Help me spot a fake 146

[Fouez]

I found what looks like a 146 on a local forum. According to the add, the pen was bought in 1990 and never used.

The pictures are not very good and I know that I will have to inspect the pen thoroughly. The box is what makes me think it's a fake.

Am I wasting my time driving 100 miles to go take a look?

http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/671231MB1.jpg (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=671231MB1.jpg)
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/861585MB3.jpg (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=861585MB3.jpg)
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/799672MB2.jpg (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=799672MB2.jpg)
http://img15.hostingpics.net/pics/697493MB4.jpg (http://www.hostingpics.net/viewer.php?id=697493MB4.jpg)

[jar]

Proportions look more like a 149. Box is typical inflight or airport store box.

[Fouez]

I held my 146 and 149 in front of my PC screen to look for proportions. I found the first picture to look more like a 146 and the second one more like a 149. The ink window on my 149 is "stripped" and the one on my 146 is "plain"... I'm note very good at it :)

Good to know the box is not necesseraly fake!

[jar]

IIRC both the 146 and 149 from the 90s will have a striped window but it's highly unlikely the pen (if it's the one in the pictures) is a replica.

[Fouez]

According to this website (http://captainchang.com/pens/montblanc.html), the two tone nib was introduced in 1993-1994 on the 146. Looking at the pictures, the nib to section ratio makes me think it's more likely a 149.

[piscov]

I believe this to be genuine 146 from the late 80´s and early 90´s and the nib and barrel can be the correct match. I have bought several with this type of 2 tone nib and barrel with no stripes and grey inkwindow. It is not a 149.

I´ve never seen a box like that but it looks ok and I would not care about it to make my decition.

[Fouez]

It is a 146... with a broken piston :/

Did not buy the pen but told the seller I would make him an offer once I've figured out the cost of replacing said piston.

The Montblanc store in Montreal told me it's 195$ job to send it back to Germany for repair... Any other options?

Thanks for your help :)

[Pelikan-Vera]

you could ask Fountainbel over on FPN what he would charge for a repair....he is the inventor of the Conid Bulkfiller and he repaired my section on a 146 from the 70's with the ebonite feed for reasonable money. Vera

[Chrissy]

It only costs £60 for a replacement piston in the UK

[jar]

It is a 146... with a broken piston :/

Did not buy the pen but told the seller I would make him an offer once I've figured out the cost of replacing said piston.

The Montblanc store in Montreal told me it's 195$ job to send it back to Germany for repair... Any other options?

Thanks for your help :)


Unfortunately that price is enough to buy a functioning 146 any day. You can contact some of the better aftermarket repair folk to get price estimates but it might be best to simply pass on this one.