Sometimes it'll do $, sometimes it'll do Leather Gorget$ but not show the remaining mods.  It's a major PITA.  I usually make my script use a sub to handle event property.  Do a STR COUNT on $, if it's less than 2, redo it.  I'm pretty sure all items in the game have more than one line in the property window except a select few.  Have the sub support the ability to take the minimum amount of lines to look for if needed so it'll be in the %1 or %2 value depending on how you set it up.
Gosub GetProperty #FindID 3
Sub GetProperty
;%1 = ID of item
;%2 = Minimum number of lines in item property
   str count %1 $
   while #strres < %2
      {
      wait 1
      str count %1 $
      }
return