The rule of thumb is this: if the word Montblanc appears nowhere on a safety pen, there is generally no Montblanc in it either. Barrel, cap top, clip and nib all want checking. In the early twentieth century a great many firms around the world made safety pens; in Germany alone there were more than two dozen brands, of which only a few are known today and fewer still survive. A nib stamped “Warranted 14 ct” with the classic heart-shaped breather hole says nothing about origin, since nibs of that kind were bought in and used by numerous companies. A plain black cap top without a star, and an anonymous clip, likewise argue against Montblanc.
Matters are complicated by the fact that Montblanc, according to collectors, also produced second and subsidiary brands that do not carry the Montblanc name; the collecting literature mentions names such as Tatra, Gedania, Reflex and Diplomat. Attributing these reliably is possible only with the relevant books — the standard work on historical Montblanc writing instruments is Jens Rösler's “Diary”, widely regarded as the most worthwhile purchase in this field. A confident identification from photographs is usually out of the question; in case of doubt an expert has to handle the pen. More often than not the answer turns out to be a pen by an unknown maker.