Conversions - Intro

Conversions of the Belgian Colt – Next Level of the Evolution?

# The Master Profile

# The Making of the Nedbal Thuer Conversion

# The Making of the Nedbal RM Conversion

# Mumme Long Cylinder Conversion(Nov'11)

# Nedbal Richards Transitional Conversion (Nov'11)

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 4^th line say 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 you to the gunsmith who made most of these Centaure conversions 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 Centaure 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 here “5 + 2 converter-checklist”: He or she

#1 knows the gunsmith profession inside out including his/her limitations, he/she 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/she can draw an original model gun from his/her 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/she is not telling me what I want…unless I ask him/her to do so.

Master Nedbal in his shop explaining the Centaure Richards

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 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.

#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.

In Fall 2009 Karl joint the ranks of the FRiends Of the Centaure Society as FROCS #50 Luger Master!

WDN/May 22, 2011

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