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LOT 1385
Extremely Rare Dual Navy Mounted AN-M2 .30 Cal Machine Guns with Original Navy MK II Mod
3 Aircraft Mount and Ultra Rare Early Navy MK 9 Mod 1 Illuminated Electronic Gun Sight -A) Colt
Manufactured AN-M2 Light Machine Gun, Class III/NFA C&R Fully Transferable - Serial no. 31085, 30-06 Springfield
cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized finish. Offered here is a beautiful original early World War II fixed-dual mounted AN-M2 type 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 gun set is like 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 500 lb. bombs right down the smokestack of a Japanese ship. It had a high, very strong, and very wide wing which provided great lift
capability and 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 battle footage. The AN-M2 was a lightweight development of the famous Browning 1919 machine
gun, using a very similar receiver group fitted with a lightweight barrel with a perforated barrel jacket which allowed for cooling during flight. They
could be fitted 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 (“A”) 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 glacis armour shield/plate, the belt 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 complete with the glass (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.