Factory Engraved and Other Exotic
Pistols
According to one of the principal German importers of
Centaure pistols from the late 1960s master engraver J. Hensel
of Rothenburger Waffeneck
many more pistols were engraved outside the factory by him and other engravers
than there are known and confirmed factory engraved specimens, see S/N 8654
below:
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S/N 8654 |
Hammer area of S/N 8654 |
According to German dealer catalogs
of 1971 to 73 FAUL offered the regular NMA with the plain rebated cylinder
factory engraved in the de Luxe, Super
de Luxe and Presentation style. In addition the factory was prepared to have pistols
engraved in the style requested by the individual customer. No factory
engraved pistols have been discovered produced before 1970.
The de
Luxe came “in the white” finish with Colt-style floral hand engraving.
Pistols were selected quality but taken from regular production after proof
testing. They could be had in regular NMA and Marshal configuration. The latter
had the rebated cylinder like the long barreled
brother, not the fluted one of the regular Marshal models.
S/Ns documented are between 11851 and 13839. Oiled grips were standard with or
without inlaid centaur medallion. Pictures
are from S/N 11851:
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3 Views of de Luxe factory engraved S/N 11851 |
In 1972 and 1973 this one would set you back DM 658,00
at your friendly local gun dealer in Germany. (see page 5 Stanglmeier ad).
The Super
de Luxe (below) had a deep blue
finish and silver or gold inlaid engraving. They were made at FAULs to order only with specially tuned and polished
action. Your German gun dealer would ask DM 1698,00 for this specimen in 1973.
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Super de Luxe |
There is this story that FAUL had
every 1000th NMA enhanced with months and months of work profusely
engraved and gold inlaid in a quality even surpassing the Super
de Luxe version. These very rare
revolvers dubbed Presentation Model were further enhanced by ivory
grips. They could be purchased directly from
the factory in Liège but in Germany also from dealers like Stanglmeier
in Munich. Price then was DM 2198,00 for such a gem. One such specimen is S/N
14000.
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3 views of Presentation S/N 14000 |
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FAUL Sampler? In
German DWJ magazine from 1971 is a picture of an 8” barrel pistol with rebated
cylinder, barrel, frame deeply engraved, fitting shoulder stock with similarly
engraved yoke and butt plate matching the gun, see picture below.
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FAUL Sampler? |
Where is it now, where did this beautiful stocked
pistol find a new home?
Cut-Away
specimen of the 8” barrel, rebated/plain cylinder, 3-screw frame cut for stock
in the regular blue/case colored finish configuration
are documented. At this stage we do not know if they were made by FAUL’s.
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Only pictured cut-away Centaure known |
WDN/November 24, 2008
© 2007 Wolf D. Niederastroth