Lot 3436: Ultra Rare Colt An-M2 Class III/NFA MG with Mount

Wow! What a beautiful all original early WWII fixed-dual mounted AN-M2 anti-aircraft gun mount set that is complete with Colt produced and Browning produced AN-M2 air cooled light machine guns. This ultra rare set also includes an original Navy MKII Mod 3 gun mount with the Navy MK9 Mod 1 electronic gun sight. This complete gun mount set is exactly what was used in the rear mounted position of the famous Douglas SBD Dauntless diver bomber. The Dauntless was developed in 1935-37 with the first production plane being completed in 1940 by the Douglas Aircraft Company. These were some of the very first generation U.S. dive bombers that were used throughout WWII by the Navy, USMC and even by the USAAF (A-24 Banshee). The Dauntless was big and slow but highly maneuverable, and it could lay 500lb bombs right down the smokestack of a Japanese ship. It had a high, very strong and very wide wing which provided great lift capability that featured the distinctive large perforated split flaps or "dive-brakes" that eliminate tail buffeting during diving maneuvering. This allowed the plane to enter a vertical dive and then be able to pull out in the last critical seconds after releasing its bomb. To help defend the plane from rear attacks in regular level flight it was fitted with a set of fixed-dual mounted AN-M2 .30 caliber machine guns mounted directly behind the pilot which can clearly be seen in WWII Navy film battle footage. The AN-M2 was a lightweight development of the famous Browning 1919 machine gun that used a very similar receiver group fitted with a lightweight barrel with a perforated barrel jacket which allowed for cooling during flight. They were with a solenoid or electronic firing mechanism in lieu of the standard pistol grip/trigger mechanism. They could also be switched from left to right hand feed which made it perfect for this application. The side plate of this machine gun (the A Lot) is correctly marked: "BROWNING MACHINE GUN/CAL .30 M2/COLT MFG. HARTFORD CONN. U.S.A." The complete fixed-mount includes both the right and left hand ammunition feed boxes, the front glacis armour shield/plate, the spent cartridge ejection chute mounted between the guns, the dual folding fixed anti-aircraft sights also mounted between the guns, the individual side mounted charging handles and associated spring mechanisms for each gun, the dual pistol grip electronic controls (there is no additional wiring, motors or solenoids) and of course the rare Navy MK9 Mod 1 (12 volt) illuminated gun sight that was originally based on the Barr & Strout GJ3 illuminated Free Sight. This sight is probably considered as a first generation illuminated sight that was eventually incorporated in all the Navy guns (both aircraft and deck mounted) in one version or another. The upper optical sight cover has a large painted/stamped Navy/Anchor inspector mark with the lower electronic power box, nomenclature plate reads: "BUR of ORD/ILLUMINATED SIGHT/MK 9 MOD 1/inspector HTM/No. 34950/AMERICAN CYSTOSCOPE MAKERS NY." As noted, this beautiful gun sight is all complete with the glass complete (we have not energized the sight to see if it works). This beautiful and very rare fixed-mounted dual aircraft sight set also includes a standing pedestal/deck mount that has a correct style pintel mounted on top. The mount itself stands approximately 60 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 lbs., so its big and rigid.

Excellent retaining 95% plus of the original parkerized finish overall. The dual mounted, fixed-mount retains 90% plus of the dark green exterior paint and the rare Navy MK9 Mold 1 sight is also in excellent condition with clear optics, with no visible crack or damage, with only 35% of the black painted finish on the top of the sight cover. This is probably one of the rarest WWII machine gun mounts sets that is still in existent as probably 99% of these were scrapped after WWII since they had no further application for them with the very few know examples only found in an aircraft or Navy museum. This is probably a once in a lifetime chance to acquire one of the most complete and extremely high condition WWII aircraft fixed-dual mounted AN-M2 aricraft machine gun set in their original aircraft fixed-mount that includes the complete sight! NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.

This is the other lightweight machine also includes with this lot. It is also a .30 caliber Browning Machine Gun manufactured by the "BROWN-LIPE-CHAPIN DIV of GM" that is also correctly marked as such on the right hand side plate. This has the same exact features, characters, and dimensions as the A lot.

Excellent retaining 95% plus of the original parkerized finish overall. NOTE: This weapon is a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.