Pawn Stars

It was destroyed in a blazing inferno last week -- and now TMZ has obtained pictures of its smoldering remains ... the History Channel's famous cherry '57 Chevy.

TMZ broke the story ... the car -- which became the centerpiece in a massive three-show special involving "American Pickers," "American Restoration," and "Pawn Stars" -- burst into flames last Friday.

The Las Vegas toy expert often featured on "Pawn Stars" has been named in a police report -- by a woman who claims Johnny Jimenez choked her and held a knife against her throat ... and she tells us, he also threatened to kill her.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Las Vegas Metro PD received a call from a woman claiming to be Johnny's girlfriend. The woman says she had been in an intense verbal argument with Johnny at his home ... when things escalated and Johnny got physical.

We're told the argument began when Johnny accused the woman of stealing $1,000 from him.

The woman told police Johnny choked her pretty hard -- leaving several marks around her neck and chest. The woman also claims Johnny grabbed a knife at some point in the argument and held it against her throat.

TMZ spoke to the alleged victim who tells us ... Johnny was threatening to kill her during the argument and she feared for her life when Johnny put the knife against her throat.

We're told the woman met with police after the incident -- and filed a formal complaint. An ambulance was also called to check out her injuries.

Police are investigating the incident -- and we're told cops would like to speak with Jimenez ASAP.

TMZ spoke with a staffer at Johnny's toy shop, who tells us the woman was Johnny's housekeeper -- not his girlfriend.

The alleged victim insists she and Johnny have been dating since March -- and claims she was only cleaning his home as a favor.

Knowing a good mechanic is the key -- the guys from "Pawn Stars" proved that Friday when their incinerated classic '57 Chevy was fixed within hours and returned in tip top shape.

Immediately after the fire was extinguished, the car was sent to show regular The Count from Count Customs, who replaced the tires and steering wheel ... as well as lots of other parts.

The car was a gift to "The Old Man" on "Pawn Stars" from stars of various History Channel shows, including "American Restoration" and "American Pickers." It caught fire Friday AM.

The repairs cost "the Old Man" around $3,000.

A History Channel orgy that brought together the stars of "American Pickers," "American Restoration," and "Pawn Stars" has ended in a fiery wreck.

In case you missed the 3-show special -- "American Pickers" found a classic, '57 Chevy fixer-upper ... "American Restoration" brought it back to life ... and then both shows gifted it to the Old Man from "Pawn Stars" as a birthday present.

But in a tragic turn of events, it overheated this morning ... and burst into flames.

"Pawn Stars" badass Austin "Chumlee" Russell made one hell of a birthday negotiation at a nightclub this weekend -- You give me 40 bottles of Cristal ... I'll give you $11 THOUSAND DOLLARS!!

Chumlee rolled into Push nightclub in Tunica, Mississippi on Saturday night -- and decided he wanted to treat the entire place to some fancy champagne ... so he did.

Chum -- who was hanging with "Pawn Stars" bodyguard Antoine -- racked up a total bill of $9,558 ... and then dropped a $2,000 tip ... for a grand total of $11,558.

Wonder what the Old Man would say ...

"Pawn Stars" badass Chumlee tells TMZ, he has ALWAYS wanted to see a samurai versus a tiger in a fight to the death -- so he did what any person would do in that situation ... he paid a tattoo artist to ink the violent scene on his leg.

According to Chum, he's already sat through three lengthy sessions at Show Room Tattoo in Vegas -- and he's still got about ten more hours of inkwork to go.

A&E Television Networks fired off a cease and desist letter to pawnbroker Frank Bishop last week -- claiming Bishop's use of the term "pawn star" constitutes fraud and trademark infringement, demanding he change the name stat.

But Bishop ain't budging, claiming in a strongly-worded letter he registered the term "Pawn Star" in 2006, 3 years before A&E entered the pawn world ... so they can take a hike.

Of course, everyone has a price -- and Bishop's lawyer, Jeffrey Kaufman, tells us, Frank would bow to A&E's demands in exchange for a large fee ... "If you want to take something, this is America. Write a check."

Hoss tells TMZ, he decided to get lap band surgery back in February -- after his doctor diagnosed him as a prediabetic.

According to Hoss, he's already lost 115 pounds, and continues to shed the weight -- working out with a trainer 5 days a week ALONG with participating in Krav Maga fighting classes.

Hoss' weight issues have been a topic on the show -- and Rick even built a gym in the pawn shop to encourage Hoss and Chumlee to drop the weight.

Glad to see it's working out.

Corey Harrison and Chum Lee tell TMZ they are forking over $10,000 on a boatload of fireworks -- including roman candles and enormous bottle rockets. The pair plan on setting them off on Monday, somewhere in the Las Vegas desert.

The guys also plan to have a contest against each other to see who can shoot the shop's bowling ball mortar cannon the farthest.

TMZ spoke with Chum who tells us ... when he walked into the Vegas dealership Thursday, the guys wanted around $100k for the jet black whip. But Chum was able to drive off with the car for only $85,000.

TMZ ran into Corey Harrison in New York City yesterday, where he told us they unloaded the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile guidance system (pictured below) ... but he didn't divulge who he sold it to ... or for how much.

As least the Pentagon doesn't have a reason to sniff around their shop anymore ... for now.

TMZ broke the story -- Harrison was arrested in Big Bear, CA for battery and resisting arrest after a drunken confrontation with a local biker.

Now, officials at the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office tell us ... prosecutors have reviewed the Sheriff's report and decided there wasn't enough evidence to convict Harrison ... so they dropped the case.

Okay, we pretty much have no idea what we're looking at -- but we're told it's part of the guidance system used on an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile ... typically launched out of F-4 Phantom fighter jets.

TMZ broke the story ... the person who sold the parts to the "Pawn Stars" guys earlier this month claimed her father bought the parts LEGALLY at a military auction back in the '80s.

Harrison and the biker guy never came to blows -- but the footage shows the men in a heated verbal exchange inside of Murray's Saloon and Eatery late Sunday night after Corey had been doing some drinking.

The owner of the bar tells us Corey and the biker got into a verbal argument over something motorcycle-related ... but just when things started to cool down and the two men shook hands ... tensions once again flared and the guys decided to continue their argument outside.

As we first reported -- a security guard called police fearing things would get violent ... and cops arrived before things could get ugly. However, Corey was taken to jail for allegedly pushing the security guard, and then nudging a cop.

After Corey was released, we're told he returned to the bar and apologized to the owner for his behavior -- and bar employees helped dig his truck out of the snow.

Cops arrested Harrison on suspicion of battery with serious bodily injury and resisting arrest -- both misdemeanors. Law enforcement sources tell us Harrison was arrested at the bar.

Harrison was released from custody at 8:00 AM this morning.

UPDATE: Law enforcement sources tell us cops were flagged down by a security guard at the bar after Harrison had gotten into a verbal dispute with another patron ... and the guard feared the dispute could have gotten violent.

Cops tell us ... after officers arrived and spoke to both Harrison and the other guy, Corey pushed one of the security guards and slightly pushed an officer.

Officials claim Harrison was held in custody for several hours because he was drunk -- and needed time to sober up before he could be released.

A lawyer for Harrison tells TMZ cops asked him to apologize for the verbal spat at the scene, but Corey felt he did nothing wrong and refused.

Sources connected to the situation tell us ... two members from the U.S. Air Force Special Investigations Unit rolled over to Gold and Silver Pawn yesterday wanting to check out the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile guidance system and missile parts the guys purchased just last week.

We're told the agents wanted to make sure the system was no longer active -- and pulled it apart to ensure it did not contain any important information.

The agents also inquired about the woman who sold the missile guts to the "Pawn Stars" -- a woman who claims she inherited the stuff from her father.

The seller had maintained that her dad purchased the items at an official military auction during the '80s ... and we're told she had the proper court-approved paperwork specifying she could legally sell the parts.

Here's the best part -- we're told while the agents were inside the shop, they explained how they were initially put on the case after someone from the Pentagon called up wanting to know why they were out of the loop about a missile featured on TMZ.com.

When called for comment, a rep from "Pawn Stars" confirmed agents from the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations did drop by the shop.