Montblanc · c. 1968–1978 · Piston
Piston-filling 22x series, 1970s
The 221 belongs to Montblanc's 22x family, the mid-priced pens it sold below the Meisterstück line. Collectors date the three-digit series to roughly 1968 to 1978, and a 1974 Montblanc price list shows the 221 next to the 220, 224 and 225. It isn't a Meisterstück. The plain 221 is a piston filler and the 221P is the cartridge version, so check which one a listing really is. It came in glossy black or burgundy, with two gold-plated cap rings, a slim plastic body and a small 14K nib that's often stamped with nothing but 585. Nib grades ran wide, from extra-fine to double broad plus the oblique cuts. Owners rate the nibs highly and call these good daily writers. The weak spot is the thin plastic section around the nib, which can crack, and burgundy pens seem to suffer most. It suits someone who wants a 1970s Montblanc piston filler to use every day.
Hairline cracks in the plastic section around the nib are the known problem, and a cracked section leaks. Replacement sections are hard to find, and glue repairs rarely hold under writing pressure.
Buying guide
A black 221 with a stated 14K nib grade from a seller with near-perfect feedback is the buy, and $95 to $125 delivered gets one. There are 25 listed, 18 of them in Japan, and most ask $130–230 delivered, with a German seller's dated pens at the top. We left out the cartridge 221P listings, but still check the photos for a piston knob at the end of the barrel, and ask for a close photo of the section by the nib, where hairline cracks leak and don't glue well. Burgundy pens seem to crack there most, so look hardest at those.
$94.99est. delivered
The lowest delivered 221 here at $95, with a 14C fine nib the seller grades Very Good. It's burgundy, the color most prone to section cracks, so get a close photo of the section before you buy.
Montblanc 221 14C Fine Nib Fountain Pen Burgundy Vintage Very Good K0447
$124.99delivered
A black 221 with a 14K fine nib graded Excellent, at $125 delivered and shipping from the US. That's under the $130–230 band, and burgundy is the color that seems to crack most at the section.
Vintage Montblanc 221 Fountain Pen 14K Fine Nib Black Excellent W11089
$250.04est. delivered
Oblique cuts are the 221 nibs collectors look for, and this oblique medium asks $250 delivered, about $20 over the band top. The seller dates it 1985, later than the 1968–1978 run collectors give the 221, so ask about that.
1985 MONTBLANC 221 CLASSIC Fountain Pen With Oblique MEDIUM 585 Nib - 'ASH'
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$94.99est. delivered
$79.99 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$79.99
Good buy
Burgundy with a 14C fine nib, graded Very Good. Check the section for cracks.
Seller: ballwithfoot
99.2% positive
Used$124.99delivered
$124.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$124.99
Good buy
Black, 14K fine nib, graded Excellent. Ships from the US.
Seller: chestnut_head
100% positive
Used$250.04est. delivered
$232.99 + $17.05 shipping
Buy It Now$232.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Oblique medium 585 nib. Seller dates it 1985, after the usual 221 years.
Seller: berlin-collectible
99.9% positive
Used$185.96est. delivered
$154.96 + $31.00 shipping
Buy It Now$154.96
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Black with a 14K 585 nib, no grade given. Ships from Japan.
Seller: kuman1244
98.9% positive
Used$188.00est. delivered
$169.00 + $19.00 shipping
Buy It Now$169.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
585 medium nib, graded Good. Ships from Thailand.
Seller: lakthai
100% positive
Used$196.79est. delivered
$149.99 + $46.80 shipping
Buy It Now$149.99
Our take
Black with a 14C fine nib. $47 shipping from Japan.
Seller: kumastar
100% positive
Used$208.37est. delivered
$178.37 + $30.00 shipping
Buy It Now$178.37
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Black with a 14K medium nib. Ships from Japan.
Seller: luxury_from_jp
99.8% positive
Used$271.16est. delivered
$253.20 + $17.96 shipping
Buy It Now$253.20
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Medium 585 nib, titled piston. About $40 over the band top.
Seller: berlin-collectible
99.9% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 5, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA pen that’s sat in a drawer for decades wants a flush before it sees ink. A bulb syringe, pen flush and a bottle of well-behaved ink cover most of it. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
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