Montblanc Carrera Worth Buying?

[jar]

Thank you all for the info. I will look here to see if I can find something.

 

I'm a total neophyte when it comes to Montblanc pens, the only one I know a bit of history of is the 149 which happens to be a pen a friend of mine held dearly. I've always liked the design and the details of this particular pen but I don't know much about the 146. What are the differences between them?

 

One other question I have is, I've read in many places that the resin that composes the barrel and cap of the MB pens is quite fragile. Can anyone elaborate on this?

 

As to fragile, don't believe all you read on the internet.

 

The difference is primarily size. The 149 (piston) is the largest, the 146 (piston)/147 next in size (147 cartridge filled), then the 145 (cartridge) which is still smaller and the 114 (cartridge) the smallest.

[buntoro]

You can try to look at the 344 and the Monte Rosa with the wavy cap band for that price. They are great writers and if you get a 14C EF, you can have a very nice flex for calligraphy. A few models of MB models in plastics in the 50's may be fragile (e.g. 252, 254, 256). The later 50's and 60's onwards are generally durable.

[bunny roller]

In my opinion i like the MB149 better than MB 146 cause it holds more ink then MB 146 and there is no doubt the 149 nib is one of the most beautifully designed nibs out there and its big, very big to be exact. i just love the MB 149 . One more thing i have big hands so it's very relaxing !!

[TLMG]

In my opinion i like the MB149 better than MB 146 cause it holds more ink then MB 146 and there is no doubt the 149 nib is one of the most beautifully designed nibs out there and its big, very big to be exact. i just love the MB 149 . One more thing i have big hands so it's very relaxing !!

 

I agree 100%. I love the 149 and I use it as my daily writer. It's one of my favorite pens, now that I have had the nib worked by Mike!

[jar]

In my opinion i like the MB149 better than MB 146 cause it holds more ink then MB 146 and there is no doubt the 149 nib is one of the most beautifully designed nibs out there and its big, very big to be exact. i just love the MB 149 . One more thing i have big hands so it's very relaxing !!

 

Only the 149 and 146 hold the same amount of ink.

[TLMG]

^Plot twist.

[gammada]

I'm definitely taking a look at them at a retailer. Not for buying, just to make sure how each one feels. I'm considering a Waterman Perspective as an initial step before the MB. What do you all think?

 

What should I look for when buying a 146 or 149?

 

Can cracked pens be repaired at reasonable costs? I've seen posts where it is implied that second-hand owners are not entitled to service by MB, is this correct?

[TLMG]

They will service the pen, they just won't do it for free. I believe it's like 100 bucks flat rate or something to swap a majority of the parts out with new parts and essentially give you a new pen.

If you head to a MB store and haggle with them, they will often give you a solid discount (20%+)... so that would be what I suggest. You'll end up paying a hundred bucks more, or whatever... but you'll have a brand new pen AND warranty AND a relationship with a salesperson.

[meiers]

I think I owned one as a grade-nine student in West-Germany. That was in the nineteen seventies.

Edited August 25, 2014 by meiers

[meiers]

 

Only the 149 and 146 hold the same amount of ink.

I didn't know that.

[igor61]

Hi, I have a Carrera, I received as a gift in the 70's, it works fine. Mine was bought in New York.

I think 100 us its expensive for the Carrera.

You can find better pens for that price, even in Mexico.

I suggest a Pelikan. If you are looking for a MB 149,146 or 144 be careful with the replicas.

[gammada]

They will service the pen, they just won't do it for free. I believe it's like 100 bucks flat rate or something to swap a majority of the parts out with new parts and essentially give you a new pen.

 

If you head to a MB store and haggle with them, they will often give you a solid discount (20%+)... so that would be what I suggest. You'll end up paying a hundred bucks more, or whatever... but you'll have a brand new pen AND warranty AND a relationship with a salesperson.

 

I will try that. I just found a local pen shop that offers 6-month interest-free financing on all their pens. They have the entire Montblanc lineup, so it's going to be quite a feast for the eyes. I'll keep you posted!

[bunny roller]

I don't think so 146 and 149 holds the same amount of ink .-jar

 

cause it doesn't holds the same the 149 holds more than 146 . I am pretty sure about that !!

[jar]

I don't think so 146 and 149 holds the same amount of ink .-jar

 

cause it doesn't holds the same the 149 holds more than 146 . I am pretty sure about that !!

 

IIRC (and I'm old and so often wrong) both the 146 and 149 use the exact same piston, same length, same diameter, same stroke.

[gammada]

I've just spotted this on sale on a local classifieds ad. It is going for less than $ 200, the owner is not aware of the model but claims it was given to him as a gift on his college graduation many years back. According to his knowledge it is a piston-filler with 14 carat gold nib. Looks real to you?

 

The pen has been left unused for many years, is there a possibility that ink would have corroded the pen?

 

I've seen countless videos and read countless websites on ways to spot fakes. According to most of them, pretty few fakes use screw-type caps and no piston-fillers has been spotted as fakes.

 

What should I look for?

 

http://img.segundamano.mx/images/07/0707278620.jpg

 

http://img.segundamano.mx/images/07/0732848577.jpg

[bunny roller]

 

IIRC (and I'm old and so often wrong) both the 146 and 149 use the exact same piston, same length, same diameter, same stroke.

jar, After having a second thoughts on that , i have finally agreed that yes they hold the same amount of ink , thank you for clearing all the doubts .

[CS388]

I've just spotted this on sale on a local classifieds ad. It is going for less than $ 200, the owner is not aware of the model but claims it was given to him as a gift on his college graduation many years back. According to his knowledge it is a piston-filler with 14 carat gold nib. Looks real to you?

 

The pen has been left unused for many years, is there a possibility that ink would have corroded the pen?

 

I've seen countless videos and read countless websites on ways to spot fakes. According to most of them, pretty few fakes use screw-type caps and no piston-fillers has been spotted as fakes.

 

What should I look for?

 

http://img.segundamano.mx/images/07/0707278620.jpg

 

http://img.segundamano.mx/images/07/0732848577.jpg

 

I'd look for a piston. Because that looks like a cartridge model.

 

Many sellers call the cartridge-convertor a piston - which this pen may have fitted - but it's not a true piston model.

 

I'd also look for more photographs. I'm basing my guess on the one photograph shown above. You'd need more information before it could be authenticated, close-up photographs of the nib and finish details would be a start.

 

Good luck.

[gammada]

I'd look for a piston. Because that looks like a cartridge model.

 

Many sellers call the cartridge-convertor a piston - which this pen may have fitted - but it's not a true piston model.

 

I'd also look for more photographs. I'm basing my guess on the one photograph shown above. You'd need more information before it could be authenticated, close-up photographs of the nib and finish details would be a start.

 

Good luck.

It turned out to be a fake. A 145-like body with a marking on the ring stating model no.149. Cheap etching on the tip. From now on -and considering the myriad fakes- I'll buy here and on Amazon exclusively.

 

Thanks for the pointers!

[mrchan]

It's not worth the money as nobody cares about the carrera.

[bunny roller]

I feel extremely scared of getting fake good, So i normally buy all my pens from the authorized retailer so it helps me that if one buys from there , There is just no tension !!