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Accessories
for the Centaure # Display Cases # Shoulder Stocks # Powder Flasks # Bullet Moulds # Extra Cylinders # Oil Bottles # Vent Picks # Nipple Wrenches # Original Cartons # Handling Instructions # Warranty Slip |
Display
Cases: like Colt Firearms in Hartford Centennial Arms
Corporation of Lincolnwood and other Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège (FAUL) dealers and distributors in Europe and New
Zealand offered the Centaures C&B
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RNMA
#834 in 2nd gen. Colt
display case & Italian accessories, USA |
Civilian
#C752, Italian accessories, USA |
revolvers in display cases. Different grades were available including elaborate
wooden presentation cases with two locks. Presentation cases known to exist
today were either made in English (partitioned with blue possibly
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Cased
1st variation RNMA #3035 with accessories, wood cap box with London Label;
USA |
Cased
3rd variation RNMA #4835, accessories aftermarket, USA |
also red interior) or in French fit (contoured with dark red and green
interior). Most cased sets discovered these days, however, are not Belgian made
during the 1960s or 1970s but sport aftermarket presentation boxes
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Custom
cased 3rd variation RNMA #9960, Italian accessories, USA |
1st
variation RNMA #5418 in aftermarket case, Germany |
(above). Double set display
cases have yet to be found.
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French
fit cased 6th variation RNMA #12723, FAUL nipple wrench, Dixon flask & cap
box, other accessories Italian, case personalized by owner, Germany |
Custom
cased de Luxe factory engraved RNMA #13348 in French
style, aftermarket accessories, France |
Presentation cases could be had for single pistols
with original FAUL accessories as well as for the early
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Cased
Cavalry Model #F7 with matching shoulder stock, accessories aftermarket, USA |
Custom
cased Cavalry Model #F85 with matching shoulder stock, Italian accessories,
personalized carving of grip & stock
(courtesy RPRCA), USA |
Cavalry Models with
shoulder stock (above left). During
the early 1960s gifted enthusiasts took pains to
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Period
style custom cased 2nd variation RNMA #1514, Italian brass bullet mold… |
…comes
with original Belgian shoulder stock #F254, USA |
display their Centaure pistols in elaborately
designed cases of traditional style (above).
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2
custom cased Centaures in French style from Germany:
Marshal 1st variation #11337, silver plated flask, 2nd
gen Colt steel bullet mold, FAUL nipple wrench, JAMES DIXON&SONS marked silverish
cap box |
RNMA
6th variation #12270
with 2nd gen Colt flask, Italian 2 cavity brass bullet mold & nipple wrench |
Shoulder Stocks could be ordered with matching serial numbers for the 4-screw frame
Cavalry Model 1st, 2nd, and 4th variation. The
serial numbers were stamped on the butt metal and the bottom tang. Some were
marked MADE IN BELGIUM on the left side.
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#F83 on bottom tang |
MADE IN BELGIUM marking |
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Shoulder stock of early production #F85 1st
variation… |
…and of #F11226 late production 4th
variation Cavalry Model |
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Only specimens with yoke and
butt plate made of brass are known.
In addition to Cavalry pistols
with matching shoulder stock Centennial Arms Corp., Chicago advertised separate
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detachable
shoulder stocks for those shooters,
re-enactors and collectors during the early 1960s that felt the need for a
shoulder stock after they had obtained their Centaure. This one
stock-fits-all was offered for the early Cavalry
Models (dubbed “1st Model Centennial” by Centennial Arms Corp.
back then) and the RNMA. |
Price was $ 49,95. These
separate stocks were not numbered, see pictures. Some were stamped MADE IN
BELGIUM on the left side of the yoke.
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Powder Flasks:
at the request of demanding customers FAUL added high quality powder flasks
made of copper by famous Dixon &
Sons in England (see lift picture and catalog) to their revolvers. They are marked COLTS
PATENT
like the original and carry the manufacturer’s mark DIXON & SONS MADE IN ENGLAND stamped in
two lines. Cap boxes made
of (sterling?) silver and marked JAMES DIXON & SONS SHEFFIELD MADE IN ENGLAND in three
lines, with hallmarks and serial numbered are known from custom display cases
found in Germany, see pictures of cased sets above. |
The previous owner of below specimen had his initials engraved into the
lid.
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Bullet Molds with 2 cavities for a round and a conical ball could
also be had. Regular finish was blued steel but
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molds made of brass are known as well. Most were marked MADE IN BELGIUM. Contrary to most Italian molds the Belgian
one featured a conical ball with grease groove. Pictured left is 2nd variation Civilian
#C714 in the original carton from 1961 with accessories. The bullet mould is
from Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège. It is the steel
version marked MADE IN BELGIUM
whereas the nipple wrench is of Italian origin. During the early 1960s Centennial Arms Corp.
advertised these steel bullet molds at $ 9,95
whereas your German dealer during the early 1970s offered them at DM 19.00. |
Below are close-ups of the opened Belgian steel bullet molds with all markings visible.
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FAUL made steel bullet mould. Note CENTENNIAL ARMS CHICAGO ILL USA and MADE IN BELGIUM marking |
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Cavities for round and conical ball. Note grease
groove of conical ball |
Extra Cylinders were offered for Regular New Model Armies of the 1st
variation (rebated plain cylinder) through German and US dealers. These extra
cylinders sported either the proprietary Centaure naval scene engraving (like
the one of the 2nd variation RNMA: available through dealers in
Germany and USA) or the Colt-/Ormsby-type naval scene (like the one of the 3rd
variation RNMA: available in the USA only).
The extra cylinders with the Centaure proprietary naval scene were
listed in German catalogs during the early 1970s as
“stock” items but were always in short supply. They are marked NEW MODEL
44 between the naval scene.
Extra cylinders were individually proof tested in Liège
and had their own serials on the breech side, i. e.
they were not numbered to the pistol. Below is an extra cylinder with the
Centaure proprietary naval scene.
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Extra cylinder #969… |
...came
with regular NMA 1st variation #4079 |
Lately extra cylinders of the plain and rebated
variety have surfaced for RNMAs, 6th
variation, 2nd sub-variation (fluted cylinder, stainless lock), and 3rd
variation Cavalry Model of 1971-73 production. These cylinders were properly
proof marked, had either no serial number at all or were numbered on the breech
side of the cylinder with a serial not matching the pistol.
Oil Bottles marked Sheffield England are
known from cased sets.
Vent Picks and Nipple Wrenches were found in cased sets provided by the factory.
They are unmarked. It is not possible to trace them back to FAUL. However, one
type of nipple wrenches observed was made of much harder steel then Italian
wrenches. The one below on the left is assumed to be of Belgian origin.
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Nipple wrench |
Centaure
marked plastic box with cleaning rod and brushes |
Even a little plastic box marked CENTAURE with cleaning rod and brushes
was available (above right).
Few original cartons and handling instructions have survived. Currently known cartons can be traced
back to German and US distributors of Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège.
German cartons: currently
only 1 “possible” (stiff & thick cardboard: red lid, black bottom, pink
interior), and 1 confirmed original carton (soft & thin cardboard:
reddish-brown color) have been reported. Contrary to
the
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“Possible“ German carton from 1972… |
...partitions visible, Italian accessories, 1st
variation RNMA carries B. HARLOS RIEDEN
importer mark… |
fine cartons found in the USA German ones are plain
without any print. The only two specimens that I could study have primitive
partitions in their lower part.
According to first owners
and other contemporary witnesses we have to conclude that most German buyers
left their friendly dealers’ premises during the late 1960s and early 1970s with
a Centaure sans carton and instructions for use whereas
the Italian competition packed their pieces in cartons and provided a “how to”
leaflet for the novice black powder shooter!
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German
carton from 1972... |
...opened
with Centaure RNMA 7th variation. Pistol with B. HARLOS RIEDEN
importer mark |
US cartons
(below) are much more often found than the German ones. They were made of stiff
carton in Chicago for Centennial Arms Corporation. Known with blue, black and
reddish-brown lids & blue, black, reddish and/or violet lower parts.
Different print has been recorded. These are well-made cartons of high quality
very suitable to securely pack a premium pistol.
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US
carton (image courtesy RPRCA) |
US carton
from 1962 |
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US carton
from 1962 |
...and from 1971 |
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US cartons, handling instructions & warranty slip (below): cartons or handling instructions were not
numbered to the gun but a few dealers added stickers with the gun’s serials to
the cartons.
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US
carton with handling instructions & warranty slip |
…and
with handling instructions & Cavalry Model (image
courtesy RPRCA) |
The clever customer oriented
pards from Centennial Arms Corporation had below
handling instructions glued to the inside of the lids of their cartons.
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US
handling instructions ca. 1972 |
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Warranty
card of US distributor Centennial Arms Corp., Chicago, IL |
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WDN/April 22, 2010
© 2007 Wolf D. Niederastroth