How Common Are Counterfeit Pens?

[Mike_Dowling]

In the fountain pen world, how common is pen counterfeiting? The price of pens, particularly the higher end pens vary a lot once you hit the international sellers, is it simply profit margin, exchange rate, location to the manufacturer? Are their certain rules like only buying form authorized dealers you all follow? Thanks!

[JohnMarra]

The number of fakes seems to be increasing, especially with Montblanc and the other high end pens. Personally, I prefer buying from pen shops as I like to hold (and ogle) the merchandise and I think it's important to support the retailers. I also purchase from the more reputable on-line retailers.

[akustyk]

I think that a novice should buy only from authorized dealers, or, if buying used, only from reputable sellers (ask on FPN to be sure). More experienced uers usually know enough about pens to spot obvious fakes, but even they should be cautious. Finally, very experienced users love to live on the bleeding edge, so they can buy from wherever they want and bear the consequences if something goes wrong.

 

I think that making a certain kind of pen as a fake, should be fairly simple these days. A black resin body, gold-colored trim, and a shiny steel nib, are fairly easy to make. The more elaborate or unique designs, such as the Visconti Homo Sapiens, are much harder to fake. However, a skilled pen maker can make a fake pen for very little money and make it look very convincing to a novice.

[andybiotic]

Mont Blanc, very.

Other brands, not so much.

Vintage, hardly.

[two2tone]

In my trips to China, I saw quite a few fake fountain pens (and watches, purses, etc.). Most are Montbanc, but a few other high end brands as well. I've never seen a fake FP here in the states (or they were so good I could not tell). I've heard that their are fake Hero pens too!

Edited March 14, 2013 by two2tone

[tmcneil82]

I would like to see both a well made counterfeit that wasn't a MB, and a MB piston filler in a counterfeit.

[jar]

Montblanc, Parker, ST Dupont, Pelikan, Dunhill, Cartier are all quite often faked.

[Nova42]

two2tone beat me to it. The most common brands I hear counterfeits of are Hero (specifically the 616) and Montblanc. A good rule of thumb to follow is "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." That being said, I don't know how much profit is in selling a counterfeit of an already cheap chinese pen.

[WaskiSquirrel]

I stumbled on a website that sells counterfeit Montblancs. When a 149 sells for about $100, this raises pretty obvious red flags.

 

Of course, the counterfeits would be most likely the expensive pens like a Montblanc. Nobody counterfeits the less expensive pens.

[BrandonA]

You need to research the items you are buying and also who you are buying them from. Although some of the fakes are starting to look "ok" there are lots of tell tail signs which may lead you to think it is fake: price, ebay buyer feedback and pen location being 3.

[Chrissy]

I would like to see both a well made counterfeit that wasn't a MB, and a MB piston filler in a counterfeit.

Ouch! Don't even say it because it may happen, and then it would be much worse trying to buy a Montblanc pen anywhere other than a boutique.

 

At least we can be sure that if we buy Mb piston fillers, that they are currently authentic.

[Chrissy]

I believe there are fake Parkers, fake Montblancs, and even fake Hero's. I assume there are more brands that are copied but they may be less common.

 

Commonly faked Montblancs include FP, RB & BP in Starwalker rubber grid pattern, Starwalker black resin, and Meisterstuck ranges. Plus faked WE's usually RB's but also some FP's.

 

As long as you are really vigilant and know exactly what you're looking for in every detail, then bargains can be had.

[richardandtracy]

I know there are a lot of faked Montblancs. Some are very good, and we have had one or two where FPN sellers were selling their MB fakes having been genuinely fooled themselves - fortunately there are some experts amongst our members who can identify these pens and accessories. That has been a rather sad side of Moderating the sales area, and is very hard on both those who recieve the news and those who have to give the bad news.

 

Parker 75's, Rialto's and Sonnets are quite widely faked. I have yet to see much evidence of other models being so widely faked.

 

Dunhills, Dupont's and LV (rollerballs) are faked.

 

Hero 616's are faked quite widely and that may account for maybe 50% of the problems and generate much of the perceived 'manufacturing variability & low quality' problems with Hero 616's.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.