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Hi All! I am a student who wrote with the same FP for many years. However, I wanted something new, so I decided to trade pens so that I could afford it and switch pens more often. I recently bought two Montblancs 144s. The price was good, but I have a few questions regarding the age, nib size and serial number. 1. How can I determen how old my pen is, even if there is no serial number. 2. I want to clean the pen a bit better, but I am not sure how to remove the nib. There is also not a good Youtube video that shows me that. Any ideas? 3. My pen has no serial number. I don't directly suspect the pen to be fake, but I am also not sure what the reason could be and if it's normal. Attached some pics for reference and age determination. Thank you all very much for your help in advance!

Here are 10 blue-black(ish) inks and two “true” blue inks as a comparison. Just for the fun of it. I scanned the sheet and with that most of the inks don’t show their sheen (or it’s not that obvious in the scan) so here are some photos of the inks to showoff some sheen: And for those of you who care about water resistance of inks, here are the inks after 15 seconds water bath:

I found this new old stock fountainpen at home with the original box. As far as I can tell, it was never used and it's in completely mint condition except for the box. Can anyone tell me is it worth anything?

After many years of thinking and trying Montblancs, I have finally decided to get one. I have selected 149 Platinum with medium nib. I normally prefer narrower nibs but occasionally use wider nibs (e.g. in my Sailor KOP). After I got home, I washed the pen following recommendations from Montblanc (using only distilled water, flush 5-6 times), then filled it in with Montblanc black ink and tried it out. I was very surprised that it was very-very wet and "messy". By messy, I mean that the flow seems to be a bit inconsistent letter to letter. It feels just as if there is a tiny hair stuck in the nib (I inspected the tines and there is nothing wrong). I used the pen to write around 10 letter-sized pages with not much improvement. It does not skip. The start seems fine but this MB is the wettest pen I have (even wetter than Pelikan M-1000) and surprisingly introduces feathering even on a good quality paper (tried a few brands of paper). I used it like this for a couple days and then decided to switch to a different montblanc inc (blue this time). I flushed the pen thoroughly with distilled water and inked it up. The blue ink behaves a tiny bit better but not too much. I can still see slight feathering. I am going to use it like this for a few days and then probably switch the nib to extra-fine. Alternatively I am considering sending the pen to Mike and have him grind to italic but with the new pen, I am more inclined to contact Montblanc and try their nib-switching service. Anyway, just wanted to share this. I am also attaching a sample of the writing (Montblanc on the top, then Pelikan M-100 with the same ink, followed by Sailor KOP and Sailor Realo). Other than the writing, MB 149 looks quite beautiful and feels very solid with good-looking nib.

Hello everyone! It has been a while since my last post but I wanted to share some quick photos of the Montblanc James Purdey & Sons Meisterstück Great Masters Rollerball Pen that I receive today. The photos are not great but I hope would still be of interest. In the past I have bought several Montblanc LE fountain pens but I have now realized that the Rollerball is a great option for me for everyday use. This special edition (not limited but I don't think they made many of these pieces) was released in 2019 yet I was able to found, as it is often the case for limited or special editions, the rollerball but not the fountain pen. So here is my question: are fountain pens LE more popular than the rollerball because of wider choice of ink, more fun in using them or .... Since the price difference between the roller (which obviously has no gold nib 😁) and the rollerball is not that substantial I was just intrigued to hear from other enthusiast why the fountain pen is often the first choice for these limited or special editions ? Are collectors/enthusiast only interested in the fountain pens and not the rollerball versions ? Sorry if it sounds too obvious but I just enjoy the writing experience of the rollerball (in this case mistery black LeGrand, I think there are only 2 colors for the LeGrand roller refills, right?) has been outstanding and very pleasant. Dare I say even better than many fountain pens I own Thanks for letting me know! Christian

Hi, Is anyone please able to help me authenticate this briefcase or point me in the direction of someone who can please? I've attached some images but please let me know what else may be helpful to see. Thanks, Anthony.

Hello guys, I just bought a Montblanc pen (original i hope), used, for 200€. My pen has serial number and germany on top ring. On cap ring it has only “montblanc meisterstuck”: no pix neither n.° 146. I hope some of you guys can help me identify the year of this fountain pen (and if it is original). Thanks and happy new year!

Hello all, New to fpn, sorry if this has been answered already. I’ve just ordered my first MB - a 149 in M. However I’m now seriously considering using the nib exchange service for a B. Will use the Bond Street store in London if so. The pen will mostly be used for medium - long writing sessions. (I am a college/uni student). So I will be carrying it around carefully in an MB pouch. So for note taking and studying the M should be fine; the thing is that I’d also like the nib to have some thickness and variation for writing cards and signatures etc. For reference I have a Cross Townsend 18k medium nib, which I find a little too thin for cards Any advice regarding M and B modern 149 nibs would be greatly appreciated. BTW, I’m set on the 149 just to save anyone telling me to buy a Pelikan :) Thanks

Hey all, I thought you would all be the best at knowing how/if this can be put back together - I tried doing a similar post on reddit but did not get much of a response. It feel apart as I was uncapping it (the plastic section is very fragile and seems to have been damaged); is there any possibility or means by which this can be made whole again or is it a lost cause? I have managed to put it back together; I super glued the section (I am assuming some of you are cringing) which worked, but, when the pen is put together and screwed together, the pressure was too much and the plastic section ruptured again. The fault is purely this small little plastic section (as I understand it), is there anywhere/way this can be repaired or be bought/replaced? I reached to Montblanc, repair costs begin from $125 according to them so I am assuming there must be a more efficient/economical way of replacing/repairing this part? thanks in advance for all your help!

I'm having trouble identifying exactly which model this Montblanc Monte Rosa is. Based on searches I think it's an 042 or 412 with a 14K gold nib, but what's throwing me off is that the other images I've seen have the star on the cap and sometimes the clip as well. Pictures are included, but here are the highlights: Silver metal screw-on cap with MONTBLANC in all caps and Monte Rosa in script at the base Gold nib stamped tip to collar: MONT / BLANC / 14C / MONTBLANC / 585 Diamond ink windows MADE IN GERMANY stamped above the ink window area Piston filler The tines are bent and the feed looks like something chewed on it. The nib also seems too loose, and I'm wondering if the unit isn't inserted as far as it ought to be. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to remove the piston. It seems like I ought to be able to remove the nib, but neither pulling nor turning seems to work (it's also super gunked-up and I'm still soaking it in water to try to get it clean. Ink and water will come sort of down the feed but the pen will not write. I'm chalking this up to the super dirty feed and I might try to floss between the nib and feed. Sometimes when filling with water or ink some of it bubbles through and comes out of the screw/piston area, so I think that a seal might be loose somewhere. That, or I need to fill and empty extremely slowly. Thanks for whatever insight you're able to provide. ETA: I managed to wiggle the nib out and it looks like the stamp is 342. So I guess the pen model is 342G? There's no G on the stamp but it's a gold nib, so it only makes sense. Still, it doesn't match any of the images I've found online and now I have to figure out how to get the feed out.

I just received a Montblanc 4F safety filler and it arrived with a loose turning knob and I am hoping that someone may be able to help me diagnose the problem. When turning the knob to extend the nib, it turns with little pressure and when trying to write with it there is no resistance and the nib is easily pushed back into the pen barrel. There also seems to be small gap between the turning knob and barrel. Below are links to photos and a video demonstrating this. Any help or direction will be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Photo of gap: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nv7m7k79oxyv524/IMG_4313.jpeg?dl=0 Video of issue: https://www.dropbox.com/s/n815yj331frh1oh/IMG_4312.MOV?dl=0

Hi all, I was idly browsing an auction site here in the UK when I found a listing for an upcoming auction of a Montblanc L139. It has a 14k nib with what looks like a left-foot oblique grind. I know nothing about Montblanc pens, but I do recall seeing a previous discussion in which members wrote admiringly of the L139. As such, I though that I would post a link to the auction on this board. The pen is listed in an art/antiques auction that is taking place in an hotel in Krefeld in Germany. They are accepting online bids for the items. The auction is scheduled to take place on 18th September 2021. The auction’s website is here. The pen has the lot number 795. The specific page in the online catalogue that relates to the L139 can be found here. The pen’s cap band appears to have ‘Masterpiece’ engraved on it (as opposed to ‘Meisterstück’) which seems odd to me, but for all I know it’s correct. As I said, I know nothing about these pens, so I have no idea whether the pen is genuine, how old it is, etc. At least the pictures on the auction website appear to be good enough for any fans of the L139 out there to be able to judge for themselves. I am not selling the pen, and nor do I work for (or know anybody who works for) the auctioneers, the hotel, or the website. Anyway, I hope that this post is a useful one. Cheers, M.

Hi, Guys! I need your all knowing help. I have a friend who is studying Art and he wants to base his thesis on Montblanc Pens as a form of Art. He needs quite a few book references on which they talk about the subject of Montblanc Pens to support this. The books don’t have to be solely dedicated to MB though! The only ones I have (I know, shame on me!) are these 7. Could you please give me any more titles? Thanks in advance for any and all help.

After years of usage, a wellness day was necessary for Agatha Christie Silver....🙂 I love this pen....isn´t it beautiful. Actual to beautiful for the daily usage and it's risks 😏 Modified...pictures are deleted. In a follow up messages I add better photos......

Greetings, I also posted this message in the Introductions forum. Twenty-five years after seeing this model for the first time in a MB boutique, I was finally able to acquire one, used, on eBay. That was no small feat as it involved (a) finding one that was for sale (b) at a reasonable price, and (c) being financially positioned to make the investment. Since I have long scoured the Internet for videos showing the beautiful luster of this pen and never could find one, I am pleased to share pics from the unboxing here. I haven’t written with it yet as I’m pondering what nib tip to affix, perhaps a custom grind. It came with a medium which is the most boring nib size to me (ironic, I know). While this is certainly the most expensive pen I own, my favorite has always been the blue Waterman Edson which I’ve had for two decades. Have a good day. Thanks for reading.

Greetings, Twenty-five years after seeing this model for the first time in a MB boutique, I was finally able to acquire one, used, on eBay. That was no small feat as it involved (a) finding one that was for sale (b) at a reasonable price, and (c) being financially positioned to make the investment. Since I have long scoured the Internet for videos showing the beautiful luster of this pen and never could find one, I am pleased to share pics from the unboxing here. I haven’t written with it yet as I’m pondering what nib tip to affix, perhaps a custom grind. It came with a medium which is the most boring nib size to me (ironic, I know). While this is certainly the most expensive pen I own, my favorite has always been the blue Waterman Edson which I’ve had for two decades. Have a good day. Thanks for reading.

Two part question; Anyone know the weight of an MB139 telescopic piston? What impact, if any, does this have on the in-hand experience? Many thanks.

So, what do you like? I’d just like to know your opinion. I personally prefer flat ends, but tell me what you like!

Here are some of my favorite fine/extra fine nibs, which I use to take notes daily. What is/are your favorite fine nib(s)? 1. Montblanc EF, 14K (as I heard a recently updated grind). Precise, sharp, and smooth at the same time. Feel like a simi-italic. I wish it could be a bit wetter (I prime it once in a while with most inks. Sailor Kobe #7 Kaikyou Blue, however, write as wet as I wish it to be). 2. Aurora F, 18K. “Responsive” to slight variations in pressure, giving a very subtle amount of line variation that won’t ruin its purpose for taking notes. Aurora pens also have the best weight-and-size balance for me, which just adds on to my love for their nibs. 3. Pilot Justus 95 F, 14K. Smooth and bouncy. Extremely reliable and present to write with. My dream pen would have a nib like this and a piston filling mechanism.

The first time I saw the 149 in a review, I seriously couldn’t get the hype. It looked uninspiring being a boring round top pen with gold trim albeit with a breathtakingly beautiful gold nib. I’d always wanted to try the pen if not, just for the nib. When I got around to finally trying it, at my very first Pelikan Hub (better times, eh?) in 2017, I was hooked. Understanding why the pen was revered as an icon, I wanted to own one someday. And I got my very first 149, one from the 1970s, a few months ago, and here are my thoughts about it. Design and Construction: The pen is huge! It has rounded ends, with the iconic Montblanc star on the cap end. The cap is pretty much straight throughout with the barrel tapering then bulging slightly, and finally tapering to the end. The section is straight without any curves to it and ends in a frustum-like lip, indicating the one-piece construction. The clip widens slightly towards the end and has no bend to it. The center band contains the engraving ‘MONTBLANC – MEISTERSTUCK NO149’ and is surrounded by two thinner bands. The ring at top of the cap is part of the clip and the one at the end is part of the piston filling mechanism. The material used is their ‘precious resin’ which feels light and is quite scratch resistance in my experience. I polished the pen the day I’d received it and in over 4-5 months, I’ve not had many scratches where the cap screws onto the barrel. The pen itself is put together well and feels very well made. Filling Mechanism: The 149 has a piston filling mechanism and holds quite a bit of ink. I’ve not measured it but one fill did last a few days when it wasn’t vacation and I had to write notes from online lectures. Since mine is an old pen, I had to lubricate the piston mechanism and I used a cut, bent, and filed paper clip to disassemble both the piston mechanism and the nib unit. Writing Comfort: I am quite versed with big pens having used oversized handmade Indian pens, but the 149 took some time getting used to, mainly because of the huge nib. The straight section feels slightly weird to grip and causes fatigue after a long writing session. I much prefer the M1000 section. The pen is well balanced though. Nib and Writing Experience: The nib looks stunning, let me just get that out of the way. It’s a bi-color 14c and is paired with a solid ebonite feed. Initially, I had a few issues with ink flow I did a heat-set but that did nothing. I then realized that the feed had been set too close to the nib and this was causing some issue with the seating, lifting the nib off the feed. So, I gently pulled the nib and feed and it came off very easily, without needing a knockout block. Once I set the feed further back and did a heat set, it was flush with the nib. The previous owner had ground the nib a bit to his liking, so I had to adjust it to suit my writing. I’ve inked it with Lamy Petrol and it writes a medium line, with ample wetness. The nib also has a bit of softness to it and that was something I had to get used to since all the pens I’d used before it were hard nails. Final Thoughts: I do not regret my purchase one bit, and I would love to get more 149s in the future. That pretty much sums it up .

Good morning, Unfortunately, my father passed last month. I am currently working through (with my mother) many of his possessions. A bit of background (I struggled to post this, as I don't mean to seem insensitive to the value that many here place on these pens, I myself collect/value vintage audiophile equipment in a similar fashion). My father was a collector and a pack rat, I say this to qualify that these sat in a drawer and I never saw them in over 40 years. Suffice to say (knowing my dad), he did not give these much thought or value them as prized possessions. My mother is on a fixed income and every bit helps these days so I will probably be looking to sell these if they have any value. There are plenty of items that I know my father valued and spent lots of time/funds collecting that I am keeping (said as a right handed non-golfer who now has vintage left hand clubs that I plan on keeping), just wanted to give a bit of background as not to seem awful. The first (I believe) is Model 164 (purchased in 1988) I have the paperwork and warranty and from what I found online it seems this is the pen. It is in great condition (like I said I don't think he took it out of the drawer much. Here are some pictures (the pen is in a Montblanc case, I don't know if it goes with the 164 or the second (larger pen, the loop inside is fitted for the larger pen) The second is a larger (fatter) pen. The markings as I understand that it is a model 4810 18 karat Model 750. I would guess its also from the 1980's given my dad's career/life trajectory. I don't have any documentation for this modle I have looked as some ebay auctions but see a great variety in what these are valued at. Do these identifications seem correct? Any obvious factor/aspect I am missing? I see lots on ebay, is there a better or more preferred forum for these types of sales/auctions? Thanks so much for the help and insight! Scott

when will the 2021 Writers Edition be in stores?