Chapter 3 – Models & Variations of the Centaure

3.3 Second or Civilian Model

 

3.3 3.3.1 3.3.1.1 3.3.1.2 3.3.1.3 3.3.1.4 3.3.1.5

Second or Civilian Model Common Characteristics of the Civilian Models Civilian Models 1st Variation – Key Features Civilian Models 2nd Variation – Key Features Some Thoughts on the Civilians Eyewitness Reports from Downrange Civilian Models – Pricing, Serial Number Ranges

 

3.3.1

Common Characteristics of the Civilian Models

 

Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) finished the Civilian models with a brilliant deep blue and case colour finish, „round“ recoil shield, i.e. without notches, silver plated triggerguard and backstrap without notch for a shoulder stock and mostly varnished grips. They are the „Rolls Royce“ of the Centaure New Model Armies (NMAs).

The Civilians were launched as the second model after the Regular New Model Armies (RNMAs). First shipments to the USA were probably made during the early summer of 1960 already.

As of  December 2023 we had the data of 69 regular production Civilians registered in the Centaure data bank. One “colterized” Civilian is recorded and 3 custom embellished ones.

 

Barrel	8″
Frame	3-screw, recoil shield and buttstrap without notches
Cylinder engraving	Centaure proprietary naval engagement scene similar to Colt/Ormsby scene but less background details
Cylinder marking	NEW MODEL 44
Finish	blue & case colors (b cch), triggerguard and backstrap silver plated
Chambers	large
Co. of origin mark	MADE IN BELGIUM on buttstrap
Prefix C	C in front of the serial number (C for Civilian)
Comments	The Civilians were manufactured from early summer 1960 until sometime in 1963 in a separate block of serial numbers beginning with C1. Officially the models were imported into the U.S.A. only.

 

Two variations of the Civilian Model are recognized today. Production of the 2nd variation seems to have ceased during 1963 due to limited market acceptance leading to unsatisfactory sales. For more details scroll down to 3.3.1.3.

 

3.3.1_1 Two typical specimens of Civilians: Top 1st variation  #C418, bottom 2nd variation #C489, both of 1960 production: Civilians have no toe on the butt and their grips are mostly varnished

 

Serial numbers of the Civilians were placed in the locations like you find on other Centaure models of the same period of production. Therefore, the majority of the Civilians‘ cylinders inspected have their serial number with prefix stamped on the front not on the breech side.

 

3.3.1.1

Civilian Models 1st Variation – Key Characteristics

 

Cylinder legend	ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843
Logo	none
Barrel marking	„1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“
Arbor	1st version
Hammer spur	1st and 2nd version
Comments	Produced a few months only in 1960.

 

Typical Civilian 1st variation #C418 pictured below was discovered in January 2010 in the pre-owned drawer of a gun shop in the outskirts of Las Vegas, NV., together with RNMA 1st variation 1st sub-variation #87. In line with the unwritten FROCS SOPs both were liberated on the spot. The RNMA found a new home in Texas.

3.3.1.1_1 Typical specimen of Civilian 1st variation #C418: Note crowned muzzle and historically correct low-profile front sight (picture courtesy Terushi Jimbo, Düsseldorf/Germany)

 

3.3.1.1_2 Close-up left side of Civilian #C418: Note period Liège proof marks on barrel lug incl. inspector mark * over F sideways, Centaure proprietary cylinder engraving with legend, no logo on frame

 

3.3.1.1_3 Close-up of cylinder of Civilian #C418: Note lack of details of proprietary naval scene typical for this variant, legend close to rim reads ENGAGEND 16 MAY 1843, proof mark ELG in Oval with inspector mark * over F sideways

 

3.3.1.1_4 Another close-up of cylinder of Civilian #C418: Note cylinder marking NEW MODEL 44 between scene’s ends

 

3.3.1.1_5 View of cylinder face of Civilian #C418: Note serial number #C418 in 6’clock position

 

3.3.1.1_6 Close-up of frame of Civilian #C418 with cylinder and barrel pulled: Note 1st version arbor (square ended with separate deep grease groove), frame without logo on forward left side, inspector mark * over F sideways

 

3.3.1.1_7 Clinical view of right side of Civilian #C418; Note varnished grip and capping groove in recoil shield

 

After some easy paperwork regarding import papers Civilian #C418 made it all over the Big Pond to a German Centaure herd.

No rules without exceptions. In early December 2023 #C218 was offered for sale over at French internet auction house Naturabuy. On her pictures a few unexpected features were noted:

# The barrel marking read “1860 NEW MODEL ARMY” instead of “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”,

# While the grip frame was properly stamped #C218 in front of the triggerguard, it was not silver plated as we would expect, and finally

# The country-of-origin stamp MADE IN BELGIUM on the buttstrap was missing.

Go figure!

 

3.3.1.2

Civilian Models 2nd Variation – Key Characteristics

 

Cylinder legend	none
Logo	rampant centaur
Barrel markings	„1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“ “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK CHICAGO U.S. CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK „1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“
Arbor	1st and 2nd version
Hammer spur	1st and 2nd version
Comments	Produced between late 1960 and sometime in 1963. The legend on the cylinder of the Civilians 1st variation was omitted at the suggestion of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association to inhibit possible use of these cylinders in fakery.

 

#C459 is currently the lowest serial number known of a Civilian 2nd variation. She was offered in January 2011 by Danish gun dealer Bisgaard & Nielsen of Kjellerup in German internet auction house Egun. According to Mr. Nielsen he was selling her for the heirs of her late gun collector owner. Allegedly he had purchased the pistol during the early 1960s in the U.S.A. with the original carton. Unfortunately, the latter has disappeared.

Nielsen mentioned he has been in the gun business for 40 years but has seen two Centaures in Denmark only, namely this Civilian and another variant a few decades ago. They are a rare breed in Denmark!

 

3.3.1.2_1 Typical specimen of Civilian 2nd variation from 1960 #C489 displayed on German import papers

 

F.A.U.L. in Belgium exported Civilian 2nd variation #C489 pictured above and below towards the end of 1960 to Mars Equipment in Lincolnwood, IL, U.S.A., for distribution by sister company Centennial Arms Corp. Eventually she found her way down South to a collector in Houston, Texas. Since November 2010 she has now a new home in Germany. Apart from the proof testing procedure at the Liège Proof house 1960 she was probably never fired.

 

3.3.1.2_2 Close-up of cylinder and frame assembly of Civilian C489: Note visible serial number on barrel lug, frame and triggerguard, 1st version hammer spur

 

3.3.1.2_3 Grip area of Civilian C489: Note silver plated backstrap with country-of-origin mark MADE IN BELGIUM, no toe on but, varnished one-piece wooden grip

 

3.3.1.2_4 Close-up of left side of frame of Civlian C489: Note rampant centaur logo, Liège proof house inspector mark and perron

 

3.3.1.3

Some Thoughts on the Civilian

 

U.S. buyers preferred their newly made percussion revolvers of the Colt Army 1860 pattern made of harder steel with the Colt/Ormsby-style naval engagement scene on the cylinders. In contrast to this market requirement the F.A.U.L. made Civilians‘ cylinders were roll-engraved with the Centaure proprietary naval scene. That scene shows less background details compared to the one in Colt/Ormsby style. Looking in retrospect at the Civilians‘ market performance it does not come as a surprise that acceptance of this second Centaure model by reenactors and shooters in terms of unit sales was limited. Certainly  lower than anticipated by Bill Edwards and Sig Shore in the U.S.A.  and cousins Albert and Paul Hanquet at F.A.U.L. in Belgium. Incidentally, the two Americans did not like the Centaure proprietary naval scene, anyway.

Consequently, significant stocks of parts specifically made for these pistols may have been piled up at the Belgian factory once production of the Civilian Models ceased for good sometime in 1963. These parts were 1) cylinders with Centaure proprietary naval scene without legend ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843 aka „Civilian“ cylinders, 2) „round“ 3-screw frames and 3) backstraps without the notch on the butt for the attachment of a shoulder stock.

If there was an inventory issue as we believe it sheds new light on the introduction of a number of Centaure variants and extra cylinders as well which were launched during the time from around 1962 to 1970. It also adds a new meaning to their so called „platform strategy“:

# RNMA 2nd variations: Fitted with this “Civilian” cylinder,

# Cavalry Models 1st variation 3rd sub-variation: A small run has been recorded with “Civilian” cylinders,

# Pocket Army Models 1st variation: According to a Centennial Arms Corp. ad the 1st variation of this special-order pistol was offered with a “Civilian” cylinder, the 1st & 2nd variation share frame and backstrap with the Civilian.

# Extra cylinders for RNMAs with „Civilian“ naval engagement scene,

# RNMAs 1st and 3rd variation: From sometime in the mid-1960s to the 1969/70 period these variants were fitted with “Civilian” style backstraps without the toe on the butt. Today we term these variants “3rd sub-variations”.

# RNMAs 4th and & 6th variation: Most prototypes from 1967s are recorded without the toe on the butt.

# RNMAs 5th variation 1st sub-variation: From the launch in 1967 to the switch to the 2nd sub-variation in 1970 they were fitted with „Civilian“ backstraps

Hence, a further motivation for these introductions might be cost pressure from the parts specially fabricated for the ill-fated Civilian Model.

 

3.3.1.4

Eyewitness Reports from Downrange

 

Got this interesting email from helpful U.S. pard FROCS #96 Buddbudd on March 3, 2011. I like to share it with the FROCS community and Centaure aficionados:

 

 

3.3.1.4_1 Eye candy: Left side view of custom engraved Civilian ENG 23 Buddbudd refers to in his report

 

3.3.1.4_2 2-line inscription on the backstrap of ENG 23 reads: Presented to my good friend Dr. Gerald Atlas Jan 1961 by Col. Sig. Shore

 

3.3.1.4_3 Right side view of custom engraved Civilian ENG 23

 

This #ENG 23 reminded me of that cased, gold inlaid Civilian #ENG No 2 pictured below. I was privileged to photograph her in 2010 when visiting Shore Galleries in Lincolnwood, IL. For further details, please, check the Motherload page of this website.

 

3.3.1.4_4 Eye candy: Cased, custom engraved and gold inlaid Civilian #ENG No 2 with original accessories

 

It now appears we have to realize that Sig Shore had not only a number of Centaures embellished by Horacio Q Acevedo, then associate to Thomas Haas, for his personal collection. He also presented a few of these to friends. See also chapter 3.4 on the Cavalry Models and the story about #F1000 there.

 

After Baddbudd’s eye witness report, I checked back with Leslie Field, legal counsel of Shore Galleries and back then business associate of Sig Shore. My hope was that Les might be able to provide some background information to FROCS #96’s findings. He did not disappoint me. Here is what he wrote:

 

3.3.1.5

Civilian Models – Pricing, Serial Number Ranges

 

Centennial Arms Corporation of Chicago’s suburb Lincolnwood, IL. advertised the Civilian model 1960 at U.S. $ 89.95 only. The price was increased to U.S. $ 99,50 in 1964!

 

3.3.1.5_1 Centennials Arms Corp. ad from early 1960soffering Civilian as „Type 2“ at a price of U.S. $ 99,95

 

J. Roberts and Son, Centennial Arms Corp. (Sole Agent in London, Great Britain) offered the Civilian in their catalogue during the 2nd half of the 1960s/early 1970s at ₤ 35.

 

3.3.1.5_2 J. Roberts and Son, London ad quoting price for Civilian at ₤ 35

 

No prices from the 1960s are available from Continental Europe. The Civilians were just not sold over there back then.

 

CivilianModel	Lowest Serial Number	Year	Highest Serial Number	Year	Total	%
1st Variation	C1	1960	C441	1960	450	47.3
2nd Variation	C459	1960	C932	1963	497	52.3
Custom engraved	ENG23	1961	S/N removed	1961/62	3	0.3
„Colterized“	18618	1963	18618	1963	1	0.1
Total					951	100.0

 

Updated December 23, 2023

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