1.6 With a Little Help – FRIENDS OF THE CENTAURE SOCIETY

Chapter 1 – Myth and Motherload

1.6 With a Little Helf from my Friends

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1.6

1.6.1

1.6.1.1

1.6.2

1.6.3

With a Little Help from my Friends

Is there Life on Mars?

The CS 1862 Leech & Rigdon

Another Visit to Shore?

Shore Galleries – FAQ

1.6.1

Is there Life on Mars

Did Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) possibly fabricate other percussion revolvers during the life of the Centaures as well? Once the Centaure (aka Centennial Army) project was off the ground in the early 1960s Edwards and Shore were planning ahead. They wished to extend the Centennial Arms offerings. Their vision was to sell additional revolvers to provide a comprehensive assortment not limited to Civil War guns for the U.S. shooters and re-enactors. Their objective was to successfully compete with Navy Arms. Possible models and manufacturers were discussed between these two entrepreneurs. While F.A.U.L. was considered as a supplier again for these other pistols they also negotiated with Italian manufacturers from the Edwards network.

1.6.1.1

The CS 1862 Leech & Rigdon

Based on the evidence we must assume that the Hanquet cousins were privy to this plan; but also, that they could charge cost for the making of prototypes against Shore’s financing. One such Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) project is this round barrelled, steel frame CS 1862 Leech & Rigdon in .36 caliber. Allegedly the only existing prototype is in the Shore Collection and pictured below. It has no proof marks and is otherwise un-marked except for the country of origin stamp BELGIUM on the butt.

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1.6_1 CS 1862 & Rigdon .36 cal. prototype from the Shore Collection: Cylinder with Ormsby-style naval scene and 2-piece grips are not period correct

The advanced Civil War gun student will note that neither the Ormsby style cylinder scene nor the 2-piece grip panels are historically correct. The former might indicate that Thomas Haas or Horacio Q- Acevedo were involved in the project.

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1.6_2 Buttstrap of Leech & Rigdon prototype marked BELGIUM

As we know today, Centennial Arms Corp. eventually had their Belgian Centaures aka “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” joined with other percussion revolvers of Italian, and not of F.A.U.L./Belgium, manufacture. The reasons were probably lower manufacturing cost of the Italian makers. For further information on this subject check chapters 4.1.4.1 and 4.8.

1.6.2

Another Visit to Shore?

At this visit I had the pleasure of getting acquainted with Mitchell Shore and Leslie Field. But I also met with retired gunsmith and gun enthusiast Coleman “Sonny” McDonough and his son Kevin. Like his dad Kevin is an avid shooter and collector and he also speaks fluent German!

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1.6-3 Mitchell Shore (left), Kevin McDonough (right)

Kevin helped with the pictures a lot. But I should have accepted Mitch’s suggestion to use his tripod which is a good reason for another visit to Shore next time in Chicago!

Mr. Mitchell Shore, Sir, you made my day. Thanks a bunch!

1.6.3	Shore Galleries – FAQs
Q1: „Are spare parts for the Centaures available from Shore Galleries?“
A1: “Sorry, nothing left.”
Q2: „Are any old Centaure records with serial numbers or the old FAUL contract somewhere to be found at Shore?“
A2: “Sorry, they were destroyed many years ago.”
Q3: „Would Centaures of the Shore Galleries Collection be for sale?“
A3: „This is the family heritage and like my dad and Bill Edwards I am fascinated by high-class workmanship so another sorry, no.”
Q4: „Is a copy of the Licensing Agreement with Sam Colt from the early 1850s available that Edwards is referring to in his 1962 book?“
A4: “Sorry, we are not aware of such a document!”

Updated March 18,2024