File this under "Blind Pig Finds Truffle."
I occasionally check pawn shops, thrift stores and other secondhand shops for a few different things, but with little success. The pens I've seen are inevitably beat up, awful things that aren't really worth the effort. Until today.
I went into a pawn shop to look for a couple different items, with the usual lack of success. Then, in a jewelry display case, I saw what I thought was another basket case. The double-take was chiropractor-worthy 
At first glance, I thought it was a reissue Heirloom "Empire" pen, but the buckskin was the indicator. It is a "first year" original, consistent with the 1946 engraving on the barrel. I tried to work the price, but they wouldn't budge off their "gold content" price...caveat venditor! I couldn't get it out of there fast enough. After I got it under good light and a loupe, the barrel markings are faint, but consistent with the engraving - a 1st quarter 1945 pen. The clutch ring is quite good, as is the cap condition; plastic vac plunger. The blind cap may be a swap - color is a wee bit darker, but the seam is consistent with other P51s I have. The missing tassie will need to get replaced, but all told, I'm happy with it out the door at $340. Will have it off for a restoration, cap retouch & cleaning next week.
Question for the experts - for insurance purposes, what's a ballpark value? The value is in the cap, but it's a least VG condition; no visible dings, a couple of discoloration spots that will probably clean up, and the diamond has a small spot The tassie's gonna take a bit of finding, but they're out there. (If anyone has a lead on that, I'd appreciate it.) Now, off for those lottery tickets!
