Figure I expressed doubts that the later (Aero) era Navy Gray (vs the Vac era Dove Gray) appeared on USA-made vac-fill 51's. That guy what hails from Nashua argued he had one. So, rummaging through some 300 51's glommed during the last year, i was pleasantly surprised to find just such an anomaly.

No obvious overseas markings (surprises from England don't surprise so much).

So , here is a Navy Gray Vac-Fill 51, for yer consideration. How well the color will translate through all the color spaces to your monitor, i cannot say. But has the green/blue tint found on the Aero era gray pens.

regards

david

Beautiful pen!

The one I showed you at the NY/NJ Pen Show is a Navy Vac as well. I brought it over to Richard, and he confirmed that it is likely one of the foreign onese -- he pointed out that the opening around the nib is shaped differently in the not-for-US-production pens, which is one way to recognise them!

Take a look at the bottom of your pen, around the nib -- is the plastic shaped the same as your other 51s?...

Will have to peek when at home, though i vaguely suspect this one is USA issue. We shall see...

-d

That would be interesting. If it is a US issue, that would mean that the Navy vacs were made domestically as well, which I think is contrary to the current hypothesis.

Not sure we have a unified field theory on this one. Thought i was he who earlier suggested foreign production only, then who heard others suggest some indeed were made here. Ahhh well... will have to dig up the discussion

-d