WWII B17 Gunner's Rear Sight

[Titanfan]

Perhaps some of you saw the auction of this sight. It was listed as a B-17 machine gunner's rear sight from a crash. It sold for, what I thought was, an astonishing amount of money. Over $1,200. The part that the sight is mounted to is heavily mangled, as if it were torn off or cut off the original apparatus. I have not seen any of these types of sights come up for sale(not that I have been looking), and therefore was hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on why this sold for so much money. Thank you for your time.

[warguy]

I just acquired two Browning 1919  .30 cal sites from the estate of a P-47 pilot. I am assuming he took them home from training in 1943. Both sites are marked L2 and considerably better made than this one. Try searching under spider anti aircraft site. That opened it up for me. The ones I have sell for $400-500 each so I just don’t see the value here either. Good luck. 

[danimal03]

hello,

I can maybe add some perspective.  I do collect USAAF items with a focus on the European Campaign.  I would not mind this item in my collection.  As it is, without solid provenance, I think $1200 is a little high.  but if it was solid provenance to a specific B17 I would pay close to that (or at least consider it).

 

I think where the money is, is the piece of airframe attached to the sight.  That would be very hard to fake.  Basically, you would have to ruin a real piece of B-17 airframe that likely would be worth more on its own.  

 

I see this as sort of like a Civil War 'bullet in wood'.  Meaning a loose Civil War minie ball is worth a couple bucks.  If it is lodged in a piece of tree, or building etc., the value rises dramatically.

 

I have a neat 'Tower' Enfield lodged in a cut piece of wood taken from an outbuilding from the Spotsylvania Battlefield.  I bought it at a show for around $250.  The mangled dug bullet might be worth around $10 if I dug it out.  But the added sum of the parts outweighs the individual pieces.

 

These are my thoughts.  I hope this helps.  cheers!

[P-59A]

I took a quick look around and the only tall post sights I could find were on nose and tail guns. I do not see anything mounted to stringers or runners. It sure looks like they are attached to gun or cradle mounts.