks to the various discussions here on dating I think I have a general clue on how to date the vintage versions. However, I now would like to buy the very latest version of the normal 146 (but still preferably 'used', in order to get it a bit cheaper). So my questions are the following: when was the latest change in the standard 146?what were the changes (internally? use of the 'pink bubblegum'? externally?) and, most importantly, how can I recognise the latest version?Many thanks for your help!! Lucas p.s. would that be the same for the 149?

And again an earthly sinful living being gave in to all his desires and bought another enchanting piece of writing instrument. Also replicated the content with additional pictures in my blog, as the images are/will be reduced to a small thumbnail after a short-while by the image hosting service. Happy reading ! Below is a link to the same: The Sterling Pelikan Souverän m625 As you might already know, Pelikan as a company encompasses a rich heritage of 180 years – in manufacturing inks, pens and stationery (177 years to be exact, you can find a bit of history in a previous post and here). In 1929, it released its first transparent Pelikan fountain pen and was credited with the genesis of the piston-filling mechanism, using a differential spindle gear. However, the first of the silvery m625 models does not come until the next 77 years go by . M625 Pelikan launched the Souverän m625 model in 2006, which constituted of a dark blue resin barrel with rest of the visible hardware - i.e cap, piston knob and grip section, carved out of sterling silver (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper giving the required strength while preserving appearance of the noble metal). It was later followed by an aubergine model and a red model with two variations in the cap section. These had a 18k rhodium plated gold nib. Later, they also released a limited batch of m625s with a red barrel and a 14k nib, for the Asian market. The pen comes in a standard G15 gift box, essentially the same packaging as all the other standard souverän models. DESIGN (6/6) It's an amazingly stunning pen encompassed in a standard souverän series design. Closed, the sterling silver cap and the piston knob dazzle with ambient reflections, while the barrel awaits light to bedazzle you. Once exposed to the visible spectrum, a play of light reveals the inside mechanism like a demonstrator. And it's definitely more spectacular to the eyes than it is to the lenses. The barrel is made up of high grade translucent resin and is resistant to scratches in course of normal use. There is also a thin palladium coating on the sterling silver parts to avoid staining of the pen with time. This was confirmed by the Pelikan team. http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/pelm625%20002_zpsro9rdxyp.jpg On unscrewing the cap, you will instantly notice a resonance in design with a glittering grip section wholly carved out of sterling silver, along with a rhodium plated nib. So there is either reflection or refraction of ambient light, rendering the m625 with its characteristic trait. The silvery metallic grip is quite comfortable to hold and does not feel slippery, adjoining the barrel with threads for securing the cap. http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/pelm625%20004_zpsvyvlrkoy.jpg Twirls engraved around the sterling silver cap run on its surface gleaming with all possible proximate imagery. A few swirls end near the middle, where Ag 925 is etched in between, granting a somewhat finality of trust to the glitter show.The logo on the finial is the one embraced by Pelikan post 2003, that of a mother pelican and a chick, in a brushed silver finish. At the base, imbibed are the words PELIKAN SOUVERÄN GERMANY, which is common across the range of souverän series. The absence of any differential aesthetics in the cap drives the inherent singularity in appearance. http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/1-Cap2_zpszdjywgpt.jpg FILLING SYSTEM (6/6) A piston filler with a sterling silver knob surely distinguishes the m625 from other models in the range. Apart from enchanting looks, like any other pelikan, it's an easy and hassle-free mechanism. The piston end unscrews with three to four rotations and ink is sucked in, with quite a gush, once the piston is screwed back on. And of course, you can observe the entire thing in action. http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/1-Piston_zpsdurysgvm.jpg NIB (6/6) – ALL THAT MATTERS The dazzling rhodium plated gold nib with an usual iridium tip is tested by hand, and it comes in four main sizes – EF, F, M & B along one special width – BB (extra-broad). Like all its cousins, the nib is exquisite and efficient. With a screw fit mechanism and a standard m6xx feed, the nib-section is an ensemble of efficiency as well as artistry. And this silvery white finish does converge with the sterling silver grip in terms of both glitter and glimmer. The tail end specifies the nib-width and composition (14 C, 58.5% Au) of the gold-alloy used. Three arabesques diverge along the shoulders of the nib with two of them converging near the breather hole. The third arabesque runs across the tines towards the shoulders ending with the tail end of the nib. There is of-course the dazzling white mother-baby pelikan logo, resting above the tail. This one is an extra-fine nib and writes smoothly out of the box. http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/pelm625%20011_zpspf1dqnci.jpg PHYSICS OF IT (5/6) – RELATIVELY SPEAKING It does give a comfortable feel to write with the pen without posting the cap. The overall capped length is around 13.3 cm. The total weight of m625 has a significant contribution from the cap, which is otherwise quite well-balanced. And yes, a substantial cap does make the pen very top-heavy when posted. Uncapped Length ~ 12.4 cm Posted Length ~ 15.4 cm Nib Leverage ~ 2.3 cm Overall Weight ~ 34 g (Cap Weight ~ 17.5 g)http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/pelm625%20013_zpscecl30yk.jpg While not posted, a length of 12.4 cm is quite comfortable for writing because of a thicker girth and a substantial weight, due to the metallic grip and piston-knob sections, although the piston mechanism is made up of plastic rather than brass. (common across m6XXs) http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/pelm625%20014_zpse6jw0uaa.jpg ECONOMIC VALUE (4/6) Although the m625 retails at excess of USD 700, it is available at lower street prices. I was able to get the pen at a good discounted price in an online action at the bay. I would not undervalue the rating by much, because at the end, the m625 seems more of an art rather than science. As isn't it why we all buy, discuss and share experiences with fountain pens? OVERALL (5.4/6) I adore the distinct red translucent design of the m625 which is embraced with the glistening contours of sterling silver. This pen is blessed with a smooth extra-fine (EF) nib which delivers a thin but a very wet line. The line width closely resembles a Pilot 14k-FM nib. For a relatively dry Pelikan Royal Blue ink, it takes around 12-13 seconds to dry. I could not find any line variation with horizontal and vertical strokes for this one. And yes, nib's a nail too, when it comes to flex. http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag127/soniknitr/m625/pelm625%20012_zps8dlyfwz1.jpg Hope you enjoyed the review. Thank you for your time. Best, Sonik

So, after quite some time, I am starting to realize I am not reaching for certain pens as often as before. Many of these pens were as much about discovering what I enjoyed and how they suited my needs, or didn't. Anyway, I am writing and journaling a lot as of late and none of the pens are calling my name. Trust me, this is not a question of an excuse to buy or writer's block, etc. The truth is that a few of these pens, while excellent, were just not for me, and that's FINE. So, I am about to purchase my first MB. This will be a "writer," and will stay at home for a very specific purpose. I am trying to narrow it down to size vs heft and fatigue. Some things to consider: 1) I never post, I mean, NEVER. (aesthetically-speaking, it doesn't work for me, and in the end, I have yet to use a pen that is balanced in a way I enjoy posting) 2) Most of my pens feel light. I hope this makes sense. 3) I tend to write for 1.5 hours a day and on the weekends, that number could jump to 3 or more, usually at two sittings. So, I am interested in some feedback regarding both models and hand fatigue (hopefully un-posted) At the end of the day, I am looking for the smoothest writer that feels good in the end. I know that sounds so simple and what everybody wants, but I guess I mean when I'm home, free of distractions, and it's just me and my thoughts. I thank you all in advance for your time, attention, and willingness to share your experience and expertise. Best ~ Jack

Hello everyone: I just bought my first MB fountain pen. I decided for a used 146. The seller knew about pens and said it was from early 90's. The pen was shipped with some ink (unknown brand), has a monotone nib 14K, what seems a plastic feed, brass piston threads, Germany in the clip ring, no serial number and some accessories. The ink window confuses me because it is not clear, it has black stripes but a bluish glow. I will like your opinion as to the overall state of the pen and if there is anything I missed (Is it real?) (I checked several posts here to compare). Also, any recommendations as to cleaning or caring for the piston and nib. Thanks everyone,

Hello all, I'm new here, just getting into fountain pens. I purchased a new Montblanc 146 platinum from an amazon vendor. I live in Tokyo and the vendor is in Osaka. It arrived with things looking correct as far as the box, the booklet and the warranty (everything was filled out except "date of sale"). The nib is two-tone and looks good to the naked eye, though above "Montblanc" is written something I can't quite see, and it isn't the carat of the gold. Anyways, I filled it with their proprietary ink and starting using it. Most of the time it writes very well, but there are many false starts, and almost every "i" I form when I go back to dot it, the ink doesn't come. I'm aware these pens have sweet spots, and I actually used one full round of ink, then passed water through the piston several times until it was clear before filling it again with ink. Anyways, these "false starts" are driving me a bit nuts, so I inspected the nib, and on the underside, I can see that the black feed is not perfectly lined up with the center of the nib where the tines meet. It is very slightly off-center. I don't have a magnifying glass, so can't provide any decent photos, but even to the naked I can can see it's slightly off-center. My questions is: Do you guys think this is a problem in and of itself? Could it be connected to the ink flow problem of "false starts" I sometimes experience? And final Q: If I take it to the Montblanc boutique here in Tokyo, will they look at it properly and take care of these issues even though the dealer didn't fill in the "date of purchase" field on the warranty card? They filled in everything else and they have a physical address in Osaka and appear to be legit. Aside from the off-center issue and the "false starts" - I really do like this pen. Most of the time it writes very very smoothly and I love the feel of the nib. Sorry for the long post, any help is very much appreciated in advance. Thanks and best regards to all.

Dear members, First of all I want to introduce myself. I am a medical student who is almost graduating. For some time now I am exploring the wonderful world of fountainpens and since my tutor has expanded his collection with a beautiful Montblanc Etoile fountainpen, I have fallen in love with the Montblanc series and the way they write. I decided to have a look on the internet for an affordable, secondhand Montblanc fountainpen. Yesterday I saw a nice 146 LeGrand model online for sale. The advertisement says it’s a vintage model, dated around the 1990’s. Apparently it has a singed 'W. Germany' on the top. Unfortunately no box or receipts are included. As non-expierenced as I am, it is hard for me to check/verify whether this pen is real or fake I included some pictures the seller sent me and would like to ask you if you could say anything about the authenticity. The price is 150 euro’s. If it is a genuine one and worth the price, I consider buying it Many thanks in advance and looking forward to your comments!Greetings from Holland.

Hi there, I have two other Montblanc pens. A 149 I bought from the local Montblanc counter, and a 146 I previously bought online. I was able to use the information here to satisfy myself that it was genuine (it's a W Germany monotone nib) and the man at the Montblanc counter agreed with no hesitation. I received a second 146 yesterday that both he and I are a little less sure of. It's to be a present for a friend and I wouldn't like to be gifting a copy, so I would really appreciate some help. The man at the Montblanc counter originally said he thought it wasn't genuine, but was only basing this on it saying "Germany" on the clip ring and having no serial number or anything written under the clip. Then I mentioned that I had seen (on this forum) that vintage Montblanc pens have many combinations of all/some/none of these features and he then said that it probably was real, but the forum could probably tell me better than he could, so here I am. The eBay listing said it was from the 90's, and it came in a hard black plastic box (it says "gift box made in holland" on the underside. From looking on the forums here I wonder if it may actually be from the 70's ( or again, quite possibly, just not real). It is a hair shorter than my other 146 (which, like I say, is 80's-early 90's, pre serial numbers). My main concern is the engraving around the cap band, which is sharp, but quite a bit smaller (in the band) than my more modern pens. I see this is something more common in the older pens though. I'll attach some pictures, sorry about their poor quality, doing my best with the iPad. It has a decidedly blue (no bars) ink window, but there is definitely some dried ink in there. Thanks all. Robert

These two are from two of the more 'premier' manufacturers, and they are both the model below the flagship pen of that company, the 149 and the m1000 respectively. A lot of people, including me, will not be looking at the flagship models for such reasons as they are simply too big or too expensive. With that in mind I decided to compare the two more affordable (?!) and smaller pens. Price. I managed to pick up the Montblanc on the 'Bay for just over £200 which I thought was a very good deal considering that its retail price in the UK is well over £400. The Pelikan I bought from Pelikan Pens UK for £266. The Montblanc is more expensive when bought new but deals for pre owned ones are there to be had. Winner: Pelikan (if both pens are purchased at RRP) Size. As you can see from the photos, the two pens are about the same size when capped and when posted the Pelikan is a fair bit longer. Although I forgot to take a photograph, the Pelikan is about 2mm longer when not posted. The nib of the Pelikan is also noticeably bigger. Both pens feel very comfortable in the hand, I post neither but I just prefer the feel of the MB, I think it's the balance I prefer. WInner: Montblanc Filling mechanism. Both pens use a piston filling mechanism and as such hold a large quantity of ink, however the piston in the Pelikan is far smoother and nicer to use. Winner: Pelikan Nib. Both pens have a medium nib, and whilst I am very happy with the nib on the MB I wish I had bought the Pelikan with a fine nib as the medium on it runs really quite wide. Although one advantage of the Pelikan is that one can simply unscrew the nib and replace it with another one, although the nibs themselves are far from cheap. Both nibs are very smooth although it took me a while to find an ink that the Pelikan liked, Noodlers Black was far too dry but Diamine Midnight performs very well. I also think the nib on the Montblanc looks nicer, although the Pelikan's nib is by no means unattractive. Winner: Montblanc General appearance. I bought the Pelikan in the 'traditional' green straited material and it looks very pretty, the semi transparent barrel also allows one to see the piston at work and the amount of ink remaining. The Montblanc is the 'classic' cigar shaped design, and the white star on top of the cap is very distinctive. I like the appearance of both, the slightly different look of the Pelikan and the more classic appearance of the Montblanc. Draw. Verdict. If I had to choose one pen, what would it be? It would be the Montblanc, just. I prefer the more classic look of it, I think the nib is prettier and, at least for the moment, I prefer writing with the Montblanc as the nib on the Pelikan is just a bit too wide. However, both are excellent pens for those who cannot afford to splash out on the flagship models or those who prefer a slightly smaller pen.

Hi guys, This is my first post here. I'm a newbie and I need advice. Sorry to bother. My story is I have this nice (I'm starting to hate it tho) MB146, an oldie but goodie except for the fact that the piston is busted. I mean it won't fill properly (I know it when it does because my L2K works just fine), seems to suck a lot of air and when I force the air out and pump that piston till its filled, it leaks from the back like crazy. Sad. I took it to a local pen store (the only, it seems) pen store here in São Paulo (BR) so the good man there would take a look at it, but he gave it back to me saying I'd have to take it to Montblanc itself (a boutique). So TL;DR my question is this: Here in Brazil the service costs 300$BR (Real), which ammounts to ~73$EU (Euro). I'm travelling to Belgium later in April, so I could go to one of the zillion pen stores in Europe. Do you guys think it'd be better to get it fixed here in BR or should I wait till I get to Europe? I don't know if I want to keep this pen or find a way to exchange it, but whatever I decide I'd like to fix it before anything. Once again sorry for the trouble. Hope you guys can help, specially if there are any European MB enthusiasts here.

Hello guys, after years of writing with my Pelikan M600 I am proud to have become part of the elusive MB-community. Because there is no MB-rep in my region, I have ordered myself a 149 with a medium nib and a 146 F-nib (both in new condition) from a reputable dealer. http://i.imgur.com/rsiUvmy.jpg?1 As you can see both pens write in a very similar manner. I was told and read multiple times that a 149 F-nib may write as wide as a 146 M-nib. Strangely, it now is the other way round. I feel that the 146 writes too wide, not vice versa. Do you think this is due to a too broad nib or a too generous ink flow? Should I change the nib with another F-nib or would you advise me on switching to EF? Kind regards, VanWolff

My 146 began leaking between the nib and the body. I noticed some loose material the color of a rubber band. By simple hand pressure the nib came apart from the body. How do I go about reinstalling the nib? Special tools or materials? Is that something I can do myself or would it be better to send it to Montblanc or another repair person? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello Montblancers, I am wondering if someone could help me identify the time period and authenticate this Montblanc 146 pen I have. It was given to me by my father and I am under the assumption that he purchased it sometime in the 1970s or 1980s possibly. I notice that there is no "Germany" imprint or serial number on the clip washer or anywhere else that I can see so far. Did Montblanc ever make pens without any imprint on the exterior at any point? I have not opened the pen to see the plunger mechanism to see if there is anything stamped or imprinted internally. The nib seems legitimate and has a 14C (not 14K?) stamp as well as "Montblanc" and what seems like the number 585 below it, in addition to the large 4810 number. Also as you can see the reservoir window is slotted as opposed to completely clear. It seems like an authentic pen to me and I have perused some of the posts on the website about various production eras but I thought I might get some input from the FPN community. Hope I didn't go overboard with the pictures. Thank you kindly! Sincerely, ALA

Good afternoon, I am new at forum and (at the moment) also to the Mont Blanc fountain pens. I got option to purchase the fountain pen, but couldn’t match positive identifying and authentication of it. Could you please help me about it? What there should be; MB 146, dating around 2000, unused. The basic concerns are about: BoxNib colourNib feedComparing at other forum topics; could it be also 144?Thank you.

I purchased another 146 for what I would describe as an absolute bargain. I have taken a look at some dating charts and information, but I cannot definitively pinpoint the production span of this particular pen. Plastic piston threadsGermany on clipNo "Pix" anywhereSlitted ink windowMonotone 14K nibPlastic feedI believe it to be from the early 90's (1991-1992). Then again, some parts may have been swapped or replaced.

I am talking about the diameter size of the nib portion that goes into the feed (the opposite end of the nib tip). The nib feed diameter, not tipping size (fine, broad, italic). What is the diameter in mm of a Montblanc 149 and a Montblanc Writer's Edition? I am interested in both of those nib units but I don't know what the writer's edition sizing is. I know 149s are size 9 and I know the writer's edition is smaller, but how much smaller. I want to know what size the writer's edition sized nib feed can fit into and preferably exact diameter of it and also the exact diameter of the 149. (9.1, 9.3, etc.) I have found places that measured the diameter of them from shoulder to shoulder but didn't even post the feed portion size. That is a huge factor in a nib. Thank you all very much.

Hello My Dear Fellows, Im going to get my first Montblanc Meisterstück coming friday, I've been safing my money for about 3 months now, and now finally the time has come. I heard many people saying "oh no you have to get it pre-owned" I don't think so. I want to be the first owner of the pen, even if this means I have to pay a lot more. Doing the first stroke, the first filling, that's what it is all about to me, when Im getting a new pen. Also I got an old pre-owned Montblanc 121, which is an big dissapointment, because its just damaged. So yeah, I will test out the two pens 149 and 146 and then decide which one will be the best fit for me. I'll keep you guys updated, how I got served at the boutique and how the writing and overall the pen feels within the days of usage. I also know there are many posts about this pen out there, but I wanted to do an in depth one, without any opinion untill I got the pen stay tuned! Vossi

To report a bit on an experience: I'm a noob, less than 9 months since my first fountain pen. Like many noobs, I was intimidated by the broad nib and what the oblique broad meant. An oblique triple broad would be a preposterously fat tool. My handwriting in college was for equations, in medical school for furious notes. The electronic health record has largely obliterated any need for a written communication, but not quite. To my patients I hand write medication instructions from a pre-printed sheet. I have every excuse for sloppy handwriting: a C in 4th grade. An engineering undergraduate curriculum. A doctor. Yet it was my Grandma, recently deceased, who inspired in me improved handwriting. An article in last fall's Wall Street Journal advocated a simple Lamy before one splurged on an inconceivably expensive Sailor with gold nib for ~$400. Her correspondence in her last months exhibited more practiced, more beautiful handwriting despite the uneven strokes of geriatric motor control than my young nimble limbs could muster. I would like to say it was her handwriting that inspired me, her communication through the post more intimate than these electrons by beaten keyboard. Perhaps equally important was the need for change in so personal a technique as handwriting and signature in the resolution of divorce. The Lamy's nib: fine. Many fine nibs purchased before getting curious. A Montblanc Jules Verne, fine, ok, but what's this I hear about line variation? An Izumo with fine nib: too small! Better with a medium nib. A Nakaya music nib - a big, fat highlighter of a pen. I hated the music nib. In a fit of spending violating the Boy Scout's pledge to be "thrifty," I simultaneously bought a Montblanc Moon Pearl with XF nib (one foot still firmly in the fine camp) and a 90th 149 with B nib (one more toe in the land of the fat nib). The B nib I found similarly a big fat writer with none of the stubbish quality I'd heard of. So in a moment of inspiration I visited my Montblanc boutique on perhaps the last day of my 6 week exchange window and asked for the OBBB nib. OBB? No, O Triple B. Oh. We don't get many of those requests. On Penboard I found a 144 celluloid 1950s ski slope OBBB, and it is butter. It is divine. Line variation galore, sleek and slinky with the superb detail of a convex piston ring (too lazy now to find out if that's the right term). From a FPN'er I found a 75th Anniv 146 with BB nib. I'm finding I much prefer the oblique hold, still, I make do with the BB nib and far prefer it to its F and XF brethren. Four months after submission the boutique received the pen back. Reportedly, the first request for nib replacement to OBBB, it had to be special made, sent back to Hamburg. Free: no service charge, no nib charge, sent in in the waning twilight of the six-week window. Complimentary an ink fill and a test run on Montblanc paper. Sorry for the ink blobs all over your counter: I neglected to open the piston after filling to release a few drops. I'm not a surgeon. The 146 75th is a revelation of a MOP star. The yellowed 50s 144 has character. In comparison, what I perceive to be a painted white star on the 149 seems rather cheap. I'll post here and in another post (perhaps a part 2 to this post??) pictures, paper. I'm definitely an OBBB kind of guy. Pity, it's not a usual 146 grind, and it's fairly hard to find those OBBs. Still, one must have the fine nibs: bureaucratic forms allow for little expressive handwriting.

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!

I purchased a pre-owned 146 and was disappointed - to say the least - to find a crack nearly a whole centimeter long. It runs from the section through the threads up to the ink window. The crack seems to have been remedied as it appears to be covered in some kind of sealant. As of now the pen writes flawlessly, but could this be a source of future problems such as leaking? It is a 146 with a beautiful monotone 14k nib. Is this pen a vintage piece worth keeping or is it a $250 refund waiting to happen?

One of my initial reviews@fpn was of the FCD Ambition. I took this pen out today to give it a deeper look, after gaining relatively more experience with Faber Castell line of pens. Here is a link to my review on blogger: The Faber-Castell Design Ambition Review So here goes a detailed review. Long ago during school days, I had used some of the not so expensive Faber-Castell ballpoints, pencils, highlighters, rulers, mechanical pencils and geometry sets. They used to be a bit scarce in India then, as they came with a ‘Made in Germany’ tag. Though there was little or no price difference with other Indian brands like Camlin or Omega, these were not widely available as such. Years later one fine day, while randomly searching for pens made by Faber-Castell, I bumped across the Ambition/Ondoro/e-motion fountain pens which were placed in a premium segment with Graf-Von Faber Castell Anello/Intuition in luxury segment. In India, a few models were available in Shoppers Stop Online and some of the other known e-com sites, back then. I finally ordered an Ambition (then an Ondoro) from Pensavenue, as they were running a discount sale on all Faber-Castell products. I added a converter since it was clearly mentioned that a Faber-Castell Design (FCD) converter was not included with the gift package. A BIT OF FABER-CASTELL HISTORY Around 1660s Kaspar Faber was one of the pencil makers in Stein, Bavaria, Germany. Later Kaspar’s son Anton Wilhelm Faber took over the business and the initials A.W were added from his name in 1839. Later on in 1898, when Ottile Von Faber (sixth generation of Faber family) married Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen, A.W Faber-Castell was born. Count Alexander modernised the company and introduced the jousting knights logo. Faber-Castell started manufacturing fountain pens in 1951, after acquiring the Osmia Company and produced fountain pens till 1975. They had carried the Osmia logo [diamond-within-a-circle] till the 1960s, given Osmia’s high brand recognition in the fountain pen industry. Later under Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell, Faber-Castell started expanding their factories & offices across the globe and also started manufacturing fountain pens under two banners of Design and Graf von Faber-Castell (introduced in 1993) from the 90s. These Ambition range comes with a fountain pen (with 4 different nib widths), a roller ball, a propelling pencil (0.7mm) and a ballpoint pen with various barrel designs constituting of resin, wood or brushed steel. PRESENTATION Within 3 days, the pen and a converter were delivered in a moss-green cardboard box. The colour reminds me of lush green cricket outfields and the Australian Baggy Green Caps. The box has a slider and the pen is secured with an elastic band on a felted bed, along with a warranty card. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msdcMLZM5x8/VcX15lwx8aI/AAAAAAAAFCI/azlre_iK5vU/s1600/DSC_4963.jpg DESIGN - THE CYLINDRICAL MOTLEY OF RESIN & METAL (4/6) Held in hand, the pen will feel somewhat heavier towards the cap end, with a relatively lighter brushed barrel made of up black coloured resin (Like MB, Faber-Castell also calls it ‘precious resin’, I feel it has comparatively lower density). http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hih-SaIwMKU/VcX2CwS4I1I/AAAAAAAAFCQ/DXWLWXZ25Hw/s1600/DSC_4973.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SxktYdYHRiQ/VcX2Xh2uVkI/AAAAAAAAFCo/sz_dpqB7bMw/s1600/DSC_5010.jpg A convergence in its minimalistic design of the chrome plated accents is achieved with another piece of metallic finial at the end of the barrel, which also serves as the click-lock for posting the cap. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n4O_LTCsd-8/VcX2HuQbODI/AAAAAAAAFCg/iPvdisa5D18/s1600/DSC_5000.jpg And yes, the chrome accents are prone to fingerprints. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P96DZiiL9xI/VcX2EdtvRaI/AAAAAAAAFCY/8T7Awrn-FRk/s1600/DSC_4983.jpg The cap is substantially heavy with a snap-on locking mechanism. Once you pull it, it comes off with an audible click, and you can see a chromed metallic section attached to the non-differentiated grip, at the end of which rests the shiny nib. Absence of any taper in the singular cylindrical section, introduces a steep step for holding the pen. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4UFE2LGgsjE/VcX2mbCswxI/AAAAAAAAFDA/LKc5NSRPrUQ/s1600/DSC_5019.jpg A mirror finish on the chromed cap etched with the Faber-Castell logo of two jousting knights will immediately gleam with the slightest amount of light and it is also embossed with the traditional statement preserving antiquity of A.W Faber-Castell - Since 1761. The clip is spring loaded and is shaped like an arc with a concave end. To generate friction with fabric, there are multiple grooves on the insides of the clip’s concavity, where it touches the cap. There is also a plastic insert inside the cap which gives the snap-on friction. However, it seems to lose grip with time. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQI4QeeQLeA/VcbJiYDaMgI/AAAAAAAAFD0/gT_mkgHU35c/s1600/Cap.jpg FILLING SYSTEM (5/6) The small metallic section at the end of the barrel unscrews from the resin barrel with less than three turns and it disengages the section containing the nib and CC filling system. The nib has a screw fit, and inserts into a metallic sleeve like most of the Faber-Castell fountain pens which I have seen. The nib sleeve has threads which synchronize with threads on the insides of the resin barrel. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RK7DWlaZ-AU/VcX2asJWGLI/AAAAAAAAFCw/E6G25MRITCo/s1600/DSC_5048.jpg The converter says SCHMIDT on its piston along with a brand imprint of FABER-CASTELL Germany on the metallic sleeve. It has a reasonably high capacity of 0.8 – 0.9 mL, and the ink does last for quite a while! I am usually biased towards piston fillers, but I like the capacity offered by Faber-Castell or Schmidt converters. In case of GvFC Converters there is no mention of Schmidt on the converters themselves. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dha1qS8xnX0/VcX20pkwu2I/AAAAAAAAFDQ/kMbn4yPpB0Q/s1600/DSC_5072.jpg NIB - ALL THAT MATTERS (6/6) The nib is made of stainless steel alloy with an iridium tip. The initially available nib sizes featured F, M and B nibs, though an EF was made available later. I went with an M sized nib. Right out of the box, this was a butter-smooth nib. The nib has a perforated imprint of dots which cover a third of its surface area. Had these been real perforations there would have been an opulence of breather holes. And in fact there is not even a single breather hole. The nib-size is embossed above the traditional Faber-Castell Design logo of two jousting knights near the tail. Nib section is screw-fit and thus easily removable from the steel sleeve for cleaning or replacement. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-56jH49qkE40/VcX2mZWV-lI/AAAAAAAAFC8/AkLF0kvG-Ec/s1600/DSC_5083.jpg The feed is standard grey plastic, with a big filler hole for ink suction, which is incidentally also used across the GvFC Intuition Series. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wJHOQThFG3Q/VcX200DcZCI/AAAAAAAAFDY/yqDYXJWC2QI/s1600/DSC_5103.jpg Faber-Castell Design (steel) nibs are sourced from JoWo whereas the GvFC nibs are known to be sourced from Bock. PHYSICS OF IT (3/6) – RELATIVELY SPEAKING Without the cap, the pen measures around 12 cm, which might not be comfortable for people with medium or large hands. Posting the cap is easy and it seems to be secured with a click-lock at the finial section. Although the posted pen exceeds a 15 cm scale, the steel cap makes it pretty top-heavy. In addition to weight, the cap freely rotates once it’s click-posted. While writing posted, the beautifully arched clip later becomes the pen’s arch-nemesis for top weight imbalance, with free rotation around the metal section. A girth less than 1 cm might be inadequate for the shorter uncapped length. Uncapped Length ~ 12.2 cm Capped Length ~ 14 cm Posted Length ~ 15.8 cm Nib Leverage ~ 1.9 cm Overall Weight ~ 28 g (Cap Weight ~ 15 g) Capped and uncapped and posted with a GvFC Intuition, Pelikan m400/2XX and a bigger MB146 run below for your reference. The Intuition has a wider grip than the Ambition. (Reusing some older pics here) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raOQ2a8hfmg/VaneoU3hiRI/AAAAAAAAE04/MbwYl1DQCNw/s1600/GvFC%2B017.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3IfUp77HFXU/VaneucQwuSI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/ywtzuSmqxKQ/s1600/GvFC%2B018.jpghttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lEIIXA9iDXQ/VaneqEEmoVI/AAAAAAAAE1A/_cJ3dzaaoo0/s1600/GvFC%2B019.jpg ECONOMIC VALUE (5/6) It retails at around USD 70 and I got a converter included at the same price because of the aforementioned discount. I believe it’s a good value for money pen given you too end up with such a nib, which defeats many of the gold ones. OVERALL (4.6/6) This nib is wet, runs wide and smooth like butter, without giving even a hint of feedback. I purposely used a less wet ink, but the pen did quite well against a drier pelikan 4001 ink. There is a bit of line variation with relatively thicker verticals. The nib has some spring and a touch of softness. In fact it lays a wetter and wider line with a little pressure. If you hold it from the metal section, the pen might feel slippery after some time and it might even rotate a little between your fingers. I instinctively hold the pen just above the metal section. Being a wet writer out of the box, the Medium nib puts a line which takes more than 20 seconds to dry on MD Paper with a relatively dry Pelikan 4001 Brilliant Black ink. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w-SffYYQWEk/VcX3A22t3SI/AAAAAAAAFDg/aai7dhvEl5Y/s1600/DSC_5185.jpg REFERENCES Faber Castell History Bock Clientele Thank you for going through the review. You can find some more pen and paraphernalia reviews here.