Factory Markings & Cylinder Naval Scenes # Barrel Markings of Centaure Models & Variations # Centaur - Corporate Logo # Country of Origin # Naval Scenes on the Cylinder # Centaure Proprietary Naval Scene # Colt-Type Naval Scene # Thoughts about Availability # Mythbuster

Barrel Markings of Centaure Models & Variations

No barrel marking: selected models 1967, 1971 through 1973

RNMA 5th variation #6759

De Luxe factory engraved RNMA #11851

· Early RNMA 5^th variation (above left #6759)

· Marshal Models

· Factory engraved Models (above right #11851)

“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”: 1959 through 1973

RNMA 1^st variation, 2^nd sub-variation #14260

· RNMA model pistols (no serial numbers, stamped “M”)

· RNMA 1^st variation, 1^st & 2^nd sub-variation (above #14260)

· RNMA 2^nd variation, 1^st sub-variation

· RNMA 3^rd variation, 1st sub-variation

· RNMA 6^th variation, 2^nd sub-variation

· Civilian Model 1^st & 2^nd variation

· Cavalry Model 1^st variation, 1^st & 2^nd sub-variation

· Pocket Army

“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK: 1965 through 1973

RNMA 1st variation, 3rd sub-variation #7266

· RNMA 1^st variation, 2^nd & 3^rd sub-variation

· RNMA 2^nd variation, 1^st & 2^nd sub-variation

· RNMA 3^rd variation, 2^nd & 3^rd sub-variation (# > 2000)

· RNMA 6^th variation, 1^st sub-variation

· Cavalry Model, 1^st variation, 1^st sub-variation

“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK CHICAGO U.S.A.: 1963 (USA and New Zealand)

RNMA 2nd variation #2024

· RNMA 2^nd variation, 1^st sub-variation (above #2024)

· Civilian Model 2^nd variation

· Cavalry Model 1^st variation, 1^st sub-variation

CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”: 1963 through 1973

RNMA 1st variation, 2nd sub-variation #11567

· RNMA 1^st variation, 2^nd (above #11567) & 3^rd sub-variation

· RNMA 2^nd variation. 1^st sub-variation

· RNMA 3^rd variation, 2^nd & 3^rd sub-variation (# > 2000)

· RNMA 4^th variation

· RNMA 5^th variation

· RNMA 6^th variation, 2^nd sub-variation

· RNMA 7^th variation

· Civilian Model 2^nd variation

· Cavalry Model 2^nd variation, 1^st & 2^nd sub-variation

Centaure - Corporate Logo

No logo on Civilian #C418	Early RNMAs through ca. serial number 950 do not have the Centaure logo (1959 through 1961 production embossed into the frame nor do the Civilian Models from #C1 to C490 (1960/61, see #C418 left), Pocket Armies nor factory engraved models! Later production pistols without the corporate logo are very rare. They would most likely represent an error at the assembly line but not a pistol specially ordered without logo.
Logo with rampant centaur logo on RNMA #2722	From 1961 to the end of production the Centaure logo was placed on the forward left side of the frame. Through 1964 (#3281) the logo is a rampant centaur with the front legs raised and the rifle pointing upwards, see left RNMA #2722.
Logo with walking centaur on RNMA #5535	This was changed to a walking centaur from around #3408 with the rifle pointing downwards, see left RNMA #5535.

Country of Origin

Pistols have MADE IN BELGIUM embossed into the butt of the back-strap (#128 left below). Few pistols from 1963 production are known with this mark on the left side of the barrel as well (#2538 right below).

RNMA #128

RNMA #2538

Pistols sold in Belgium or to personnel of the NATO HQ in Brussels, military or civilians alike, may or may not feature the MADE IN BELGIUM mark (#7638 left below). Most shoulder stocks of the Cavalry Model are stamped on the left side of the brass. See picture of F845 below right.

RNMA #7638

Shoulder stock #F845

Naval Scenes on the Cylinder

Centaures with 2 types of naval engagement scene roll engraved into the cylinder were marketed.

Centaure Proprietary Naval Scene

These cylinders were roll-engraved at FAUL’s in Belgium. The naval scene is similar to the Colt/Ormsby-type but shows less background detail. 2 variants of this scene are known:

# Type 1: The legend ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843 is engraved parallel to the front end of the cylinder on the first 490 specimens of the Civilian Model 1^st variation (see #C418 below left), but was omitted on the later ones.

# Type 2: Found on 2^nd variation Civilians, 2^nd variation RNMAs, 1^st variation Pocket Army (conformation pending) and 2^nd variation Cavalry Models (confirmation pending) do not have this legend. Likewise, it is not found on the extra cylinders with this naval scene.

Between the naval scene of the two variants is the marking NEW MODEL 44 (#2684 below right)

Civilian 1st variation #C418: type 1 naval scene

RNMA 2nd variation #2722: type 2 naval scene

Colt or Ormsby Type Naval Scene

Contrary to the before mentioned type of cylinder scene these cylinders were roll-engraved in the USA! Because US shooters did not like the Centaure proprietary naval engagement scene. Therefore, Centennial Arms Corporation, Chicago (CACC) had noted US gunmaker Thomas Haas produce a roll cylinder die with the Ormsby naval scene as used on Colt 1851 & 1861 Navies and the 1860 Armies. Revolvers were ordered by the Americans from FAUL’s with their cylinders blank. i. e. 1^st variation RNMAs so the Colt/Ormsby scene could be added in the USA at the Lincolnwood shop of CACC.

These pistols then became what we call today RNMAs 3^rd variations. Their cylinders regularly bear the legend ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843 parallel to the rim of the cylinder. 2 basic types of such cylinder scenes are currently known:

# Type 1: Between the naval scene of the 1^st sub-variation the marking embossed COLTS PATENT N^o plus serial number is embossed. It is assumed that this is one of the experimental markings found on the first pistols with this cylinder scene, below the 1500 serial number range (#1423 left below). These are the extremely rare RNMA 3^rd variation, 1^st sub-variation.

#Type 2: On 3^rd variation RNMAs with this cylinder scene but higher S/Ns the regular marking between the naval scene was CENTENNIAL (right below #5252). Centaures with this type of cylinder engraving are called 2^nd sub-variation (with cut in butt for shoulder stock) or 3^rd sub-variation (without cut in butt for shoulder stock). These variations are very common in the USA. A few late production pistols with this cylinder scene are known without the CENTENNIAL mark.

RNMA 3rd variation, 1st sub-variation #1423: type 1 naval scene

RNMA 3rd variation, 2nd sub-variation #5252: type 2 naval scene

Thoughts about Availability: pistols readily available say in the USA but only one or two specimens were discovered in Europe are considered “American” models/variations/Sub-variations or vice versa…until we may know better at one point in the future that this variant of a pistol was actually regularly imported into other target markets as well.

MYTHBUSTER

Different models and variations in America and Europe? MYTH CONFIRMED!

#1 “American” models and variations

· RNMAs 1^st variation: 1^st sub-variations

· RNMAs 2^nd variation, 1^st sub-variation

· RNMAs all 3^rd variations

· Civilian Models: all variations

· Cavalry Models: 1^stvariations, 2^nd variation, 2^nd sub-variations

· Pocket Army: all variations

#2 “European” models and variations

· RNMAs 4^th variations

· RNMAs all 5^th variations

· RNMAs all 6^th variations

· RNMAs 7^th variations

· Marshal Models: all variations

· Factory engraved pistols in de Luxe, Super de Luxe, Presentation style

#3 “Universal” models and variations

· RNMAs 1^st variation: 2^nd & 3^rd sub-variations

· RNMAs 2^nd variation, 2^nd sub-variation

· Cavalry Models: 2^nd variation, 1^st sub-variations

WDN/July 21, 2010

© 2007-10 Wolf D. Niederastroth

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