Factory Markings, Cylinder Engravings and Proof Marks

Barrel Markings of the Centaure Models and Variations

No barrel marking

S/N 6759

S/N 11851

· regular NMA 5^th variation (left S/N 6759)

· Marshal Models

· Factory engraved Models (right S/N 11851)

“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”

S/N 14260

· regular NMA 1^st variation, 1^st and 2^nd sub-variation

· regular NMA 2^nd variation

· regular NMA 3^rd variation, 1st sub-variation (above S/N 14260)

· regular NMA 6^th variation, 2^nd sub-variation

· Civilian Nodel 1^st and 2^nd variation

· Cavalry Model 1^st variation

“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK

S/N 7266

· regular NMA 1^st variation, 2^nd and 3^rd sub-variation (S/N 8563 left)

· regular NMA 2^nd variation

· regular NMA 3^rd variation, 2^nd and 3^rd sub-variation (S/N > 2000)

· regular NMA 7^th variation

“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK CHICAGO U.S.A.

S/N 2024

· regular NMA 2^nd variation (S/N 2024 above)

· Civilian Model 2^nd variation

· Cavalry Model 1^st variation

CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”

S/N 11567

· regular NMA 1^st variation, 2^nd (S/N 11594 above) and 3^rd sub-variation

· regular NMA 2^nd variation

· regular NMA 3^rd variation, 2^nd and 3^rd sub-variation (S/N > 2000)

· regular NMA 4^th variation

· regular NMA 6^th variation, 1^st and 2^nd sub-variation

· Cavalry Model 2^nd and 3^rd variation

Centaur - Corporate Logo

S/N 128	Early regular NMAs through around serial number 1000 do not have the centaur logo (1959 through 1961 production, see S/N 128 left) embossed into the frame nor do the Cavalry Models from S/N C1 to C490 (1960/61) and factory engraved models! Later production pistols without the corporate logo are very rare.
S/N 1269	From 1961 to the end of production the centaur was placed on the forward left side of the frame. Through 1965 (S/N 3035) the logo is a rampant centaur with the front legs raised and the rifle pointing upwards, see left S/N 1269.
S/N 4601	This was changed to a walking centaur from around S/N 3657 with the rifle pointing downwards, see left S/N 4601.

Country of Origin

Pistols have MADE IN BELGIUM embossed into the butt of the back-strap (S/N 128 left below). Few pistols are known with this mark on the left side of the barrel (as well, S/N 2538 center below). Some shoulder stocks of the Cavalry Model are stamped on the left side of the brass. See picture of F845 below right.

S/N 128

S/N 2538

F845

Naval Scenes on the Cylinder

FAUL manufactured pistols with 2 types of naval engagement scene roll engraved into the cylinder.

Centaure Proprietary Naval Scene: Similar to the Colt-type this one shows less background detail. The legend ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843 is engraved parallel to the front end of the cylinder on the first 490 of the C-series (Civilian Model, see C418 below left) but was omitted on the later ones.

Regular NMAs 2^nd variation do not have this legend.

Between the naval scene is the marking NEW MODEL 44 (S/N 2684 below right)

C418

S2684

Centaure proprietary naval engagement scene without legend, details below (extra cylinder S/N 969):

Colt-Type Naval Scene: Regular NMAs 3^rd variation regularly bear the legend ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843.

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 the regular marking of the first pistols with this cylinder scene, assumed in the serial number range 1000 to around 2000 (S/N 1423 left below).

On regular NMAs with this cylinder scene but higher S/Ns, i. e. 2^nd and 3^rd sub-variation the marking was changed to CENTENNIAL and the serial number was moved to the breech end of the cylinder (right below S/N 2999).

S/N 1423

S/N 2999

Colt-type naval engagement scene details below (S/N 4612):

Proof Marks of the Liege Proof House

S/N 4079
			CAL. 44: on most pistols throughout the production, embossed on the rear left side of the barrel
				Perron (looks like an arrow pointing to the right, or like a palm tree sideways: inspector mark for rifled barrels): on the rear left side of barrel and frame throughout the production
			Crown over R (sideways: mark for rifled barrels 1884 through Feb. 26, 1968): on the rear left side of the barrel
			ELG over * in oval (sideways: final blackpowder proof) on the cylinder throughout the production
			Inspector marks noted are * over capital (mostly) C, D, F, H, K, L, q, R, S, T, U, Y or Z sideways (discontinued Feb. 26, 1968, reintroduced after 1973) and often found on the left rear end of the barrel, left side of the frame and on the cylinder. While barrel and frame are always marked with the same capital many of the pistols with Colt-type naval scene engraving have different inspector marks on the cylinder
Inspector Names Names were kept as a secret by the proof house for many years but here you go…! Mark Name Time of Duty Mark Name Time of Duty *C Dieudonné Francard 1959 – 1968 *R Sylvain Wagemans 1951 - 1965 *D Renè Marchal 1951 – 1968 *S Charles Deanen 1952 - 1968 *F ?? 1960 *T Clement Laenen 1952 - 1968 *H Christophe Woit 1938 - 1968 *U Jacques Fuchs 1960 - 1968 *K Walthere Delsaux 1929 - 1968 *Y Francois Delsaux 1959 - 1968 *L Antoine Salmon 1937 - 1968 *Z Martin Luyten 1952 - 1968 *q Gaspard Dewilde 1952 - 1968
	MYTHBUSTER Different models and variations in America and Europe? MYTH CONFIRMED! #1 “American models and variations · Regular NMAs, 3^rd variation (Colt-type naval engraving) · Cavalry Models 2^nd and 3^rd variation (F-series) #2 “European” models and variations · Regular NMAs, 4^th and 6^th variation (fluted cylinders, stainless look or blued/CCH finish) · Regular NMA’s, 5^th variation (plain, rebated cylinder and stainless look) · Marshal Models #3 “Universal” models and variations · Regular NMAs, 1^st variation (plain, rebated cylinders) · Regular NMAs, 2^nd variation (Centaure proprietary naval scene engraving) · Regular NMA, 7^th variation (fluted cylinders, stainless steel) · Civilian Models (C-series) · Cavalry Models, 1^st variation (F-series)

WDN/January 15, 2009

© 2007 Wolf D. Niederastroth

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