Stunning Large NOS in Box Original 1955 MONTBLANC 344 Flexible 14K Gold EF to 3B Nib Fountain Pen Item ID: MON-126

MONTBLANC No.344

Manufacturer/Model: Montblanc Germany/344 (The Second Original Model from early 1950s)
Year of production: 1951-1957
Filling system: Piston filling (Metal shaft and tread piston)
Nib: 14K gold EF (Extra Fine) size, flexible, to write all sizes EF, F, M, B, BB & 3B 
Material: Black highly processed resin body & cap, gold filled cap ring and clip 
Length (pen closed): 136mm, posted 153mm, 13.5mm diameter at cap's ring

Condition and information:
The pen offered here is the legendary 344 model, one of the biggest Montblanc pens of it's time, both by length and thickness, the pen is 13.5mm thick at the cap and 136mm in length, posted at 153mm. This is also the rarest pen of the 3XX line and one of the best build quality. This is a second edition of the 344 model, or the "3-44" as was originally marked by Montblanc, and launched just couple of years later, as the 3-44 looked outdated already. The 3-44 had more design elements from its predecessors from the 30s, while this 344 was already build with new machinery and it was obvious its a completely different pen. In a way it also announced as to where the Montblanc pen making would go, how would the pens look in the future and what materials would be used, including the black resin. For comparison, here you can see the predecessor of this pen, that is the 3-44 model, with the old mountain range logo on the side of the cap, which was its last use.

Even though baring the number 3, this pen is a true masterpiece, very big, just slightly shorter than 146 Meisterstuck, but almost same thickness. This model is famous for its reliability, perfection in simplicity, both in design and functionality, and most importantly famous for its performance, there is nothing that can go wrong with it and its perfectly reliable. The pen has perfect form factor, superb balance, handling and feel, easy to use yet powerful and reliable writing instrument. This is one of the first post WWII Montblanc pens, and almost impossible to find in this shape. The pen features a beautiful light blue color ink window, perfectly clean and transparent which will change its color to the color of the ink being used. The piston is smooth and takes up an enormous amount of ink. The piston features an 8 edged star shape with brass inlay and brass spiral, which makes for one extremely tough piston which can never fail. Some later 344 and 342 models feature plastic piston, unlike this one, the earlier version with brass components. and the original silicone cork, one of the first Montblanc pens to feature a new generation at the time, silicone cork.

The nib on this pen is the real star of the show. It is a very large nib, similar in size to the 146/149 nibs. With just the gentlest push it can write all bigger sizes up to 3B and back, thus producing some amazing writing and line variation. The feed has two ink canals which allow for the heavy ink flow. The tines split apart as soon as the nib touches the paper. It is huge, almost 2.5cm long, 14K 585 solid gold, very smooth on the paper writing without scratching. The nib is fully flexible, with a nice curve and a proper "344" stamp on it. Only a vintage Montblanc pen can produce such beautiful writing. The nib is placed over a large ebonite feed with a nicely pronounced fins, and both are locked in place by an enormous ebonite collar (feed ring). Best of all, the pen comes as a near time capsule, in its original box as was sold ~65 years ago together with instructions. The pen had never been used except for couple of signatures and testing. Extremely rare Montblanc, extremely rare condition, featuring everything a true Montblanc legend should feature. Simply one of the best Montblancs of the 50s, and one of the all time best.