Last week I bought a small job lot for the sake of a couple of Parkers and a Croxley but there was a pink marbled New Bond Easiflow there as well. When I unwrapped the pens it was apparent that the cap of the Easiflow didn’t fit too well. When I removed it I saw why. Someone had forced a much too large Scroll nib into the section.
I put it aside to be dealt with later, and when later came along I had another look at the nib at realised that there was more to this than had at first met the eye.
Someone had cut two curving slits in the nib, probably with a hobby saw. Whatever other effect this might have had, it most obviously made it a nib that would flex.
Before you start ripping into your Montblancs with hacksaws, be aware that this only half works. The tines part like a good flex nib but they don’t snap back together when you release the pressure. In fact you have to turn the nib over and press down to return them to their original position. I think I have a warranted nib of the right size for the rather pretty Easiflow and the Scroll nib can go in the bucket.
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Goodwriterspens's Blog 
Deb,
Will the New Bond Easyflow be sold? If so I may well be interested. Just let me know what you would be asking please.
Hi Rard,
Restored and with a gold nib, £35 plus postage.
Interesting find. These nib slits, typically added after market by a Nibmeister, are sometimes seen these days on modern nibs to add flex. Another flex modification, which I prefer because of better snap-back, is the “Angel-Wing” modification where some of the nib material is ground away on the sides of the nib. There is yet a third after market nib modification which entails cutting material away from the sides of the nib all along the length of the nib. I prefer the angel-wing modification because of good snap-back and the nib retains much of its original look.
The modern Pilot FA nibs, which to my knowledge are only available on the Custom-743, 742, and 912 pens, are manufactured in the factory with angel-wing cuts to add some flex. Sometimes Nibmeisters will grind both modifications, slits and angel wings on the same nib.
The slits on your modified nib should not be catching as you describe. They should release readily. I suspect the slits were not cut perpendicular to the bend.
I modify my Noodler’s Ahab and Konrad pens for extra flex myself. I typically employ the “Ease My Flex Mod”, which is an angel-wing modification, to the Noodler’s nibs. There’s a long thread on the Fountain Pen Network started by user Pterodactylus that describes how to do the Ease My Flex modification at home.
Enjoy, David
Moat of the pens I work on are older than I am and it seems like sacrilege to mess with them in any way. They’re best left as they are. If someone wants, say, a flexible Swan there’s plenty of them out there. No need to irreversibly alter a precious pen. I did, I admit, modify nibs for customers many years ago but I don’t talk about it. It’s a secret shame like teenage shoplifting. New pens are another matter, of course, but as I handle less than five in any given year…
I agree, generally I won’t cut a vintage nib. But I’ll have my way with the moderns.