Chapter 3 – Models & Variations of the Centaure

3.6 Fifth or Pocket Army Models

 

3.6 3.6.1 3.6.2   3.6.2.1   3.6.2.2   3.6.2.3   3.6.2.4   3.6.2.5   3.6.2.6

Fifth or Pocket Army Model History Common Characteristics of the Pocket Army Models Pocket Army Models 1st Variation – Key Features Pocket Army Models 2nd Variation – Key Features Pocket Army Models 3rd Variation – Key Features Pocket Army Models – Rational of Serial Numbering Pocket Army Models – Pricing and Serial Number Ranges Pocket Army Models – FAQ

 

 

3.6.1

History

 

 

Many 1860 Armies carried during the Civil War and more often thereafter were modified by their owners or gunsmiths on the frontier with the loading lever removed and barrels cut off to a comfortable length between 2” and 4” to carry as a back-up pistol. Usually, the slot in the barrel lug that previously accommodated the loading lever was not plugged. A few of these pistols had dovetailed front sights fitted, others just a blade, a bead or post mounted on the barrel and quite a few had no front sight at all. No matter the sights or barrel length of these .44 cal. pocket artilleries they made impressive and functional Avenging Angel aka Natchez Special type revolvers.

 

3.6.1_1 Original Colt 1860 Avenging Angel nickel plated from the 1860s

 

A Centaure Pocket Army Model has been haunting me since April 2008 when U.S. FROCS Chain-Fire presented an ad of Centennial Arms Corp. of Chicago from the early 1960s. Among other New Model Armies (NMAs) among others this ad featured such a F.A.U.L. made ”1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“ percussion revolver for the first time. In a nutshell it was a Centaure snubby with full size frame, grip and .44 cal. 6 shot cylinder. Offered as a „special-order only“ gun.

 

3.6.1_2 Centennial Arms ad from the early 1860s featuring „Special-Order Percussion Sheriffs, our NMA Civilian, fluted“, 4″ barrel“ Centaure, bottom center

 

Sometime later further information became available. The snubby was said to be modelled after the rare .36 cal. 5 shot cylinder pocket size frame Colt 1862 Police in what some call Trapper or Avenging Angel design. Like this Trapper this Belgian came with a separate heavy duty brass plunger instead of the integrated loading lever as we know from the other NMAs. By February 2010 another advertisement was found of this Belgian Pocket Army. It explained with „4” barrel on regular or Civilian frame”. An even further ad dubbed the Pocket Army Sheriff’s Model.

I suggest the use of the name 5th Model or Pocket Army.

Please, do not get carried away by the prices of Centaures quoted by the Centennial Arms Corp. ads and flyers of the 1960s. My heart is bleeding too and I am chiming in with you “If I could turn back time” (quote from Cher).

 

3.6.2

Common Characteristics of the Pocket Army Models

 

 

The few facts we could gather on this Pocket Army Model were collected from studying these old ads of Centennial Arms Corp. They were main distributor and North American dealer back in the days of Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.), maker of the Centaure percussion revolvers. Important new information was provided by Leslie Field and Mitch Shore on occasion of a visit to Shore Galleries in Lincolnwood in February of 2010.

The hard facts presented below are the result of measuring, photographing, disassembly and reassembly again of the five (5) documented Pocket Army Models per August 2022 in the survey of the Centaure & FROCS website https://wp.1960nma.org/ plus one possible from August 2023. Therefore, consider our information as preliminary research assumptions only.

 

Barrel	4″, without integrated loading lever, heavy duty brass made loading rod supplied as a loading tool
Logo	rampant centaur
Barrel marking	”1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“
Front sight	post
Frame	3-screw
Finish	„traditional“ blue and color casehardened (b cch)
Arbor	1st version
Comments	Produced on special-order only. No visible serial numbers. Very rare, found in the U.S.A. only.

 

 

During this February 2010 visit to Shore Galleries (https://www.shoregalleries.com/)

I was privileged to take a closer look at the outstanding Shore Collection of early New Model Armies (NMAs) in Lincolnwood, IL, suburb of Chicago. Among others there were three of these rare Pocket Armies, pictured below. They were all what the Centaure collectors today call 2nd variations. i.e. fluted cylinders, silver plated triggerguard and backstrap, varnished grips.

 

3.6.2_1 The first Centaure Pocket Army at Shore Galleries in February 2010 I laid my hands on: Note brilliant traditional finish like on Civilian Models, fluted cylinder, silver plated grip frame, varnished grip …

 

The 4” barrels are not regular production Centaure barrels. Instead, they were specially manufactured without slots for the loading lever. Barrel-lugs are contoured with a drastic, no-nonsense 90° angle from the bore line. That is the way a gunsmith on the frontier could have chosen it back then. It makes for a belly gun with a very distinctive, almost brutal look.

 

3.6.2_ 2 … serial numbers not visible: Note rampant centaur logo, „guiding hole“ for the loading rod in barrel lug …

 

This is in contrast to the pocket-sized 3rd generation Colt 1862 Police or Italian short-barrelled Army clones without loading lever pictured in this chapter. These replicas were launched at least two decades after the Centaure Pocket Army made its appearance to the U.S. market.

 

3.6.2_3 … post type front sight, barrel marking „1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“ …

 

3.6.2_4 Comparing .44 cal. „Pocket Army class“ Karl Nedbal made FROCS Special top to tiny 3rd gen. Colt 1862 Police aka Trapper in .36 cal.

 

The $$$$$ question: Why introduced Centennial Arms Corporation the Centaure Pocket Army during the early 1960s in the first place?

Here is my thinking which is always dangerous. Quick draw competitions with short-barrelled Colt Single Action Armies loaded with wax bullets or blanks were a hot game during the late 1950s and well into the 1960s. Celebrities like Clint Eastwood, Sammy Davis Jr. and a few others were into quick draw action stuff.

 

3.6.2_5 Centennial Arms Corp. 1961 tin-plate sign featuring 3” barrel Colt SAA aka Sheriff’s Model

 

According to the above 1961 ad Centennial Arms Corporation offered genuine Colt 1873 SAAs with 3” barrel, without loading lever dubbed Sheriff’s Model .45 as an exclusive. Mitch Shore of Shore Galleries advises that this was the first ever Colt 1873 Single Action Army made as a Commemorative issue!

 

3.6.2_6 From the RPRCA Collection: Pietta Colt 1860 3″ barrel snubby with rebated cylinder and separate loading rod …

 

3.6.2_7 … this is the way the loading rod is supposed to be used, note contour of barrel lug …

 

 

3.6.2_8 … unplugged slot of barrel lug, fluted cylinder, 4-screw frame

 

Being the only company in the U.S.A. offering a re-issue of the venerable Colt 1860 Army at that time, a manufacturing line extension into this booming sport of cowboy quick draw with a Centaure in belly gun configuration might have looked like a great idea. Centennial Arms then was the only place in the U.S.A. to attract both cartridge and C&B revolver aficionados with tailor-made exclusive belly guns from Hartford/U.S.A. and Liège/Belgium, respectively.

 

3.6.2_9 Centennial Arms Colt 1873 SAA Sheriff’s 1961 Commemorative in .45 Colt cal.

 

3.6.2_10 Belgian Centaure Pocket Army #6

 

Having gone through all the information we could collect here is what we think happened back then around this Centaure Pocket Army Model. We know from Centennial Arms that Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) made the Pocket Army on special-order only. Furthermore, we are led to believe the Belgians produced them in three (3) variations according to early advertisements and supportive information.

 

3.6.2.1

Pocket Army Model 1st Variation – Key Features

 

 

Frame	„round“ without notches in recoil shield like Civilian
Backstrap	assumingly no toe on butt
Cylinder	rebated with Centaure proprietary naval engagement scene
Grip frame	assumingly silver plated
Grip	varnished
Comments	Assumingly produced in 1962, known from descriptions in U.S. advertising only, no confirmed real-life specimen has surfaced yet.

 

 

3.6.2.1_1 Mock-up of Pocket Army 1st variation: That’s how she should look like

 

In August 2023, the below three pictures of a possible Pocket Army 1st variation pistol were presented to us. This Centaure revolver resembling a Pocket Army was discovered at a gunshow in the USA. No further details are currently available. Specifically, we do not know the top of the barrel marking that had been roll-engraved some 60 years ago or which serial numbers and marks and markings are visible after disassembly only.

 

3.6.2.1_2 Possible Centaure Pocket Army 1st variation: Note custom front sight on 4” barrel, * over F inspector mark on barrel lug and frame, rampant centaur logo, Centaure proprietary naval engagement scene on cylinder, fitted with Navy size brass grip frame & grip

 

Our current preliminary assessment is based on these pictures. They signal “caveat”. This pistol might be a gun assembled from 2nd variation Centaure Civilian model parts. Barrel, frame, cylinder, and hammer look F.A.U.L. alright. The same applies to the visible logo and marks. We are certain they were applied at F.A.U.L. and the Liège Proof house, respectively.

The front sight is a custom replacement. Overall contour of the barrel is similar to confirmed Pocket Armies, but the S- shape of the front of the barrel lug does not compare to the straight cut of bona fide Pockets.

 

3.6.2.1_3 No serial numbers forward of triggerguard, on frame and bottom of barrel lug are typical for Pocket Armies currently recorded; big question mark regarding Navy size grip frame

 

We must doubt that F.A.U.L. fitted their Pocket Armies 1st variation with Navy size grip frames and respective Navy size wooden grips like we find here. Old catalogue pictures of Pocket Army 1st variations show this variant with Army size grips. Currently confirmed Pocket Army 2nd variation pistols all have Army size grips, too.

We noted that the grip frame of the variant presented here is not silver plated like we know from other confirmed Pocket Armies. We consider this aspect a reasonable feature of the 1st variation, however. According to known descriptions the 1st variation Pocket Armies were assembled with cylinders featuring the Centaure proprietary naval scene like we find on this specimen here.

3.6.2.1_4 Left side close-up of cylinder and frame: Centaure proprietary naval scene looks ok as do the frame marks

 

Lots of questions and a couple of speculations. An intriguing find, nonetheless. Hopefully, more details on this short barreled Centaure can be unearthed eventually. At this point we do not have the hard facts to finally assess this pistol.

 

3.6.2.2

Pocket Army Model 2nd Variation – Key Features

 

 

Frame	„round“ without notches in recoil shield like Civilian
Backstrap	no toe on butt
Cylinder	fluted
Grip frame	silver plated
Grip	varnished
Hammer spur	2nd version
Comments	Seemingly produced in 1962 only, known from the U.S.A., specimens recorded are #1, #4, #6, #8 and #12

 

 

All three Pocket Armies in the Shore Collection are of this 2nd variation. One of these Shore pistol was stamped with the inspector mark * over F (sideways) on barrel lug and frame but * over U (sideways) on the cylinder, one with * over R (sideways), one with * over U (sideways) in the three locations on the pistols. All carried the early production rampant centaur logo on the forward left side of the frame. The 1-piece wooden grips were varnished. There was no toe on the butt but the MADE IN BELGIUM country-of-origin stamp.

 

3.6.2.2_1 Pocket Army 2nd variation #8 (S/N discovered years later): Heavy duty brass loading rod (picture courtesy Terushi Jimbo, Düsseldorf/Germany)

 

At that time at Shore’s in February 2010 I did not dare to propose disassembling any of these Pocket Armies to look for their serial numbers. One thing was certain, however: The Liège Proof house would not have applied their proof marks to these pistols without positive (hidden) identification.

 

3.6.2.2_2 Pocket Army #1: No visible serial number, MADE IN BELGIUM on butt, grip frame silver plated

 

Early in September 2011, Mitch Shore emailed me that he might consider selling four specimens of the early Centaures of the Shore collection. This included the one Pocket Army with the * over U inspector mark on the left side of barrel lug, frame and on the cylinder. I was lucky and could liberate her! As it turned out after disassembly the serial numbers were present alright. Her’s is #8 displayed on the original carton with the heavy (slightly bent) brass loading rod.

 

3.6.2.2._3 Pocket Army #8 after arrival in Germany

 

Once disassembled the serial numbers are found on the major parts as anticipated. However, most numbers were stamped in unusual locations only used on the early M marked Centaures. Here are the locations of the serial numbers of #8.

 

3.6.2.2_4 Barrel lug: 8 between the holes for the two locator pins

 

3.6.2.2_5 Cylinder: 8 regularly located on the breech side

 

3.6.2.2_6 Backstrap: 8 right side of bottom strap

 

3.6.2.2_7 Triggerguard: 8 left side close to screw of mainspring

 

3.6.2.2_8 Hammer: 7 (?) stamped on lower left side like on regular production Centaures

 

3.6.2.2_9 Wooden grip: 8 in the location like on regular production Centaures

 

3.6.2.2_10 Frame: 8 rear side right of the hammer slot

 

Why the hammer of my #8 was stamped with a 7 instead of an 8 is beyond me. Could this have been a mistake on the assembly line in Belgium? Was one of the other two Pocket Armies in the Shore Collection possibly serial numbered #7 with my 8‘s hammer installed?

An early November 2011 email from Mitch Shore provided the serial numbers of these other two (2) Pocket Armies. They are

        #1: inspector marks * over F (sideways) on barrel lug/frame, * over U (sideways) on cylinder,

        #4:  inspector mark * over R (sideways) stamped on all the three locations.

Their serial numbers are stamped in the same locations like on my #8. But, their hammers are properly stamped 1 – also the cylinder despite the * over U inspector mark – and 4, respectively, i.e. all matching numbers in contrast to my #8!

Further adding to the confusion is the finding that Pocket Army #1 is carrying two (2) different inspector marks, namely * over F (sideways) on barrel lug and frame but * over U (sideways) on the cylinder, even though all numbers are matching.

 

3.6.2.2_11 Close-up of barrel lug of #1: Note inspector mark * over F

 

3.6.2.2_12 Close-up of frame of #1: Note inspector mark * over F

 

3.6.2.2_13 Close-up of cylinder of #1: Note inspector mark * over U

 

3.6.2.2_14 Close-up of breech side of barrel lug and between cylinder of #1: Note S/N 1 between holes of the locator pins on barrel lug and in 11 o’clock position on cylinder

 

There are more pending questions. Why did F.A.U.L. elect to use these irregular locations for the serial numbers on this special-order Pocket Army Model 2nd variation? Will serial numbers of the 1st and 3rd variation be found in the same locations? We just do not know since none have surfaced so far. Hence, please holler if you discover a 1st or 3rd variation Pocket Army.

Here is the theory of our U.S. FROCS #14 Chain-Fire on the mixed inspector marks (and serial numbers of parts):

„I believe the mixed inspector mark problem was the result of not having external serial numbers.“

„I also believe there was only one run of Pocket Army revolvers – perhaps as many as 15.“

„Additionally, I believe the problem began with the initial assembly of the revolvers at the factory when two or more revolvers were built with one or more mixed numbers.“

„After assembly, the entire lot of 15 revolvers was then delivered “In-The-White” to the Liege Proof House.“

„Then, the 15 revolvers were divided into smaller groups and given to as many as 3 inspectors (F, R and U) for proofing. Indeed, all three inspectors were working at the proof house in the 1960 – 1963 timeframe.“

„After proofing, each inspector stamped his proof mark in the typical locations (barrel, cylinder and frame).“

„Then, the group of 15 revolvers was returned to the factory where they were completely disassembled, thoroughly cleaned, blued, case colored, silver plated and finally reassembled.“

„It was during this final assembly process where numbers were matched-up with special attention being given to major components such as barrel, cylinder, frame, grip straps, etc.“

„So, in all likelihood, that’s how the Serial Number 1 barrel with the F inspector mark got matched up with the Serial Number 1 cylinder with the U inspector mark. Where it actually belonged in the first place.“

„During proofing at the proof house, the two Serial Number 1 parts (barrel and cylinder) were on two different guns. One of these guns was then inspected by F and the other gun was inspected by U.“

„Mystery solved … This scenario would have never happened if F.A.U.L. had used external serial numbers on the Pocket Army.“

 

3.6.2.2_15 Pocket Army #6 discovered in January 2020 cased in English fit with red interior, original carton and heavy-duty brass rod (not pictured), rare steel made F.A.U.L. bullet mould, Italian flask and cap box (probably repro)

 

3.6.2.2_16 Left side view of Pocket Army #6: Note typical fluted cylinder, 2nd version hammer spur, beautifully selected wood varnished grip

 

3.6.2.2_17 Barrel marking of Pocket Army #6 is „1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“

 

3.6.2.2_18 Family heritage and size comparison of Civilian 2nd variation #C489 (top) vs. Pocket Army 2nd variation #8 (bottom) displayed with loading rod

 

3.6.2.3

Pocket Army Model 3rd Variation – Key Features

 

 

Frame	3-screw frame assumingly with notched recoil shields like RNMA
Backstrap	assumed with toe on butt
Cylinder	assumed rebated plain like RNMA
Grip frame	plain brass and steel, respectively
Grip	assumed oiled
Comments	Produced probably in 1963, known from descriptions in U.S. advertising only, no real-life specimen is available for inspection has surfaced.

 

 

3.6.2.3_1 FROCS Special modelled after the descriptions of Pocket Army 3rd variation

 

3.6.2.4

Pocket Army Models – Rational of Serial Numbering

 

 

After the discovery of these few Centaure Pocket Armies 2nd variation in the U.S.A. it seems reasonable to assume a few more are out there.  We suggest they have their serial numbers in the same odd locations as found on the currently recorded pistols.

While the locations of these serial numbers of the Pocket Armies are different compared to other regular production Centaures, remember F.A.U.L. had used similar locations, at least once, as early as 1959 in their M marked model guns already, see chapter 3.1.2.

Based on our findings so far, the Belgians applied the same serial numbering logic on the Pocket Armies that we already know from other New Model Armies (NMAs), namely from #1 up and without prefix. Until the opposite is proven I believe a separate block of serial numbers has been set aside for these Pocket Armies.

 

3.6.2.5

Pocket Army Models – Pricing and Serial Number Ranges

 

 

Between 1962 and 1964 Centennial Arms Corp. offered these Pocket Armies at U.S $ 89.95.

Total production of all three variations combined is estimated at less than 50 units for sure and probably no more than 25 specimens. So, watch out for a mean, ugly and all business looking Army 1860 type hideaway gun with early Liège proof and acceptance marks, rampant centaur logo, MADE IN BELGIUM on the butt, post front sight … and holler out loud!

 

Pocket Army Model	Lowest Serial Number	Year	Highest Serial Number	Year	Total	%
1st Variation	DPO	1962	DPO	1962	51)	20.0
2nd Variation	1	1962	12	1962	15	60.0
3rd Varaition	DPO	1963	DPO	1963	51)	20.0
Total					25	100.0

 

1.        DPO = descriptive proof only

 

3.6.2.6	Pocket Army Models – FAQ
Q: “Clint Eastwood as Outlaw Josey Wales carried heavy handguns of the Colt factory to Texas, namely two 1847 Walkers, one 1860 Army or 1861 Navy and an 1849 Pocket. Given the choice wouldn’t he be better armed with a couple of Centaure Pocket Armies instead?”
A: IMHO this is an important, sensitive and politically totally incorrect subject. Admittedly, I am a dyed-in-the-wool Eastwood fan and like my Centaures. Deeply biased this is nonetheless a challenging proposition when you weigh up the tactical considerations of Wales’s gunplay. Fact is many of the bad guys in the movie toted Belgian Colt Armies as we learnt from Roger Ragland, see chapter 4.9. Therefore, we can assume Centaures of the Pocket Army type could have been stocked by the prop master during the mid-1970s when OJW was filmed. Fact is also that Clint carried an armament of four (4) pistols, i.e. two heavy Walkers of .44 cal., one 1860 Army also .44 cal. alternated with an 1861 Navy in .36 cal. and this 5 shot .31 cal. pea shooter under the armpit. Considering his gun fighter’s needs as portrayed in the movie I feel Josey Wales would have had a couple of additional edges as he called it, over his many adversaries, if armed with four (4) Pocket Armies instead. I admit firing two Walkers simultaneously looks impressive. But did you ever try drawing a pair from straight hip holsters? I did, it does not work although I am almost of Eastwood’s size. Hence, these are my thoughts: # Simplified logistics because just one type of ball or conical bullets is needed namely .44 cal., instead of.44 and .31 cal., and possibly also .36 when he decided to stick the Colt 1861 Navy in the belt instead. # Think of his poor horse which had to carry that heavy hardware all the way to Texas (the Animal Rights people will be with us on this one), # Thanks to the belly gun design the Pocket Armies are faster on the draw compared to the holstered Walkers and the 8″ Army or 7,5″ Navy tucked into his belt. # More fire power by one ball with Pocket Armies, i.e. four (4) Centaures 24 shots vs. Wales’s current armament 23 shots only, # At least as effective in the power department for his close-range work, and finally (this one is the killer argument), # Much more fashionable. What do you say?

 

 

Updated December 30, 2023

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