Chapter 4 – Fiction, Odds and Ends

4.6 Accessories of the Centaure

 

4.6 4.6.1 4.6.1.1 4.6.1.2 4.6.2 4.6.3 4.6.4 4.6.4.1 4.6.4.2 4.6.5 4.6.6 4.6.7 4.6.8 4.6.8.1 4.6.8.2 4.6.8.2.1 4.6.8.2.2

Accessories of the Centaure Display Cases Display Cases – English Fit Display Cases – French Fit Powder Flasks Cap Boxes Bullet Molds Bullet Molds – Steel Bullet Molds – Brass Oil Bottles and Vent Picks Nipple Wrenches Cleaning Kit Original Cartons and Leaflets Cartons from Germany Cartons from the U.S.A. U.S. Handling Instructions U.S. Warranty Slip

 

4.6.1

Display Cases

 

Like Colt Firearms in Hartford, the maker of our favourite Belgian percussion revolver, Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.), (particularly their main U.S. dealer Centennial Arms Corporation of Lincolnwood; but, other dealers and distributors in Europe and New Zealand as well) offered wooden display cases for the Centaures. Different grades seem to have been available including elaborate presentation cases like for two pistols or for Cavalry Models with shoulder stocks.

According to our survey data this cased option could be had for three of the five models of the New Model Army (NMA) except for the Marshal and the special-order Pocket Army. Although cased Marshals and Pocket Armies are recorded, their cases were originally for the 8” barreled brothers.

Original F.A.U.L. accessories (namely powder flasks, cap boxes, bullet moulds or nipple wrenches) could be had during the 1960s and into the 1970s. Today the cases with original accessories are rare and pricey finds. If you happen to spot one for sale today, there are often Italian accessories added.

Varying colors of the interior of the cases was noted including different shades of blue, green and red. The cases you find in the next chapters are taken from the picture collection of the data bank of the Centaure & FROCS website https://wp.1960nma.org/. Cases were filled with both plain and engraved Centaures.

 

4.6.1.1

Display Cases – English Fit

 

Most cases recorded were made in English fit, many less in French fit. English fit implies partitions. The listing of the sets below is by model and serial number, starting with Regular New Model Armies (RNMAs).

 

4.6.1.1_1 Cased RNMA 3rd variation #1807 with Italian accessories spotted in the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.1_2 Cased and custom engraved RNMA 2nd variation #2211 with F.A.U.L. made mould, original cap box, Italian flask discovered in the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.1_3 Custom cased RNMA 1st variation #6017 with Italian accessories found in Finland

 

4.6.1.1_4 Cased and custom engraved RNMA 5th variation #7425 with Italian flask, mould and cap box of unknown origin spotted in France

 

4.6.1.1_5 Cased RNMA 1st variation #8645 with Italian accessories unearthed in Germany

 

4.6.1.1_6 Custom cased RNMA 3rd variation #9960 with Italian accessories from in the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.1_7 Cased and custom engraved RNMA 5th variation #14164 with original accessories discovered in Germany

 

4.6.1.1_8 Custom cased Civilian 1st variation #C320 with Italian accessories from the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.1_9 Cased Civilian 2nd variation #C782 with Italian accessories found in the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.1_10 Rare custom cased Cavalry set 1st variation #F220 with accessories of unknown origin discovered in the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.1_11 Cased Cavalry 1st variation #F324, Italian flask reported from the U.S.A.

 

 

4.6.1.1_12 Cased and custom engraved Cavalry 1st variation #F946, F.A.U.L. made mould, possibly original cap box, Italian flask from the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.1_13 Cased Cavalry 2nd variation #11103, 2nd gen. Colt flask attached found in Germany

 

4.6.1.1_14 Cased Marshal 1st variation #13323 with Italian flask from Germany; case was originally made for an 8” barrel NMA

 

4.6.1.1_15 Cased Pocket Army 2nd variation #6 with F.A.U.L. made mould and Italian flask; case was originally made for 8” barrel NMA

 

4.6.1.2

Display Cases – French Fit

 

Display cases in French fit means contoured.

 

4.6.1.2_1 German dealer Bärbel Harlos sold this type of wooden cases to display Centaures, as used for RNMA #10203 on next picture

 

4.6.1.2_2 Custom engraved RNMA 5th variation #10203 with F.A.U.L. flask, cap box and nipple wrench, Italian made bullet mould liberated in Germany

 

4.6.1.2_3 Cased RNMA factory engraved in De Luxe-style #11834 with Italian flask found in Germany

 

4.6.1.2_4 Double cased set of Marshal 1st variation #12449 and RNMA 6th variation #12530, F.A.U.L. wrench, Italian made mould discovered in Germany

 

4.6.1.2_5 Custom cased RNMA 5th variation #13361 displayed on lid found in the U.S.A.

 

4.6.1.2_6 RNMA 5th variation #13361 custom case opened from the U.S.A.

 

4.6.2

Powder Flasks

 

At the request of demanding U.S. customers Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) added high quality powder flasks made of copper to their assortment of Centaure revolvers. These flasks were fabricated for F.A.U.L. by famous Dixon & Sons in Great Britain.

 

4.6.2_1 Front side of the Dixon made .44 cal. powder flask made for F.A.U.L.: Note COLTS PATENT mark in two lines under the four guns like on 19th century flasks

 

4.6.2_2 Back side of Dixon powder flask: Note two line makers‘ stamp DIXON & SONS and MADE IN ENGLAND close to upper brass ring

 

4.6.2_3 Close-up of front side of Dixon powder flask made for F.A.U.L.

 

4.6.2_4 Close-up of faint two-line makers‘ stamp

 

4.6.2_5 Close-up of Dixon powder flask: Note makers‘ mark and numbering of spout

 

4.6.3

Cap Boxes

 

Like the powder flasks also the cap boxes were supplied to Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) by Dixon in Great Britain. Most were made of polished pewter. They were found with hallmarks and serial numbered in custom display cases in Germany. Their bottoms are marked in three (3) lines

JAMES DIXON & SONS

SHEFFIELD

MADE IN ENGLAND

Options were round or square with plain or sculpted lids. Allegedly they could be had in sterling silver, too.

 

4.6.3_1 Top view of cap boxes

 

4.6.3_2 Bottom view of cap boxes: Note makers‘ mark, serial number, hall marks and P could mean pewter

 

4.6.3_3 Cap boxes open, right one filled with caps

 

4.6.4

Bullet Molds

 

The F.A.U.L. made bullet moulds had two (2) cavities for a round and a conical ball, respectively. Two versions were offered, one of blued steel and a brass one. Most were marked MADE IN BELGIUM on the outside. Contrary to newly made Italian moulds the Belgian ones feature a conical ball with grease groove. The steel version has the longer handles. Brass and steel molds compared side by side below:

 

4.6.4_1 Bullet moulds of F.A.U.L. for Centaures (top down): Brass vs. steel; note Centennial Arms, Chicago address (left) and country-of-origin stamp (right)

 

4.6.4_2 Bullet moulds of F.A.U.L. for Centaures (top down): Brass vs. steel

 

During the early 1960s Centennial Arms Corp. advertised these steel bullet moulds at U.S. $ 9.95 whereas your German dealer during the early 1970s would let you have then at DEM 19.00.

 

4.6.4.1

Bullet Molds – Steel

 

Until 2022 the steel made versions have surfaced in the U.S.A. only. Different views pictured below.

 

4.6.4.1_1 Centennial Arms Corp. address and country of origin mark stamped on outsides

 

4.6.4.1_2 Note grease groove of conical ball

4.6.4.1_3 Country-of-origin mark MADE IN BELGIUM stamped on outside

 

4.6.4.1_4 Top view of steel made bullet mould

 

 

 

4.6.4.1_5 Centennial Arms Corp. address stamped on the outside

 

 

4.6.4.1_6 Bottom view of steel made mould

4.6.4.2

Bullet Molds – Brass

 

This brass version has been found both in Europe and the U.S.A.

 

4.6.4.2_1 Centennial Arms Corp. address and country-of-origin mark stamped on outsides

 

4.6.4.2_2 Note grease groove of conical ball

 

4.6.4.2_3 Country-of-origin mark stamped on outside

 

4.6.4.2_4 Top view of brass made bullet mould

4.6.4.2_5 Centennial Arms Corp. address stamped on outside

 

 

4.6.4.2_6 Bottom view of brass made bullet mould

 

Note the CENTENNIAL ARMS CHICAGO ILL. USA and MADE IN BELGIUM marks. All mould pictures are courtesy Dennis Russell, U.S.A.

 

4.6.5

Oil Bottles  and Vent Picks

 

Oil bottle marked Sheffield England are known from cased sets. Vent picks were found unmarked only in cased sets provided by the factory. We cannot trace them back to F.A.U.L., however.

 

4.6.6

Nipple Wrenches

 

All nipple wrenches assumed to be made by Fabriques d‘Armes Unies de Liège (F.A.U.L.) were unmarked. Quite a couple of these handy tools were part of cased sets on both sides of the Atlantic. Below type of wrench believed from F.A.U.L. was made of harder steel then Italian wrenches. Their contour (rounded corner) is different, too as is the red-brown finish.

 

4.6.6_1 Assumed F.A.U.L. made nipple wrench for Centaures

 

4.6.7

Cleaning Kit

 

Even a little cleaning kit marked CENTAURE with cleaning rod and brushes was available.

 

4.6.7_1 Centaure marked plastic box with cleaning rod and brushes

 

4.6.8

Original Cartons

 

Quite a few of these cartons have survived. Currently known cartons can be traced back to Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège’s (F.A.U.L.’s) German importer and dealer Bärbel Harlos, Rieden, and U.S. distributor Centennial Arms Corp., Lincolnwood.

 

4.6.8.1

Cartons from Germany

 

Currently one possible (stiff and thick cardboard with red lid, black bottom, pink interior) and several of confirmed original cartons (soft and thin cardboard, reddish-brown colour) have been discovered.

 

4.6.8.1_1 „Possible“ German carton containing RNMA 1st variation 2nd sub-variation #11477

 

4.6.8.1_2 „Possible“ carton with partitions, Italian accessories came with RNMA #11477

 

In contrast to the fine cartons known from the U.S.A. the confirmed German ones presented below are plain, i.e. without any print.

 

4.6.8.1_3 Carton 1: Soft and thin brown cardboard with fish scale pattern of lid

 

4.6.8.1_4 Carton 1: Partitions „housed“ RNMA 7th variation #12306

 

4.6.8.1_5 Carton 2: Same material and pattern as carton 1

 

4.6.8.1_6 Carton 2: No partitions, „home“ of RNMA 6th variation 2nd sub-variation #11788

 

All these ca. ten (10) Centaures found in either one of these German cartons had the importer mark B. HARLOS RIEDEN stamped on their butt. Interviews with first owners and other contemporary witnesses led us to conclude that most German buyers left their friendly dealers’ during the late 1960s and early 1970s with their Centaure sans carton and instructions for use, in accordance with the motto „no service, please, we are Germans“.

Incidentally and during the same period Italian replicas purchased in Germany were packed early on in factory issued cartons with nice traditional print. They also came with a how-to leaflet for novice black powder shooter!

 

4.6.8.2

Cartons from the U.S.A.

 

European collectors will stumble over U.S. cartons more often than the German versions today. These U.S cartons were made of stiff  cardboard in Chicago for Centennial Arms Corporation. Known with blue, black and reddish-brown lids and blue, black, reddish or violet lower parts, respectively. Different print during the period 1960s through early 1970s has been noted. These are well-made cartons of high quality very suitable to securely pack a premium pistol.

Below are impressions of the Centennial Arms cartons from the time when the Centaures were young.

 

4.6.8.2_1 Black lid

 

4.6.8.2_2 Black lid with serial number sticker, orange bottom

 

4.6.8.2_3 Note print on narrow side of lid

 

4.6.8.2_4 Sticker with dealer address on bottom of U.S. carton

 

4.6.8.2.1

U.S. Handling Instructions

 

Clever customer oriented pards and pardettes from the Centennial Arms Corporation had handling instructions glued to the inside of the lids of their cartons.

 

4.6.8.2.1_1 Centennial Arms Corp. handling instruction on inside of lid

 

4.6.8.2.1_2 Centennial Arms Corp. handling instructions

 

4.6.8.2.2

U.S. Warrenty Slip

 

4.6.8.2.2_1 Centennial Arms Corp. instructions for use inside lid, warranty slip inside bottom: Note brown lid, pink bottom

 

4.6.8.2.2_2 Centennial Arms Corp. warranty slip page 1

 

4.6.8.2.2_3 Centennial Arms Corp. warranty slip page 2

 

 Updated January 22, 2024

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