Montblanc Nib Modifications

[BlueJ]

Have any of you sent a Montblanc FP to a nibmeister to have the nib modified, for example to a finer monoline, stub, italic, oblique or architect grind? If so, I'd be interested in your reasons for the modification, what you had done and by whom, and your assessment of the results.

 

The context of my question is an MB 146 with an M nib that writes too broadly for my present needs. It is an older pen so I cannot exchange the nib for free to Montblanc. Selling this nib unit and buying, say, an F is likely to be much more expensive than having a nibmeister work on it, and a nibmeister can fine-tune the nib to what I want (for example between M and F in width, or oblique to any specified angle.)

Edited September 22, 2016 by BlueJ

[zaddick]

I have had a few modifies but in person. I prefer a stub or CI so unless the pen already had a B or wider I will get it ground if I plan to keep it. If I plan to sell or I am not sure, I leave the nib as is. Factory B width and above are already somewhat stubbish so I don't modify them further.

 

I have had Dan Smith and Mike Masuyama grind nibs for me on MB. (I have used many othe nib meisters bit not foe MB pens specifically.) There are many people who can do what you want, but unless you can be very specific in a written description, getting a grind in person is much better as you can give feedback in the process.

 

Getting a nib ground is worth the cost for me as it makes a pen more pleasurable. I even consider pens ground by reputable nib meisters to be favorable to the same pen with a stock nib, but this is for pens I will use not just collect.

[A1979]

I have sent a few MB pens to Michael Masuyama ("Mike it work") for a "Special Grind": F / M / western EF to Japanese Fine (0.3 mm). I have had outstanding results! I can also recommend John Sorowka, aka "Oxonian".

 

The reason: I wanted my favorite pens better suit my writing tastes.

Edited September 22, 2016 by A1979

[gclyn]

I sent my MB 149 to Dan Smith...I too found that my "fine" nib wrote way too broad...I got him to regrind it to a nice 0.30mm nib. It's now one of my favorite nibs...very fine line like a Japanese fine, and wet.

[BlueJ]

I would indeed probably send this pen to Dan Smith if I decide on a regrind. Taking it down to a normal F would probably preserve resale value the most, since the size is not marked on the nib and I am sure Dan could grind it to duplicate a stock F. Hence I could honestly advertise it as an MB 146 F. However, I am unlikely to sell this pen or worry much about its market value, and I am intrigued by the idea of an oblique. I don't think MB ever offered an OM for this pen but I think Pelikan used to make OMs along with OB, OBB etc.

[zaddick]

OM was available for 146 and still is. OF, not at all in the modern 146.

[BlueJ]

Interesting about the oblique medium! Would a nibmeister be able to grind a stock M to a close approximation to the OM? And how does an OM write? For example, is it close to, say, a 0.7mm stub or very different?

[zaddick]

Modern oblique nibs from MB are not about line variation. They are more for folks that rotate their nibs so it allows them to put down a flat line. A stub will vary the width of the down stroke and the cross stroke so you will get line variation. An oblique should pretty much have the same width on both types of strokes.

[simon73]

I have had both Michael Masuyama and John Mottishaw stub broad nibs. Mike it Work made the 146 into a beautiful wet stub and Mottishaw the Johannes Brahms, similarly wet and very smooth for a stub. Both well worth the money. I also had Michael stub a medium nibbed Oscar Wilde, which may be the single nicest pen in my collection (but that's like choosing a favourite child!)

 

Get the pen you want.

[BlueJ]

Thanks for your comments, everyone.