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Conversions of the Belgian Colt – Next Level
of the Evolution? # The Master Profile # The
Making of the Nedbal Thuer Conversion ## Loading Thuer
Cases ## Shooting the Nedbal Thuer - Range Reports # The Making of the Nedbal RM
Conversion # Mumme Long
Cylinder Conversion # Nedbal Infamous “Mystery”
Conversion # Nedbal Richards Transitional Conversion
# Reflections on Centaure Conversions & the 1871-72 Open Top |
Please note 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 Panhandle Paden’s 4th line
which says it all:
“My very first pistol was a cap and
ball colt,
Shoots like lightning but it loads a
might slow.”
“Loads a might slow and I soon found
out,
Needs to be converted that’s what it’s all about”
The Master Profile: Now it is
about time to introduce to you the gunsmith who made this Centaure Richards
conversion reality. Pards & pardettes, please, meet Karl Nedbal of
Vösendorf, Austria. May 23, 2008:
below is Karl Nedbal in his shop explaining the steps of converting #4079 to a
Richards – a few seconds before I hold her for the first time.
There are a couple of ways to proceed when you decide to have your prized
C&B revolver converted to shoot cartridges. Eventually you may want a
gunsmith to execute that delicate task for you but here is the dilemma…how do
you find your ideal converter-gunsmith? After trials and errors my “5 + 2
converter-checklist”: He
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#1 knows his gunsmith profession inside out including his limitations,
he is proud of his work, and is a competent toolmaker as well #2 has a proven record of repairing and tuning cowboy guns in general
but particularly Colt SA systems, #3 has done similar conversions before #4 he can draw an original model gun from his gun collection or has
access to one, and works from there #5 listens carefully to my wishes and ideas, and finds suitable
solutions to satisfy them. But he is not telling me what I want…unless I ask
him to do so. Finally I like a |
Master
Nedbal in his shop explaining the Centaure Richards |
#6 firm quote for
my project because from the start I want to know how much it will set me back
but equally important when my conversion will be completed. I would be
irritated and hesitant when a date beyond 12 months is suggested…and I expect
the smith to meet his commitments…usually. And
#7 I expect my
gunsmith to inform me regularly about the progress of
the work…with some sense of humor, please.
This is what sets Karl Nedbal apart from many of the
rest.
WDN/Febuary 11, 2010
© 2007 Wolf D. Niederastroth