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What do the engravings 'S-S' and 'P' on the nib of a Montblanc 136 from wartime mean, and how is the material to be classified?

Montblanc Vintage pens / oldies FAQ entry

The 'P' stands for palladium, which during wartime was temporarily used for nibs due to strict gold-trade restrictions. Palladium belongs to the platinum group but is an independent metal; at that time it was more frequent than gold and not subject to coinage. The nibs were partly made solid from palladium, partly only palladium-plated; the source situation on this is inconsistent. The meaning of 'S-S' is not conclusively clarified; one suspicion is the abbreviation for 'Stöffhaas-Spezialgeschäft'. Since shortenings of the barrel were usually marked with 'K', a 136 deviating in length could have been subsequently shortened or the mechanism exchanged. The bicolour nib was developed in the early 1930s by Montblanc and Kaweco jointly to save gold.

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