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?

[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.