Chapter 4 – Fiction, Odds and Ends

4.1 Conflicting Issues, Trademarks and a Couple of Odd Ends

 

4.1 4.1.1 4.1.1.1 4.1.1.2 4.1.2 4.1.2.1 4.1.2.2 4.1.3  4.1.4 4.1.4.1 4.1.4.2   4.1.4.3 4.1.4.4 4.1.4.5

Conflicting Issues, Trademarks and a Couple of Odd Ends Centaure – The True 2nd Generation Colt Army? Belgian 1960 – 2nd or 3rd Generation Colt 1860 Army? Myth Buster Different Names of our Favorite Belgian C&B Revolver Centennial Army in the U.S.A. Centaure in the European Theater Alternating Barrel Markings between 1959 and 1973 Odd Centaures and Other F.A.U.L. Percussion Revolvers CS 1862 Leech & Rigdon .36 Cal. Rebated Cylinder in Cavalry 1st Variation Engraved with Centaure Proprietary Naval Engagement Scene Fluted Cylinder Pocket Army Shoulder Stock for RNMAs and Cavalry Models F.A.U.L. Dragoons?

 

4.1.1

Centaure – The True 2nd Generation Army?

 

A considered personal comment is probably in order here: “Are the Centaures Armies re-issues or replicas?” There can be no doubt about the licensing agreement from 1853 between Samual Colt and the Liège Trade Consortium of which the Hanquets were a valued member (see chapter 2.8 for details). At the same time there exists no indication that Colt or the Belgians ever terminated or cancelled this contract. But it is a historical fact that no 1860 Army-type C&B revolver was ever produced outside the Hartford factory. That is until 1959 at Rue Treppé Nr. 22, Liège, Belgium. Years before Uberti turned out their Colt 1860 Army replica in 1963 and before Colt began marketing their 2nd generations between 1977/78 and 1982.

Some Centaure enthusiasts are pushing this even further by presenting convincing arguments that our favourite Belgian percussion revolvers are the real 2nd generation Colt Armies with more DNA of the 1st generation than the ones finished under the Blue Dome in Hartford. But, with firm roots of production in Gardone, Italy.

The guru says: “The market is always right”. Therefore, consider this: Prices for Centennial Armies at auctions on both sides of the Atlantic have increased significantly since this transatlantic research program commenced during the middle of 2007 and the first version of the Centaure & FROCS website www.1960nma.org was online in early 2008. Even run-down specimens of the more common Regular New Model Armies (RNMAs) 1st or 3rd variation and Marshals 1st variation demand premium prices these days nobody even thought possible during the 1990s and the early 21st century. Their (today’s – move) quotes today are on par with, but often higher than, comparable 2nd geneneration Colt Armies and we are not talking about rare Civilians, stocked Cavalry Models, Pocket Armies or small-scale production variations of the RNMA here. Pards & pardettes, the conclusions are all yours.

 

4.1.1.1

Belgian 1960 – 2nd or 3rd Generation Colt 1860 Army?

 

With some regularity we are stumbling over threads in gun forums or receive inquiries suggesting Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) in Belgium manufactured (or -?) Centaure pistols actually are the 2nd and even the 3rd generation Colt Armies, respectively. (Only one sentence in paragraph) Fact is, William B. Edwards and Sigmund Shore had noted gunsmith and restoration expert Thomas Haas colterizing a few Regular New Model Armies (RNMAs), Civilian and Cavalry Models during the early 1960s into Civil War period Armies with proper markings, some even with period engraving, see MOTHERLOAD page for details (actually Haas received the orders, but the work was done be his associate Horacio Q. Acevedo Sr.).

These Centaures were originally for their private collections only. Therefore, to make a long story short: Colt commenced “making” their 2nd generation Armies from 1977 into the early 1980s whereas production of the 3rd generation Armies (aka Signature Series) lasted from 1994 to 2002. But as we know F.A.U.L. had discontinued their Centaure production in 1973 already and never tooled up again thereafter!

 

4.1.1.2	Myth Buster
Are Centaure „1960 NEW MODEL ARMIES“ the true 2nd generation Colt Armies? Plausible but can be argued both ways!
Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) produced the 2nd generation Colt Armies for Colt? Wishful thinking!

 

4.1.2

Different Names of our Favorite Belgian C&B Revolver

 

The generally accepted used name or term for these Belgian percussion revolvers pistol was and still is Centennial Army in the U.S.A. but Centaure in Europe. Why this difference? What might have been the rational (or emotional rather – omit) for the different names?

 

4.1.2.1

Centennial Army in the U.S.A.

 

Here are a few facts regarding the Centaures sold in the U.S.A. to bring things into perspective. During the 1960s Centennial Arms Corporation of Chicago was the distributor and main dealer for these Belgian made Colt 1860 Army pattern pistols in the U.S.A. Their import was handled by sister company Mars Equipment Corporation also Chicago. Both were subsidiaries of Shore Galleries Inc. with their HQ in Lincolnwood, IL., U.S.A. Lincolnwood is a subsidiary of Chichago.

Until the end of 1962 all Centaures carried the barrel marking “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”. Centennial Arms Corp. ran intense advertising campaigns for the Centaures which was the only Colt 1860 Army pattern pistol available until 1963. Once Centennial Arms felt the Centaure was firmly established in the U.S. market as THE New Model Army (NMA) they shifted their communication focus some and had Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) add the roll-engraving CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK in different font (!) before or after the “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” marking on top of the barrel beginning in 1963. Their objective now was to create customer awareness for Centennial Arms Corp. as THE premier U.S. replica dealer. This was accomplished sometime later. However, Centennial Arms Corp. never highlighted the involvement of Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) in their communication platform. (, however. -moved)

Later during the 1960s and 1970s Centennial Arms Corp. complemented their Belgian Centaure line of revolvers by Italian made replicas of Colts of 1847 Walker, 1848 Dragoon, 1849 Pocket, 1851 Navy and 1860 Schneider & Glassick design to name a few. Many of these Italians were marked CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK or CENTENNIAL ARMS, CHICAGO ILL.  on top or the side of their barrels.

After discussions with a couple of first and current owners of Centennial Armies (aka Centaures ) in the U.S.A., here are my conclusions: Most U.S. reenactors and shooters perceived Centennial Arms Corp. as the manufacturer of the Centaures and still do so today. The „incorporation“ of Centennial and (Belgian made) Army as the name of the pistol stuck! In addition, the Centaures were officially launched in the U.S. market 1960, intentionally 100 years AFTER the introduction of the Colt M 1860 Army. Again Centennial Arms Corp. used that fact in their promotions. This might be perceived as an additional rationalization for (the) <— WHY THE PARENTHESIS?preferred term Centennial (of the) Army (model) in the U.S.A.! On the other hand this name Centennial Army has nothing to do with the Centennial of the Civil War 1961-1965. The production of U.S. replica percussion revolvers other than the Centaures during the 1960s by F.A.U.L. is confirmed. No indications exist, however that these projects ever made it beyond prototype stage.

 

4.1.2.2

Centaure in the European Theater

 

First sketchy Centaure sales in Europe are reported from around 1963 only, i.e. more than three years after the U.S.A. Barrel marking of the pistols of the period was CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK              “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”. One needs to remember that F.A.U.L. had to deal with many different importers and dealers in the various European countries. F.A.U.L. themselves had to get more actively involved in the promotion efforts of the Centaures. They developed marketing concepts including advertising support programs like ads, catalogues and flyers to help with the sales activities of their business partners. Often this promotion literature was then customized by their respective local dealers by adding their individual address.

However, the fact is this: The European buyers did not care what the factory or their dealers termed the pistols or different models. Once the market took note of these Colt licensed Belgian Armies, gun journals, reenactors and shooters referred to them as Centaures because of the corporate centaur logo on the left side of the frame. That name stuck on the Eastern side of the Big Pond until today.

 

4.1.3	Alternating Barrel Markings between 1959 and 1973
Regular Production Barrel Markings1)		Abridged in survey2)	From	Until
“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”		1960NMA	1959	1961
“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK CHIGAGO U.S.A		1960NMA CTM CU	1963	1963
“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK		1960NMA CTM	1963	1963
CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”		CTM 1960NMA	1963	1965
“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK		1960NMA CTM	1965	1970
CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”		CTM 1960NMA	1970	1972
“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”		1960NMA	1972	1973

1) Interspersed can be 1960NMA, 1969NMA CTM and CTM 1860NMA, respectively.

2) Check survey data of Centaure & FROCS website www.1960nma.org for details.

 

Between 1959 and 1973 our favourite Belgian Colts were roll-engraved with the top of the barrel marking “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” no matter in which area of the globe these pistols were sold, excluding the Marshal models and factory engraved variants. From 1963 to (when?) this marking CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK was added in different font before or behind the “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”. Hence, the barrel marking would read either

“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK or

CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”, respectively.

Only during 1963, a few batches of Centaures had “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK CHIGAGO U.S.A. as top of the barrel marking. Pistols with this marking were found in the U.S.A. and New Zealand.

 

4.1.4

Odd Centaures and Other F.A.U.L. Percussion Revolvers

 

During the summer of 2008 I had a conversation with a German Colt collector, CAS shooter and proud owner of two Centaures. He told me about his visit to Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) in the late 1960s. He remembered handling there a newly made C&B revolver in .36 cal. with creeping loading lever. He felt they looked like Colt M 1861 Navy models. Could F.A.U.L. have been working on such a pistol to extend the line of percussion revolvers? Is the prototype of a Centaure Navy re-issue out there somewhere? From a production point of view, it might not be too much of a difference between the making of an Army and (the -omit) a Navy. Being prepared for the unexpected, I will not be surprised if a “1961 NEW MODEL NAVY” surfaces at an auction (, -omit) in the classified section of one of the cowboy forums or gun journals one of these days.

 

4.1.4.1

CS 1862 Leech & Rigdon .36 Cal.

 

As has been mentioned before I was privileged to inspect and photograph Centaures and F.A.U.L. memorabilia of the magnificent Shore Collection in Lincolnwood during February 2010. A couple of pistols stuck out from the rest but this one pictured below certainly did not look like a New Model Army (NMA) at all.

 

4.1.4.1_1 F.A.U.L. prototype of 1862 Leech & Rigdon

 

This is the F.A.U.L. made prototype of a CS 1862 Leech & Rigdon .36 cal. percussion revolver. She appeared to be neither serial numbered, nor proof tested or otherwise marked except for BELGIUM on the butt. Visible features include round 7,5″ barrel (historically correct), hinged loading lever (historically correct), big bead type front sight (not quite correct), straight cylinder (historically correct) with Ormsby style naval engagement scene roll-engraved (certainly not correct), case color hardened frame and hammer (historically correct), 2-piece grip panels (not correct).

 

4.1.4.1_2 BELGIUM stamped on butt

 

The Navy scene on the cylinder might be an indication that Thomas Haas or Horacio Q. Acevedo were somehow involved in this project. William B. Edwards could have told the manager in charge of the project at F.A.U.L. what few corrections or adjustments rather were needed before trial production. It is a great pity this Navy pistol never made it to the market.

 

4.1.4.2

Rebated Cylinder in Cavalry 1st Variation Engraved with Centaure Proprietary Naval Engagement Scene

 

“Read and learn” says the wise man. I like to thumb through old advertisements or catalogues to study and compare pictures and prices. In early September of 2009 Replica Percussion Revolver Collector’s Association (RPRCA) let me have this Centennial Arms Corp. ad from Guns Magazine of 1962. The pistol with the detachable shoulder stock on the left is an early fluted Cavalry Model, the ones collectors call 1st variation 1st sub-variation today (chapter 3.4).

 

4.1.4.2_1 Courtesy RPRCA Centennial Arms Corp. ad from 1962 Gun Magazine

 

Then there are five (5) Centaures in a row plus a single shoulder stock:

1. Civilian Model no doubt, see Chapter 3.3 for further details,

2. RNMA 1st variation typically with the rebated, plain cylinder (chapter 3.2.1.1),

3. Judged by the 7.5″ barrel and 4-screw frame next must be a Cavalry Model fitted with a rare rebated cylinder with navy scene? Description reads „Another version of the Regular NMA .44, this is like a transitional Colt 1860, few found with 7 1/2” barrel and round cylinder navy scene“.

 

4.1.4.2_2 Close-up of above ad: Third pistol from top is rare Cavalry 1st variation 3rd sub-variation

 

Back in 2009 I had never heard about this variant. Today we know that is a Cavalry 1st variation 3rd sub-variation according to the Coppell Classification. From this poster now we have an early indication that this Cavalry variant really existed in 1962. Until this ad was brought to my attention, I was led to believe that early Cavalry models termed Cavalry Models 1st variation today were only available with fluted cylinders AND they were the only 7,5” barrel C&B revolvers ever produced by Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.). This is not yet the end of the story. I did some double checking of old information in the data bank in September 2009 and „rediscovered“ an inquiry regarding Cavalry Model #F620 with rebated cylinder from earlier that year. Please, see chapter 3.4.1.2.3 for details!

4. Cavalry Model 1st variation 1st sub-variation sans stock. First proof the Cavalry Models 1st variation could be had without the shoulder stock (chapter 3.4.1.2).

 

4.1.4.3

Fluted Cylinder Pocket Army

 

5. Super Rare and famous Pocket Army 2nd variation easy identified by the short 4” barrel without loading lever assembly, fluted cylinder and post front sight, see details over at chapter 3.6.

 

4.1.4.2_3 Close-up of above ad: Fourth revolver from top is rare Pocket Army Model 2nd variation

 

4.1.4.4

Shoulder Stock for RNMAs and Cavalry Models

 

6. The Belgian shoulder stock could be fixed to both your Cavalry pistol and the Regular New Model Army (RNMA), respectively as explained in chapter 3.4.1.1.

 

4.1.4.2_4 F.A.U.L. shoulder stock

 

A few of the „claims“ in this ad of 1962 are worth to be looked at some more. Centennial Arms Corp. calls the Cavalry pistol #4 their 1st Model Centennial. This confirms our previous findings that the Cavalry Model was first launched in the U.S.A. during 1961 only, during the year of the centennial of the outbreak of the Civil war. But if this is the 1st Model Centennial which one is the 2nd Model Centennial?

As known today you could buy these early Cavalry Models during the 1960s with and without stock. Also, this stock would work for the RNMA (usually with some fitting) as well, no 4th or guiding screws needed?! Back in 2009 that was fresh information directly from the horse’s mouth, however.

 

4.1.4.5

F.A.U.L. Dragoons?

 

During January 2012 FROCS #111 L&N Guy from Kentucky in the U.S.A. told me that he owns a Centaure he purchased during a visit to Belgium directly from Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.). At that time during the early 1960s he was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in the United Kingdom. In 1962 he visited F.A.U.L. for the first time because he started early collecting guns. Among other things he took a couple of pictures at that visit.

 

4.1.4.5_1 Possibly F.A.U.L. made Colt 1847 Walker and 1848 Dragoons: Top one could be a 2nd Model Dragoon, in the middle a Whitneyville Walker variant with the wrong square cylinder stops, the third a 3rd Model Dragoon

 

His pictures above and below show the three different model Colt Walker and Dragoons. Two of them were still „in the white“. L&N Guy comments “As I never saw any out for sale, I just assumed that they were prototypes.”

 

4.1.4.5_2 Left Dragoon traditional finish, center Walker and right Dragoon  still „in the white“

 

Everything seems to fall into place sooner or later. Do you remember the below 1961 advertisement from Centennial Arms Corp. featuring three models of the Dragoon? Was this Centennial Arms’s first signal to the market that they were about to market replicas of early Colt horse pistols, manufactured by the maker of the Centaures?

 

4.1.4.5_3 Centennial Arms Corp. advertisement from 1961: Note the three Dragoon replicas in the lower half of the ad

 

But, were these revolvers really made in the F.A.U.L. pattern room? If yes, did F.A.U.L. ever get beyond prototype stage with their Dragoon production? Or were these three (3) pistols L & N Guy photographed in 1962 assembled at F.A.U.L. by their technicians from rough parts supplied by Italian Armi san Marco (ASM), and were FAULerized, like Colt did with the Uberti parts for their making of the 2nd generation percussion revolvers? If the F.A.U.L. calculation of the trial production pistols proved too expensive in their making as Mitch Shore suggested in 2010 what happened to these prototypes and possible other trial production guns?

What do you think? Any suggestions. Share them with me, send an email at info@niederastroth.com.

And now you know the rest of the story, or don’t you?

 

Updated January 1, 2024

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