rotated in my 45 yesterday. My wife used it quite a lot, writing some notes (posting the cap while writing), then cap the pen, repeating this sequence many times.

She gives me the pen back, all is fine.

The first time I use it, I post the cap and CREEEEEK....

the end of the pen BENT one of the four prongs of the inner cap deep inside and mangled it to where the prong stretch out across the inner diameter of the cap, preventing me from capping the pen.

I was able to get a screwdriver in the cap and push the prong back to the point where I could at least cap the pen, but that prong is poking out instead of laying flat inside the cap, which means it could scratch the section, the barrel when posting (i always post), or worse, damage the nib when capping the pen!

After repeated cappings/postings, I found the bent prong will not scratch the section/barrel, but if I don't pay attention to capping the pen, the prong could mess up the nib.

Let my loss be a lesson for you...

Parker 45 caps have metal prongs in them now? I didn't know that...Mine doesn't...

Is this a newer Parker 45 (as in 1990 onward) or the original ones? Can't see anything noticeable in my Parker 45 CT (circa 1960's).

-Zac

My 45 has a black plastic piece on the end of the barrel, but is made in the USA, and was told it has a 14k nib, but I have no way to verify that as my nib (at least the part showing) doesn't have any markings.

Based on some research, my 45 dates from 71 to 79 as it has no date code (Parker started dating pens again in early 80s I believe) and the black plastic end piece started in 71 or 72.

When I look in the cap, I see the inner cap which covers the nib. The inner cap has 4 "prongs" extending down the inside of the cap. These prongs are about 1/2" long maybe? On these prongs are slightly round "protrusions". this is the best way I can describe it as it's hard to see inside the cap even with good light.

i have a '62 parker 45 and that same thing happened to me. i wasnt as fortunate though. i had let my friend use it, and when it wouldnt post, she decided to try and cap it, and the tipping on one tine broke completely off.

Just to share with you of my finding of such problems in P61 and p45 but not on P75.
Boths P45 and P61 have 4 long metal clutch attached to the inner cap a black plastic. When posting (capped) your pen, you have to be careful to in line to the cap and cap stright insteads, Should you bent abit in your capping process, Your nibs of the P45 and P61 tends to hook to one of the clutch, Resulted a bent to one of the Long Clutch. as for the P75 it has a short clutch that it will happen less when you don't go in line when Capping a pen. I am not saying bent clutch with not happen but I guess it happen less with such short clutch.

Lastly it is also not advised to bent the four clutch too much to create tightness to the cap. This way tends to grip the pen too tight to the cap that can resulted bad scratches Or worst crack the shell to the pen.

I may be wrong but this are my finding..........Hope this help, Happy pennnning.....