cheap, AAA powered, ~20-30mw blue pen?

yeah, I too would also like to know how to get these pen lasers open safely and in tact.

Drill a hole in a block of wood, about the diameter of the laser. Cut the block of wood in half, through the hole you previously drilled. Put the wood back together around the silver head of the pen. Put this whole setup into a vise and tighten the vise until the pen doesn't move. Rock the pen back and forth slowly, eventually the head will loosen and slide free.

I can get the head out, quite easily. I just can't get the guts out in tact, every one I've had(2) has been literally epoxied/glued in there, permanently

You can use a piece of leather and vise grips too. Just never twist the top, rock it back and forth.

I read that a member used a hair drier to heat up the glue in the pen, then put an ice cube on the tip, and pulled it right out. Worth a shot I guess.