Well, here's my dilemma: I called up Montblanc the other day to say that the B nib that I have on my Montblanc 149 is far too big for me and that all of the 'signatures' that I expected to give have all but dried up, making this German behemoth useless. The cost to replace the nib? $350. I guess they send it to the moon and back and then to Germany and finally back to me. Gosh, what a price tag! Or I could simply run over (rather happily) to www.pengallery.com and acquire a Pelikan M1000 for $355!!! I already have a Pelikan M800 F and I love it dearly, even when people ask: "What is that?" Ohh. Should I do it? I really do love my M800 and have always wanted the M1000!

-Luke

without any doubt:
buy pel1000 - it is a superb fountain pen
and
use your mb149 with -B nib - because 350USD for replacement the nib is ... nonsense.

best regards,
pilgrim (the owner of MB149 and PEL1000)

Based on your signature and caption, I would think that this should be a very easy choice. You also might be able to find someone who would want to trade MB nibs with you.

CJ

Buy the Pel to use while you send the 149 to be reground at a nib meister, best of both worlds....

I like the idea of trade. Yeah, I love the 149, but the nib just wasn't a great choice on my part.

Option 1. Buy the M1000. It is a great pen.

Option 2. Sell your Montblanc 149 and buy a used one with an F or M nib to replace it. You can find them at about half the price of a new pen.

Option 3. Send your 149 to a nibmeister to grind down to a size you can use.

If I found myself in your position, I would do both Options 1 and 3.

it won't cost you much to have a nib person regrind the 149 to make it whatever size you want. If you like the feel and look of the MB and it operates well for you, get it reground and make it an everyday user.

Then buy the Pelikan. j

another vote for options 1 and 3

Get the M1000. If you decided that you didn't like it I could send you a post paid envelope to have it sent to me.

On the other hand if you decided that you did like it better than the Mont Blanc you could keep both!

Options 1 (and perhaps 3)

option 1 and 3 for me too

1 & 3. Both are great pens that are superb daily users if you are comfortable with their size.

I say option 1 and 3. That price is absolutely nuts. Talk about Montblanc shoving it to their customers.

-penguin

If you want to keep the pen I'd get Greg Minuskin to grind the nib to whatever you want.
Great work and fast turnaround: www.gregminuskin.com
I'd also trust Richard Binder and John Mottishaw with my nibs, but their turnaround is much longer.
Regrind is the least expensive route.

1 and 3 here as well. Get yourself the Pel and a sweet stub on the 149. Or, sell the 149 out of spite. That's probably what I'd do, but I can be a child sometimes :-). With respect to the regrind, Greg Minuskin's work is first class and very quick. Best,
David

If it were me, I would also choose options #1 and #3. I love MB 149's and Pel M-1000's. Life is too short not to have great pens. - And the replacement cost of the 149 nib is friggin' absurd!