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Centaure Infamous “Mystery”
Conversion # What is a Colt “Mystery”
Conversion? # Progress
Report # The PITA # 1st European
FROCS Meeting 2010 & the Tiny Little Details |
What
is a Colt “Mystery” Conversion? Who needs a model 1860 conversion
cross between an army barrel with cool looking barrel lug of 1861 Navy
conversion profile, on which a Richards-Mason-type ejector housing is mounted
with dimensions that differ from the RM Army one, however, and a RM cylinder
& frame assembly with a narrow “saddle”-type conversion ring for good
measure?
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#11691 from
1972 |
Colt 1860 Army “Mystery“ Conversion |
Exactly, every red
blooded cowboy or cowgirl should have one…or better still a pair. Because
less than a dozen only are known from yesteryear, probably made South of the
border in Mexico ca. 1875. At least that is the considered opinion of the late
R. Bruce McDowell in his famous conversion bible. Original “Mysteries” were
made for the venerable .44 Colt center fire cartridge!
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When Karl Nedbal phoned December
31, 2008 with an update on the Centaure RM conversion we agreed that this was
going to be the next project. Above left 1972 production run of the mill RNMA
#11691 was the designated candidate for this somewhat exotic conversion. The project was formally
kicked-off April 30, 2009, the day the Richards- Mason came home. Progess Report: It was also agreed that Karl
would not dash ahead at his usual pace |
of three months for the completion of a conversion, but take his time with
the Mystery project. So, he took his time studying whatever he could find to
read about the “Mysteries”. He started working metal in Fall.
Here is what we have November 9, 2009, see pictures below. Nedbal had
# reshaped the 1960
Army barrel lug like one of a Colt 1861 Navy Richards-Mason conversion,
# plugged the slot
for the loading lever in the barrel lug,
# installed the
RM-type ejector housing.
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# Although the “S” line on both sides of the
lug is now more pronounced in true 1860 Colt-fashion no harm was done to the
Ličge Proof house acceptance marks on its left side during this operation (below
picture),
# he removed the
famous “Centaure step” where frame and barrel lug are meeting.
# For the “Mystery” Nedbal left the Belgian
factory arbor in place but
# opened the right side
of the recoil shield wide to make room for the internal spring loaded gate of
general RM Navy 1861 outline, just a might larger.
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# For a PC installation of the Richards III
type conversion ring of “saddle” design the master will have to attach it to
the recoil shield by a screw. This required working on the two notches for the
shoulder stock and welding them shut. He then contoured and finished that area
to shape…now this is no longer an RNMA frame…
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…but this little
operation transformed it into a Civilian frame, see above and below. Neat
little job, isn’t it?
Regarding the finish of the Mystery conversion
we have a change of the original plan which called for
nickel plating. After the RM experience, however, it is going to be Nedbal’s traditional rust blue. He will make every
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effort to maintain the pretty factory case colors of the frame. November 14, 2009: the
loading gate is shaped and installed. Please note the important
tiny details of this conversion ring: it has this enlarged section at its
base to straddle the frame. Flares out on both sides where it meets the
frame. December 3, 2009 and the
beat goes on: Nedbal is approaching completion of the Mystery conversion. The
conversion cylinder is already milled to specs by now. But Nedbal had to
remove a small layer of steel from the forward area |
of the frame…because for reasons unknown Fabriques
d’Armes Unies de Ličge had
lathed the original C&B cylinder of #11691 with a diameter that is ca. 1 mm
less than what is the norm (!), and had adjusted the position of the arbor in
the recoil shield accordingly. In other words the overall height of the barrel
lug is smaller than those of other Centaures.
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Conversion
cylinder lathed, ratchets cut… |
...and cylinder installed. Note slot on the right sight for
the barrel for ejector housing |
The PITA: Dec. 7, 2009 more news
from down range the Mystery front: the cylinder is
completely done now. This #11691 is turning into a glorious PITA, however. The
technician back then at FAUL’s had cut the slot for the hand in the recoil
shield too far off center compared to original Colts and other Centaures. Therefore, it will engage only half of a ratchet
tooth. But the teeth of the conversion cylinder have only half the width of what
is needed for reliable engagement, due to the recesses for the cartridge rims
in the breech side. To correct this Nedbal opened up the slot towards the
center for proper functioning and made a new, wider hand (same as for an
original). This is one of the challenges the master needs from time to time to
maintain his sharpness I reckon…
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December 15, 2009: notches
are cut into the cylinder and Nedbal test-fired the Mystery conversion for
the first time.
The pistol will be transferred
to the Vienna Proof house now for proof testing before the finishing tasks could
be completed. |
January 30, 2010: the deed is almost done.
The Mystery conversion has passed the Viennese proof testing procedure and Nedbal’s contract engraver has applied the naval scene with
the legend
NEW MODEL 44 between the scene.
The barrel marking CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW
MODEL ARMY” has been
maintained (picture below).
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She is now ready for the
master’s finishing touches: installation of the .429 diameter liner for my
.44 Colt inside lubricated bullets, adjustment of the sights to hit POA and
finally the rust bluing of the barrel assembly, new cylinder and other
formerly cyanide blued parts. |
1st European FROCS Meeting 2010 & the Tiny Little Details: Due to some business projects I could
not put my hands on her before July 16, 2010, unfortunately. But the Centaure
“Mystery” conversion was presented to the public on occasion of the 1st
European FROCS Meeting to celebrate 50 years of the Centaure “1960 NEW MODEL
ARMY” in Hofheim, Germany, July 17/18, 2010.
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Conversion
cylinder: 3 digits of serial number, Viennese proof mark, NK mark for Karl Nedbal, caliber
stamp… |
… engraved Centaure naval engagement
scene with proper marking between the scene ends. Diameter of rebated portion
is increased in line with other Nedbal conversions |
Together with the factory engraved
Presentation and the FROCS Special the “Mystery” conversion was one of the
highlights of the exhibition of Sunday, July 18, 2010. She surely got proper
attention of the initiates.
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Narrow
conversion ring rests like a saddle on frame |
Hole
in conversion ring for firing pin, long lip of loading gate |
Our visiting cowboys and cowgirls of the German
CAS fraction but particularly ruling European champion of the classic cowboy
class by the alias Lederstrumpf aka FROCS #30 liked
her a lot after firing a couple of rounds at the pistol range of the club.
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Right
side view of frame and cylinder |
Proof
marks, caliber stamp and NK
again for Karl Nedbal under barrel |
Functioning was flawless. Experienced CAS
and bulls eye shooters had no issues with the narrow rear sight but some target
shooters used to Remmies and R&S had.
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Just
before the 1st round is fired! |
After 10 rounds
relaxed shooting |
The
tiny rear sight is difficult on some shooters |
This Centaury “Mystery” is a very special
and a one-of-a-kind conversion pistol. None of the US or European conversion
artists ever made one to the best of my knowledge! That is until Karl Nedbal got bitten by the vicious Centaure conversion bacillus!
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Left
side view of Nedbal Centaure „Mystery“ Conversion |
Does this re-contoured forward portion of
the “Mystery” look like the bow of the yacht to you as well? Now I understand
why the US Navy preferred the RM conversion of the Colt 1861 Navy over the 1860 Army, ha!
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Mexican
connection? Right side view of Nedbal Centaure „Mystery“ Conversion |
WDN/March 10, 2010
© 2007-11 Wolf D. Niederastroth