Chapter 2 – Facts and Figures

2.6 Total Production in Prspective

 

2.6 2.6.1 2.6.2 2.6.3  2.6.4   2.6.4.1   2.6.4.2   2.6.5 2.6.6

Total Production in Perspective Total Production – Revisited Colt’s New Generations Armies International Distribution of the Centaures Thoughts about the Many Models and Variations of the Centaures Strategy 1 – Reach New Customers in the Shooters and Collectors Fraction Strategy 2 – Increase Production Output and Implement Cost Cutting Post-Centaure Milestones 1976 to Today Myth Buster

 

2.6.1

Total Production – Revisited

 

If you were talking with a gun writer in the know about the percussion revolver scene sometime during the 1970s to early 2000s and asked him, or her, about the Centaure (aka New Model Armies (NMAs)) to suggest their total production guess what the response would be? He or she would probably propose some 60,000 units, referring to the 1971 article of the late H. J. Stammel in Deutsches WaffenJournal (DWJ).

 

Regular New Model Army 1st variation 1st sub-variation #M1 from 1959 – the Mother of all Centaures

 

Panhandle Paden in Lubbock and I over here in Hofheim have tried every trick in the books and then some to validate or support this estimate of 60,000 Centaures, to no avail. According to our Centaure research since mid-2007 and to the best of our knowledge we come up with a total production of Centaures of significantly less revolvers. Our number is only around 16,000 New Model Armies (NMAs), give or take a few hundred (see table below).

 

These 16,000+ pistols are an extrapolation based on the 1,620 NMAs reported into the survey of our website www.1960nma.org by August 2022. They would represent exactly 9,995 % of the assumed total factory output of Centaures between 1959 and 1973.

 

New Model Armies (NMAs)	2022	%
1st Model – Regular New Model Army	13,206	81.1
2nd Model – Civilian	951	5.8
3rd Model – Cavalry	1,181	7.3
4th Model – Marshal	917	5,6
5th Model – Pocket Army	25	< 0,2
Total New Model Armies (NMAs)	16,280	100.0

 

As you would expect of all Centaures produced, the Regular New Model Armies (RNMAs) represent the biggest chunk with ca. 81 %. Therefore, it does not come as a surprise that their variants are most often encountered around the globe.

 

Following the RNMAs are the Cavalry Models with some 7.3 % of all 1960 New Model Armies manufactured, then the Civilians coming in as a third with almost 6 % of the total F.A.U.L. C&B percussion revolver output. Fourth on the list with 5.6 % are the Marshal Model belly guns. Whereas less than 0.2 % can be projected for the rare, special order Pocket Army snubbies without loading lever.

 

2.6.2

Colt’s New Generations Armies

 

To add some spice to this discussion, please consider around 17,850 specimens of 2nd generation Colt 1860 Armies were fabricated between 1977 and 1991 plus another 11,850 of 3rd generation or Signature Series Armies between 1994 and 2002 equalling 29,700 units. For a fair comparison of apples to apples we deduct the commemorative issues, special and limited editions from the Colt mix since they appeal to a small subset of collectors and to virtually no shooters. So, we end up with ca. 11,500 of 2nd and another 10,500 of 3rd generation standard production Colt Armies totalling 22,000 specimens.

 

This compares to roughly 15,900 regular production Centaures once (factory) engraved pistols, “colterized” models and other “special” variants are excluded. 28 % less regular production Centaures than newly made regular production Colt Armies were fabricated. If you add the survival rate in this equation, however, the number of newly made Colt Armies exceeds the Centaures by far. This little math might stimulate some thoughts like which pistols are perceived as shooters and which as display pistols rather and why?

 

2.6.3

International Distribution of the Centaures

 

Approximately 50 % of the New Model Armies (NMAs) manufactured in Belgium were exported into the U.S.A., some 50 to 100 pistols to other parts of the world like down-under to New Zealand, the balance to Europe and Germany in particular. Another sizeable European market for Centaures was France but much less so than Germany.

 

Another fair statement is this: The majority of the U.S. shipments were made during the period between 1960 and 1970 whereas European dealers and shooters stepped on this Centaure bandwagon hesitating at first from 1963 only. Early “first owner” European sales were reported from Belgium, France and Germany.

 

Close-up of Centaure leaflet from English gunmaker J. Roberts and Son of London, Great Britain

 

This story sounds like some other Centaure myth. But it is the truth happening during the middle of the 1960s. Around 1965 Sig Shore, boss of Shore Galleries and subsidiaries Centennial Arms Corp. and Mars Equipment Corp. in Lincolnwood, IL, hand carried ca. 50 Centaures namely Regular New Model Army (RNMA) variants including RNMAs 3rd variations with the Colt/Ormsby naval engagement scene (!), and Civilians to English gunmaker J. Roberts and Son in London, Great Britain. This was the compensation for a sizable shipment of World War 1 surplus pistols and revolvers Shore Galleries had received from the British. At the conclusion of the deal J. Roberts and Son were made sole distributors of Centennial Arms Corp. in the United Kingdom. A few more Centaures were shipped from the Belgian factory during the early 1970s to other English dealers. The total sales volume of the U.K. market was no more than around 70 New Model Armies (NMAs), however.

 

2.6.4

Thoughts about the Many Models and Variations of the Centaures

 

Between 1959 and 1973 the technicians at Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) were occupied making prototypes and producing new models, variations and sub-variations of the New Model Army (NMA). What has been driving them, what could have been their rational?

 

Take a look at the milestones in chapter 2.5.2. 1959 through 1963 seems to have been a period of straight line-extension, driven by the visionaries William B. Edwards and Sig Shore of Centennial Arms Corporation in the U.S.A. Back in the 1960s Centennial Arms was the exclusive Centaure dealer in the U.S.A. Edwards and Shore identified most of the U.S. market needs and niches for modifications of the basic New Model Army (NMA) design. During these early years four (4) of the total of five (5) models recognized by collectors today were already launched:

• Regular New Model Armies (RNMAs) in 3 variations plus a few sub-variations,
• Civilian Model in 2 variations,
• Cavalry Models in 1 variation but 3 distinctly different sub-variations,
• Pocket Army as a special order pistol in 3 variations.

 

To this impressive list we have to add a number of Centaures colterized by renowned gunsmith, jeweller and restorer Horacio Q. Acevedo, then associate to Thomas Haas, for the personal collections of Edwards and Shore but later for sale to the public as well.

 

Behind the scenes at F.A.U.L. design improvements were addressed. Some at the expense of period correctness. But, most of the alterations implemented improved the New Model Armies (NMAs) as a shooting iron. We do not know, however, if the driver for this program sat in Lincolnwood or were the two cousins Hanquet of F.A.U.L. in Belgium with their production background.

 

Our Belgian made replications of the 19th century Colt 1860 Army were made of harder steel, had bottomed arbors and shallow rifling. These key characteristics transformed their Centaures into the premier target shooting percussion revolver of the classic Colt 1860 Army pattern. Which a well maintained Centaure still is today and more than that. These alterations include the evolution of the muzzle crown from a flat to a rounded one and alterations of the front sight from the initial historically correct low profile to the later tall blade. Because this allowed for an easy adjustment of the front sight to bring of point of aim (POA) and point of impact (POI) together.

 

Further efforts to improve the sights of the Centaures were experiments of the F.A.U.L. technicians with different types of front sights: Post type in the Pocket Army in 1962, bead type in the first batch of Marshals in 1971.

 

The evolution from the period correct square ended to the slightly tapered arbor in three (3) steps – with and without separate grease groove – was an important move to cut cost without compromising performance, however. With some overlaps to use existing stocks this program was completed around 1965.

 

The first down-sizing of chambers took place in 1964, the change from period correct large to mid-size chambers. For further details, please check the chapter 2.1.5.1.2.

 

Sales during these early years must have been pleasing to both the F.A.U.L. and Centennial Arms Corp. management with no direct competition until 1963 when Italy’s Uberti launched their version of the Colt 1860 Army. Thanks to the still booming U.S. market and some export business, market demand must have outgrown the F.A.U.L. production capacity around 1965/66.

 

During the second half of the 1960s Sigmund Shore in the U.S.A. moved his business focus gradually away from further developing the New Model Army (NMA) line at Centennial Arms Corp. At the same time Bill Edwards was more and more busy outside the Shore Group with his editorial tasks ,for gun magazines, that he had never given up. He also got involved with other research projects.

 

Thanks to the Clint Eastwoods, Eli Wallachs and the Lee van Cleefs of this world, together with the popularity of the Spaghetti Westerns another sales boost for Centaures unfolded on the Eastern banks of the Big Pond. What had happened? Cowboy clubs mushroomed in all Western European countries. The European shooters rediscovered black powder shooting with percussion revolvers. This did offset a possible flat or declining business with the U.S.A.

 

Carefully at first, but certainly determined, cousins Paul and Albert Hanquet stepped into the drivers’ seat of new Centaure developments vacated by Bill Edwards and Sig Shore. They further extended the Centaure line of New Model Armies to maintain their attractiveness for discriminating shooters. From the later 1960s they got the backing of an eager, motivated network of young and enthusiastic European Western gun dealers like Bärbel Harlos in Germany.

 

From a technical point of view 1967 is an important year in the Centaure history. During this year the first Regular New Model Armies (RNMAs) with the new stainless look (aka “in the white”) finish or high gloss polish were introduced. Centaure variants marketed with this pretty look were the 5th and 6th variation of the RNMA.

 

Prototypes of still another version of the RNMAs were put together; namely, the fluted cylinder and traditionally finished RNMAs 4th variation. Today some collectors consider this variant the most gracious of them all, this writer included.

 

During this period the second down-sizing of the chambers from mid-size to the small version took place. Back then this feature again pleased the target shooters and  today the dynamic cowboys and cowgirls of the International Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) scene.

 

Financially this steady growth trend continued until the end of the 1960s/early 1970s. From that time on masses of low-cost production Italian and Spanish black powder replica guns began flooding the U.S. and European markets. This move particularly affected the premium segment of the percussion revolver segment, which was the core business of the Centaures. It led to an erosion of market prices in a still growing market.

 

Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) felt obliged to protect their market position as the premium supplier in the 1860 Army segment. To further participate in this dynamic business they needed to develop and implement new, hard hitting strategies to secure profitable growth options.

 

According to contemporary witnesses from outside the Belgian factory and in an attempt to interpret what happened “after the case” it appears that F.A.U.L. tried to combat this new to them hostile business environment by applying two strategies at the same time. From today’s perspective their implementation was not followed through properly and eventually led to the end of the Centaure production and eventually to the demise of F.A.U.L.

 

2.6.4.1

Strategy 1 – Reach New Customers in the Shooters and Collectors Fraction

 

This would explain the line extension beginning in 1971 from four to five models and the aggressive launch of unique Colt 1860 pattern pistols, until the cease of the Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) percussion revolver production two years later.

 

The first European introduction 1971 was a new short barrelled Centaure model named the Marshal. After the special order only Pocket Army experience, the Marshal was launched to stay as a regular production gun. No unpractical separate loading rod like the Pocket Army model of the early 1960s. This new pistol was fitted with a convenient loading lever instead. The 5.5” barrel Marshal was available in the trendy stainless look/high gloss polish with blued screws and wedge. First variants marketed had the 3 screw frame called 1st variation today. A little later a 4 screw version was also launched as the 2nd variation. The latter shared the prefix F with the 2nd variations Cavalry Model marketed at the same time.

 

Next in line 1971 was the re-launch of the afore mentioned Cavalry Model – prefix F – as the 2nd variation of the variant from the early 1960s. In contrast to the historically correct and unique 7.5” tube of the 1st variation this new version was fitted with the 8” barrel of the Regular New Model Army (RNMA) production line. Only a total of some 170 pistols were produced in two sub-variations. The 1st sub-variation came usually without shoulder stock and a pair of 4th screws almost flush with the frame. The 2nd sub-variation had the typical extending pair of 4th screws. Most were supplied with a matching shoulder stock.

 

The factory engraved RNMAs in de Luxe style hitting the market were an immediate success. Like the later launched factory engraved Super de Luxe and Presentation style RNMAs and the Marshals in de Luxe style they were targeted at the collectors.

 

It is an often overlooked fact that Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) wrote gun history with their introduction of the first stainless steel percussion revolver as the Regular New Model Army (RNMA) 7th variation. This happened years before other players like Armi san Marco, Armi san Paolo aka Euroarms, Colt, Ruger and Uberti realized the market opportunity or had acquired the technology to join the joy ride. From today’s perspective it appears F.A.U.L. never promoted this unique revolver for reasons unknown.

 

2.6.4.2

Strategy 2 – Increase Production Output and Implement Cost Cutting

 

To accomplish this 2nd strategy additional unskilled labour was hired. This quickly led to quality complaints and subsequent loss in credibility as the high quality gun maker demanding premium prices in the market place see details in chapter 2.9.

 

Be that as it may a couple of well thought of measures were implemented at the factory. Unfortunately, they did not pay out quickly enough, like the return of the square ended arbour without separate grease groove. Or back-straps that used to be welded from two separate parts and bent-over were now casts.

 

The inventory cutting which went alongside with this program, however, is another explanation for the many small-scale variations and sub-variations of the New Model Armies (NMAs).

 

When you bring into perspective the relative rareness of the different RNMAs, Cavalry, Civilians, Marshals or Pocket Army Models, their variations and sub-variations it leads to another interesting insight: it is because of the many short runs and variations over the whole period of production of the New Model Army (NMA) from 1959 to 1973 that  today’s growing interest for collectors of these guns was created.

 

2.6.5

Post Centaure Milestones 1976 to Today

 

What happened to Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) after they stepped out of making Centaures in 1973 and all their gun making in 1976? Below bullet points listed in the milestones offer some answers. A few highlights on the transatlantic Centaure research program will be presented and what these studies eventually triggered in terms of conversion projects on both sides of the Atlantic (more about that in chapter 5).

 

Impressions from the 1st International Centaure exhibition at the Kassel gun show in fall of 2012: Verband für Waffentechnik and -geschichte (VDW) provided the platform

 

One of the many show cases of 1st International Centaure exhibition in 2012

 

Exhibit of rare Centaure percussion revolvers at 1st International Centaure exhibition in 2012

 

Display of rare Centaure conversions at 1st International Centaure exhibition in 2012

 

The Annual Meetings of the FROCS since 2010 (more about this subject and  also shooting the Centaures  will be addressed in chapter 6) developed their own dynamics. Spin-offs are the traditional match of former patrons of the Annual Meetings since 2017 and regional Centaure exhibitions. The latter eventually turned into national Neo-Classikers exhibitions in 2019 with important political impact regarding fine tuning of gun legislation for collectors in Germany.

 

1976		Conclusion of all gun making at Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.), wholesale gun business is maintained
1992		Early 1992: Four RNMAs assembled from parts for Hanquet family members, serial numbers are their respective dates of birth
1992		Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) sold; termination of Colt distributorship for Belgium
2007		Summer: Transatlantic Centaure research program between Germany and TX/U.S.A. established
2007		September: FROCS – FRiends Of the Centaure Society started as International non-profit special interest group of Centaure collectors, reenactors and otherwise enthusiasts
2007		Fall: Rediscovery of four of five Centaure models RNMA, Civilian, Cavalry and Marshal
2007		December: Centaure & FROCS website www.1960nma.org online
2008		February: Introduction of Coppell Classification describing Centaure models, variations, sub-variations
2008		February: Rediscovery of fifth Centaure model Pocket Army
2008		May: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes first historical correct Centaure conversion RNMA Richards (R1) in .44 Colt cal. #1
2008		August: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes first RNMA Thuer Conversion in .44 Thuer cal. #1
2009		May: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes first RNMA Richards-Mason Conversion .44 Colt cal. #1
2009		December: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes first RNMA FROCS Special Commemorative #1
2010		February: Visit Shore Galleries, Lincolnwood, IL/U.S.A. collection of early Centaures; incl. inspection of first Pocket Armies
2010		July: 1st Meeting of the FROCS, Hofheim/Germany; Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria presents first RNMA „Mystery“ Conversion .44 Colt cal. #1
2010		December: Klaus Mumme, Pirmasens/Germany completes first pair of Marshal Long Cylinder Conversions (LCCs) .44 Colt cal. #1 & #2
2011		May: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes first RNMA Richards Transitional (R2) Conversion .44 Colt cal. #1
2011	September: 2nd Meeting of the FROCS, Hofheim/Germany
2012	August: 3rd Meeting of the FROCS, Hirschau/Germany
2012	November/December: 1st International Centaure exhibition at WBK gun show, Kassel/Germany
2012	December: Klaus Mumme, Pirmasens/Germany completes second pair of RNMA 5,5″ Long Cylinder Conversions (LCCs) .44 Colt cal. #3 & #4
2013	June: Klaus Mumme, Pirmasens/Germany, completes RNMA Long Cylinder Conversion (LCC) .44 Colt cal. #5
2013	July: 4th Meeting of the FROCS, Jügesheim/Germany; FROCS Hall of Fame Awards Magic Joe (Shooting Star), Cougar (Life Time Achievement)
2013	Fall: Klaus Mumme, Primasens/Germany completes RNMA Long Cylinder Conversion (LCC) .38 Spec. cal. #6
2014	January: Gary Barnes, Tolar, TX/U.S.A. completes Civilian Thuer Conversion (1st patented breechloading (!) Thuer) .45 Schofield cal.
2014	July: Publication English language reference book Centaure aka Centennial Army – Myths, Fiction, Facts and Figures, author Wolf D. Niederastroth
2014	July: 5th Meeting of the FROCS, Hofheim/Germany; FROCS Hall of Fame Awards Archangel (Shooting Star), Erik Fridjoffson (Life Time Achievement)
2015	May: Discovery of Civilian Richards-Mason-type blank firing Conversion .38 cal. in U.S.A.
2015	July: 6th Meeting of the FROCS, Klein-Umstadt/Germany; FROCS Hall of Fame Awards Socks (Lifetime Achievement), Long Johns Wolf (Founding Member)
2015	July: Publication German language extended reference book Centaure oder auch Centennial Army – Mythen, Fakten und Fiktionen, authors Wolf D. Niederastroth and Michael Mayer
2016	July: 7th Meeting of the FROCS, Klein-Umstadt/Germany, FROCS Hall of Fame Awards Gunfire (Lifetime Achievement), Panhandle Paden (Founding Member)
2017	February: 1st match of previous patrons of Meetings of the FROCS The Magnificent Three, SC 1968 Klein-Umstadt, Groß-Umstadt/Germany
2017	June: Publication English language Centaure brochure Centaure aka Centennial Army – Tables and Variations, author Michael Gloystein
2017	June: 8th Meeting of the FROCS, Klein-Umstadt/Germany, FROCS Hall of Fame Award Luger Master (Lifetime Achievement)
2018	January: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes RNMA Richards (R1) Conversion .44 Colt cal. #2
2018	March: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes RNMA Richards (R1) Conversion .44 Spec. cal. #3
2018	June: Jared Baker, Amarillo, TX/U.S.A. completes 3rd pair of RNMA Long Cylinder 6″ Conversions (LCCs).44 Colt cal. #7 & #8
2018	July: 9th Meeting of the FROCS, Radebeul/Germany, FROCS Hall of Fame Awards Cheyenne Wolf (Shooting Star), MacGloy (Lifetime Achievement)
2018	August: 2nd traditional match previous patrons of Meeting of the FROCS The Magnificent Three, SV Neuenhain Bad Bad-Soden 1955, Bad Soden/Germany
2019	March: Rediscovery Colt 1860 Army #138572 in Belgium allegedly one of two model guns William B. Edwards provided for the Centaure project in 1958/59
2019	April: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes 4th pair of RNMA Overland Stage Long Cylinder 4″ Conversions (LCCs) .44 Colt cal. #9 & #10
2019	July: 10th Meeting of the FROCS, Hofheim/Germany
2019	August: 3rd traditional match of previous patrons of Meeting of the FROCS The Magnificent Three, SV Diana 1910 Jügesheim, Rodgau-Jügesheim/Germany
2019	September: joint Neo-Classikers exhibition of FROCS/VDW, Copper City Pioneers Ranch, Stolberg/Germany
2019	November: Karl Nedbal, Vösendorf/Austria completes RNMA „Mystery“ Conversion .44 Colt cal. #2
2019	November/December: Joint Neo-Classikers exhibition/50th Anniversary VDW of FROCS/Karl-May-Museum/VDW, at WBK gun show, Kassel/Germany

 

Sorry, pards and pardettes around the globe, no activities to be reported about from 2020 and 2021. Covid-19 had everything stalled including the 11th Meeting of the FROCS … which eventually took place on July 16/17, 2022 in Rüthen.

 

2.6.6

Myth Buster

Total number of Centaures ca. 60,000 specimens? With ca.16,000 confirmed myth busted!

Identical models and variations are numbered using different schemes in the U.S.A. and Europe? Sorry, wrong again, myth busted!

Nor correlations of serial numbers to year of production? Although no company and Liège Proof house records are available, indirect correlations through sales slips, proof house inspectors‘ service terms etc. confirm correlation. Myth busted!

 

 

Updated November 26,2023

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