Modifying A Montblanc Nib

[Susan3141]

Hi,

 

I just received a Montblanc 144 Classique from a fellow FPN member. The pen has a medium nib and I don't like how broad and wet it is. If I have a nibmeister grind it into a cursive italic or (is this possible?) an extra fine, will this devalue the pen? Is there a particular nibmeister who works on Montblancs?

 

Thanks,

 

Susan

[lemanfan]

Well I guess that the value is in the eye of the purchaser.

 

Personally I didn't hesitate to pay a normal price (age and condition considered) for a MB 149 who Mr Matsuyama had ground into a cursive / stub. Don't know how normal I am, though.

[Silvermink]

I'm going out on a limb a bit here, but I'd think that would be more likely for pens with extreme collector value. With the regular series I'd think nib work would increase the value, if anything, at least among pen people.

 

I've got a 146 with a Minuskin CI on it and I'm pretty confident that I could get more than the going rate for an unmodified 146 if I were to sell it (which is strictly hypothetical!)

[karmakoda]

Number one consideration is, does the pen work for you? If not, the only other option is to sell the one you have and purchase another with a more appropriate nib. Both other replying members have pointed out that a nib modified by a recognized nibmeister will probably enhance the pen, rather than diminish value.

As Silvermink noted, a Proust with a factory supplied OBB nib should probably not be overly altered, maybe tweaked slightly by an expert, but not ground down to a medium or oblique fine.

Of course, if it is your pen, you can do anything with it to make it enjoyable.

[BrandonA]

I'm going out on a limb a bit here, but I'd think that would be more likely for pens with extreme collector value. With the regular series I'd think nib work would increase the value, if anything, at least among pen people.

 

I've got a 146 with a Minuskin CI on it and I'm pretty confident that I could get more than the going rate for an unmodified 146 if I were to sell it (which is strictly hypothetical!)

 

I disagree. Anyone can buy a pen with a standard nib and then pay a small amount of money to tune itto what would be something that a lot of people would not want. If I were to buy the pen after it had been ground to a cursive italic then it would cost me over £200 to get a limited edition nib changed back to one tht suited me. I think it comes down to supply and demand, the more standard nibs are the most popular and these therefore would have more value to the larger world. I do agree though that for someone who likes ground nibs then they might value a nib which has already been ground, but would they pay a premium or opt to get it ground themselves?

[Bo Bo Olson]

You limit your market...and CI depends on the grind angle you like, to the grind angle some one else likes. You may hold a pen high, some one else in the middle or another in the web of their thumb.

 

It's your pen, are you intending to keep it 'forever', then do the CI to your angle of attack.

 

If not then get it taken down to what ever standard you think is a F, F-EF or EF.

Some folks think a F is this number, others that number. Do remember what number it is taken down, so your future buyer will see if he likes 0.5, 0.45, or 0.40 or what ever number you decide on.

 

As an old dog, I don't 'gork' the numbers, in everyones standards are just as skewed as the old fashioned F.

[karmakoda]

I remember someone in my past saying, "Only two people know I've had a haircut, me and my barber."

If a nib is altered by a really good nibmeister, I doubt that 98% of secondary consumers would know, unless informed by the Seller of the pen.

It would shock me if somebody laying out the cash for a Dumas WE starts looking in the yellowpages for "Mo's Economy While You Wait Nib Grind".

Probably a non-issue.

If you grind, be kind.

[Joe in Seattle]

Many custom grind pens end up in the market. I always wonder why people have a Pelikan 1000 or a MB 149 ground and then sell them. I won't buy such myself; perhaps I am in the minority.

[adelaidepen]

Nibs are so much a personal preference. It also depends on where you live. For me to post my valuable pen across the pond to get a beautiful stub nib ground can cost me a few hundred dollars. If a LE piece comes up with the nib already in my preferred status by said nibmeister, its going to attract my interest. If it turns away others then I might get myself a bargain - but not usually as there are enough people who love the stub nibs out there who will bid against me - unfortunately

[ArchiMark]

FWIW, I've had several MB's ground to CI or stubs in the past by one of the recognized nibmeisters around. Unfortunately, I had to sell some of those pens about a year ago...

 

I had no trouble at all selling them and I did mention the nibwork in my listing, so, buyers were fully aware of what they were getting.

 

My impression is that for a lot of buyers this made the pen more desirable to purchase and in fact all said they were extremely pleased with pen after testing it.

 

Now, whether or not you always recoup the cost of nibwork is another matter, but my take is that in general, it has made it easier for me to sell my pens quickly, as those that want these type of nibs realize that they are saving the time, energy, and cost of shipping pen off to a nibmeister themselves....

 

Just my 2¢......of course, YMMV....

 

[Angry__Panda]

So you guys are all saying that stubs/cursives/etc. are worth it...how about like super fine? Talking like XXXXF...I bought a Dumas WE secondhand so I doubt I can have the nib changed through Mont Blanc....I LOVE the pen, except the nib...Just too bold for my handwriting/what I use it for...Still worth getting it done? I am also dreading being without my pen for like two months (seems like everyone has a long list for wait times heh). I guess I should preface my post and say that if I can help it I would never sell my pen...I love it and quite frankly it was as close to a grail pen as I have right now .

[FredRydr]

...I'd think that would be more likely for pens with extreme collector value. With the regular series I'd think nib work would increase the value, if anything, at least among pen people.

I agree. If Greg Minuskin does the retipping, it will likely increase the value of your 144 in the unlikely event you'd want to sell it.

 

I modify nibs on modern Montblancs. I just had Greg work on the nib of my Agatha Christie. I had my Dostoevsky nib modified a couple years ago. On the other hand, I will not modify nibs on my celluloid or hard rubber Montblancs.

 

Fred

[FredRydr]

...I bought a Dumas WE secondhand so I doubt I can have the nib changed through Mont Blanc....

Yes, you can, but you have to pay for it.

 

You could advertise a swap of fleur de lys nibs or whole Dumas pens with someone. Or, you could source a 149 F or EF nib from someone like Rob Lott (Five Star Pens), send it off to Greg to make it as fine as you want (but ask him first!) and then swap it in. Keep the original fleur de lys nib in the event of resale of the Dumas.

 

These Dumas are becoming very popular, lately!

 

Fred

[Angry__Panda]

...I bought a Dumas WE secondhand so I doubt I can have the nib changed through Mont Blanc....

Yes, you can, but you have to pay for it.

 

You could advertise a swap of fleur de lys nibs or whole Dumas pens with someone. Or, you could source a 149 F or EF nib from someone like Rob Lott (Five Star Pens), send it off to Greg to make it as fine as you want (but ask him first!) and then swap it in. Keep the original fleur de lys nib in the event of resale of the Dumas.

 

These Dumas are becoming very popular, lately!

 

Fred

 

Seems like it heh...First time I saw the pen though I knew I had to have it. Maybe I will try the extra nib thing though...I do like the nib, does the 149 look similar or close?

[KJY]

...I bought a Dumas WE secondhand so I doubt I can have the nib changed through Mont Blanc....

Yes, you can, but you have to pay for it.

 

You could advertise a swap of fleur de lys nibs or whole Dumas pens with someone. Or, you could source a 149 F or EF nib from someone like Rob Lott (Five Star Pens), send it off to Greg to make it as fine as you want (but ask him first!) and then swap it in. Keep the original fleur de lys nib in the event of resale of the Dumas.

 

These Dumas are becoming very popular, lately!

 

Fred

 

Seems like it heh...First time I saw the pen though I knew I had to have it. Maybe I will try the extra nib thing though...I do like the nib, does the 149 look similar or close?

 

Not at all! It's only the same nib size.

 

Here is a comparison between the two:

 

[jslallar]

Hi,

 

I just received a Montblanc 144 Classique from a fellow FPN member. The pen has a medium nib and I don't like how broad and wet it is. If I have a nibmeister grind it into a cursive italic or (is this possible?) an extra fine, will this devalue the pen? Is there a particular nibmeister who works on Montblancs?

 

Thanks,

 

Susan

 

Dear Susan,

 

Your pen - your choice - - - - period.

 

Why try and p[lease a prospective future buyer, why not enjoy the pen yo paid for (and ofcourse wanted) and enjoy it the way you wnat, and plan to keep it always, and keep enjoying it.

 

Most reputable nibmeisters will do it for you. Work done by a reputable nibmeister will IMHO not decrease the price of the - except for a finicky collector who wants the ALL original thing. He can go and buy another 'original'.

 

Lastly if you are so worried, CI grind may limit your prospects of selling in the future because of a lesser number of enthusiasts of that particular grind, whereas F or XF will have lots of prospective buyers.

Edited October 14, 2012 by jslallar