I bought an old black Commando with gold accents on eBay. The clip is still bright, but the top of the cap looks like old steel, as though a top layer fell off. What should be there?

Fred

The Watermans I've seen of that era all seem to have a very simple rivet holding the clip down-- this is not, I'll admit, an extensive sampling, but it seems consistent, and the effect is to make you wonder if that pen was perhaps repaired by someone who didn't have the right parts. It may be that the rivet is has lost it's finish entirely.

edit-- I should add that all the Watermans of that era I've been in personal contact with are low-end jobs. I'm sure the 100 Year pens look less half-baked.

The clip cap on my Commando has the appearance of minor corrosion, as if the plating has flaked off. Someone indicated that the rivets are notoriously difficult to drill out on center (and replace). Don't take that as gospel; it's just a recollection. Besides that, I hope your Commando is a satisfying writer.

I bought it for writing because it happens to have a great nib on it, and it was a bargain. The appearance of the clip's cap is anomalous to an otherwise nice-looking gold and black pen. I will try to take a close-up photo of the top of the cap.

Fred