Chapter 5 – Centaure Conversions the Next Level of the Evolution?

5.2 Master of Conversions

 

5.2 5.1.2 5.2.2 5.2.3

Master of Conversions Inspired by the Highwayman The Master Profile Nedbal Pieces of Gunsmith Art

 

5.2.1

Inspired by the Highwaymen

 

These first 3 lines quoted from The Devil’s right hand, written by Steve Earle, performed by the Highwaymen Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and respectfully amended by FROCS #1 aka Panhandle Paden’s 4th line say it all:

 

“My very first pistol was a cap and ball colt,

Shoots like lightning but it loads a mite slow.”

“Loads a mite slow and I soon found out,

Needs to be converted that’s what it’s all about”

 

5.2.2

The Master Profile

 

Now is the proper time you make the acquaintance of the master gunsmith and conversion artist who made most of these Centaure conversions on this website a reality and then some. Pards & pardettes, please, meet Karl Nedbal of Waffentechnische Werkstätte NEDBAL KG inVösendorf near Vianna/Austria http://www.nedbal.at/spezialitaeten.html.

 

5.2.2_1 May 23, 2008, in Vösendorf/Austria: Master Nedbal explains the Centaure RNMA #4079 Richards (R1)  a few seconds before I hold her for the first time

 

Obviously, there are different ways to proceed once you took the decision to have this prized percussion revolver of yours converted to shoot metal cartridges. Eventually you may want to get a gunsmith involved to execute such a delicate task. This seems to be of particular importance if historical correctness of the making is high on your want-list.

Here is the dilemma. How do you find your ideal conversion artist? For what it is worth and after some trials and errors here is my conversion artist checklist. He or she

#1: Knows the gunsmith profession inside out including his/her limitations, is proud of his/her work, and is a competent toolmaker as well,

#2: Has a proven record of repairing, tuning and/or restoring cowboy guns in general but particularly classic single action systems,

#3: Has done similar conversions before and can proof it,

#4: Can draw on original guns as model gun for the conversion project from his/her collection or has access to one, and does the reengineering from there,

#5: Listens carefully to my wishes and ideas, and finds suitable solutions to satisfy them, is not telling me what I want unless I ask for it.

Finally, I like a

#6: Firm quote for my project. Because from the start I want to know how much it will set me back. But, equally important, I like to know from the start when my conversion will be completed. I would be irritated and hesitant when a date beyond 12 months is suggested. I expect the smith to meet his or her commitments … usually.

#7: I expect my gunsmith to inform me regularly about the progress of the work and I don’t mind some sense of humour included, either.

This is what sets Karl Nedbal apart from many of the rest.

I am very pleased Karl eventually joined the ranks of the FRiends Of the Centaure Society (FROCS) as FROCS #50 aka Luger Master in the fall of 2009. A couple of years later in 2017 after the completion of many more conversions for others, myself and unique guns built from scratch Karl was presented the FROCS Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award on occasion of the 8th Annual Meeting of the FROCS in Klein-Umstadt/Germany.

 

5.2.3

Nedbal Pieces of Gunsmith Art

 

Pictured below are a few of Karl Nedbal’s many outstanding contributions of gunsmithing art. They created significant vibes in the gun collectors’ community and shooters of 19th and 20th century weaponry the world over. The guns presented here were selected because they are close to our subject of Western arms. I would love to see them listed in the Guinness Book of Records, but Karl is way too humble a person for such kind of fuss. Others might feel it is not politically correct.

 

5.2.3_1 Small size batches of Model 1907 .45 ACP Lugers, replications of the pistols submitted to U.S. Army trials making it the rarest of all Lugers: This led to his alias Luger Master

 

5.2.3_2 One-of-a-kind alteration: 2nd gen. Colt 1847 Walker #2584 turned Richards-Mason-style field conversion in .45 Colt cal., working from old pictures of the only such specimen documented in the Connecticut State Library

 

5.2.3_3 Another one-of-a-kind “Gated” Long Cylinder Conversion .45 Colt cal. of Army san Marco Colt 1847 Walker with unique contoured cartridge cylinder

 

5.2.3_4 Rebuilt from scratch: Only known prototype of Colt 1855 Dragoon from ca. 1859/60, .44 cal, working from pictures of original since no drawings exist

 

5.2.3_5 Replication of only known Colt 1836 Paterson Richards-Mason conversion in .41 cal. using MOFRA pistol as project gun

 

5.2.3_6 Built from scratch: Lee van Cleef’s 4-barreled derringer in Sabata Spaghetti western movies

 

5.2.3_7 Transformation project: Altering a pair of Uberti Richards Transitional Models (R2s) into R1s incl. original marks and markings

 

5.2.3_8 Further one-of-a-kind pair: Santa Barbara Remington New Model 1863 Armies with historically correct 2-part drop-in 5-shot conversion cylinders in .45 Colt cal. installed, with 6-shot C&B cylinder

 

5.2.3_9 One-of-a-kind pair of Colt 1861 Navy Richards-Mason Conversions (top down): 3-screw frame 2nd gen Colt and 4-screw frame Uberti in .38 Long Colt cal.

 

5.2.3_10 CS percussion revolver transformation project of fall of 2020 – pistols not available from the replica industry with historically correct contours, finish and the little details (top down): Texas 1862 J.H. Dance & Brothers Navy using donor parts from Uberti and C.O.M. in the dust bin, transformation of Uberti 1851 Navy into 1862 Leech & Rigdon

 

5.2.3_11 Transformation & conversion projects 2021/22 of Army san Marco Colt 1848 2nd Models Dragoons into Texan 1862 Tucker & Sherrard Dragoons (top down): .45 cal. Colt Richards-Mason Field conversion, original C&B variant, C&B variant with .45 cal. drop-in-field cylinder installed

 

5.2.3_12 Transformation projects of 2022 of Uberti (top) and Pietta (bottom) Colt 1851 4th Model Navies into Texan L.E Tucker Navies in .36 C&B: Note Dragoon type loading lever latch, subject pistols not available from the replica industry

 

5.2.3_13 Thanks a lot, Karl, my friend

 

Updated January 31, 2024

© Michael, Neely & Wolf 2007/2024

All rights reserved!