Centaure
Infamous “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,
and a RM cylinder & frame assembly with a narrow “saddle”-type conversion
ring for good measure? Exactly, every household should have at least one.
Because less than a dozen only are known today from yesteryear, probably made
South of the border in Mexico ca. 1875, according to the conversion bible of
the late R. Bruce McDowell, esquire. The caliber of the original “Mysteries”
was .44 Colt!
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#11691
from 1972 |
When Karl Nedbal phoned December 31,
2008 with an update on the Centaure RM conversion we agreed that this is going
to be the next project. Above 1972 production run of the mill RNMA #11691 is
the
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Colt 1860 Army “Mystery“ Conversion candidate for this
somewhat exotic conversion. The project was kicked-off April 30, 2009, the day
the Richards-Mason came home. |
I
will report about the progress as usual…
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.
Here is what we have November 9, 2009, see pictures of the progress 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 meet.
While the original Belgian arbor from 1972 is
still in place the right side of the recoil shield has been opened 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 a 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 |
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
can 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. |
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,
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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Right
side view of Nedbal Centaure „Mystery“ Conversion |
WDN/July 26, 2010
© 2007-10 Wolf D. Niederastroth