Navy Rear Sight Value? Hugh?

[John Sabato]

There is a navy rear sight toggle for auction on eBay and the price is up to $536.00


Is this part REALLY worth that much. I realize that it appears in great shape, but $536.00??


Hugh, I see that you were bidding for a while... What do you think something like this is worth?


thanks,


John



Rear Sight Auction URL
http://www.members.aol.com/valbehaved/navyrear.jpg

[Hugh]

John, according to a knowledgable friend whom I trust it is very possible that this is not an original sight, but one of 30-40 made several years ago by a guy in Tennessee. They were very well made repros, but the sight notch is wider than the originals, and this one appears to have a wide notch. One of the repros sold recently for $250. I would think that an original would have a serial number on the toggle unless it had been buffed off in refinishing. Just my personal opinion.

[bill mc donough]

i bought a naval sight 2 years ago and i paid 750 it was the only one available in new jersey and i have been looking for almost 3 years before that bill mc donough out!

[RET]

Looks like there is money to be made there. I wonder what the market would be?


It is interesting that the sight on eBay has no provenance and no one seems to really care: no SN, so was it commercial? an "armorer's spare"? or a replica?


If it is a replica, what is the "true" value? That is, what would it cost to have a skilled gunsmith or machinist make one as good as an original?


Unfortunately, the definition of the value of anything is what you can get someone to pay you for it, and it looks as if the value of this item is $500+ and rising...


Best regards,


Bob

[BILL]

Good questions. From what I have observed, eBay is a little like Las Vegas..people just keep raising the bid even after they know that they are paying too much. For rare or one of a kind items it's a great place to sell things. I guess if one was going into the navy sight business it would be good to go into the 6"Luger barrel business at the same time. (Now you have a market).

Bill, I already stock 6"x9mm new barrels with either the standard or high type (navy) front sight base. One of my European customers is getting bids right now to have the Naval Rear Toggle Links manufactured. As you say, there is a demand out there for Navy type shooters.

[G.T.]

I know everyone would love to have a high quality Luger navy rear sight, but the real world part of the equation is that a HIGH QUALITY navy rear sight would be extremely expensive to produce! Then, there is another problem, in that as soon as a rare repro. is available, in any quantity at all, the interest goes away....and the hunt continues for the expensive original. Which I have no problem with, it is just that a guy, who just spent tens of thousands of dollars to tool up for the part, is left with a lot of inventory to move, and a limited market to move it in. In my personal opinion, I believe that the navy rear sight on ebay, is going to be worth every penny it brings.....I have been chasing navy sights for years, and the one on ebay is a bargin right now!

At least I'd like to have it! I'd also like to make them to, but they are way out of my league! You would have a hell of a head start with an 80 year old German master machinest on your side, anyone got one of those hanging around! till...later...G.T.

Tom,


I would be interested in several of those sights, as I make-up shooters for people. Do you know if they will be machined from stock or investment cast ?

[Patrick]

The Navy rear sight was not an integral part of the rear toggle link. The standard P 08 rear sight was ground off and the Navy sight was attached with a dovetail groove - like the rear LP 08 sight. The Navy sight has its own separate parts number. Patrick