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THIRD MODEL, CAVALRY
MODEL or WADE HAMPTON MODEL:
only 4-screw frame variant. Early
versions from 1960 to 1963 have 7,5“,
late versions from 1971/72 sport 8” barrels. This
4-screw frame model is dubbed Cavalry Model in Europe. In the USA some call it Wade Hampton Model
after the famous C.S. general who is said to have suggested the fluted
cylinder design to Sam Colt. In most specimen the 4th or
guiding screws extent out from the frame providing a platform for the
attachment of the shoulder stock. Probably only around a thousand of these
pistols were manufactured in a separate block of serials with an “F” prefix
(“F” for fluted cylinder, hence also called “F-series” pistol)
starting with F1. The only finish available was blue and case colors. This model owes its being to the USA’s
National Rifle Association’s efforts in amending existing outmoded laws
regarding stocked pistols. Cavalry Models are collector’s items and those
with original matching stock are particularly thought after. But they are fun
to shoot, too. |
A detachable shoulder stock with matching serial
numbers could be ordered as an accessory of the 1st and 2nd
variation. Only few pistols are reported with mismatching stocks:
3.1.
– 1st Variation: features a 7,5” barrel, fluted cylinder, manufactured
between 1960 and ca. 1963 but marketed from 1961
only. The 4th screw protrudes ca. 6 mm/.236 in from the frame. This
provides a secure platform for the stock. Serial numbers assumed F1
through F900 but a total of ca. 880 only made (for the balance see 2nd
variation). The lowest documented revolver in our survey is F7, the highest
F867. Pistols from ca. serial number F800 have the mark MADE IN BELGIUM on the butt AND on the left side of the barrel lug.
All currently know 1st variation Cavalry Models were discovered in
the USA except for F82. The latter was sold at German Auction House Hermann Historica a few years ago but is believed to be imported
from the USA years ago.
The centaur in the logo on this 1st
variation Cavalry models is of the rampant kind.
The stock had its serials with prefix on top of the
butt plate and on the bottom of the tang matching the pistol. Yoke and butt
plate were made of brass. The brass of late production stocks from ca. F800 is
stamped MADE
IN BELGIUM
on the left side.
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F7 cased with accessories |
F12 guiding srews |
F845 with rare barrel marking MADE IN BELGIUM |
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F82 nickel
finish on cylinder and loading lever believed to be aftermarket. Crescent
shaped front sight original, was added by one previous owner. |
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F651 was recently discovered with stock F340 |
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F802 nice example of a 1st variation Cavalry Model with
matching stock |
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F362 stock missing |
F845 stock marked MADE IN BELGIUM |
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Cavalry pistol F651 was found with not matching stock
F340. After a complete disassembly of this stock interesting marks were
discovered:
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Shoulder stock F340 bottom tang... |
…and butt plate top strap |
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Stock of F340: note 3 SILE
marks and 3 |
Butt plate of F340: note stamp 3 |
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Bottom tang mortise of F340: note pencilled 3 |
Yoke of F340: note 3 |
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Note penciled “3” under the
butt plate and bottom tang mortise, and “3” stamped on inside of brass parts. SILE is stamped on the wood under the butt plate.
Chain-Fire adds further observations and offers
interesting background information regarding F802 (below pics):
“The numeric portion of the serial number
802 plus 34 is written in pencil on the wood underneath the butt plate.
Additionally, the underlined word SILE
is stamped in block letters into the wood.”
“SILE
Distributors, Inc. was located in Meriden, CT. Between the late 1950s and mid
1990s they acted as importer for a multitude of foreign firearms and military
surplus, were distributor for a host of American firearms companies and marketer of firearms under their own private brand.”
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Stock of F802: note pencilled S/N 802 without prefix F. and 34. Stamp SILE could identify SILE as manufacturer of the wood |
Butt plate of F802: note stamp 34 on
inside |
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Bottom tang mortise of F802: note pencilled S/N 802 without prefix F, and 34 |
Yoke of F802: note stamp 34 on inside |
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“It
is also my understanding that SILE was a source for the manufacture of stocks
for other firearms manufacturers. So, perhaps FAUL outsourced the manufacture
of their shoulder stocks to SILE.”
“This
might make sense given the fact that shoulder stocks were produced in limited
numbers. Therefore, rather than tool up for a limited run of shoulder stocks,
perhaps SILE did the work and during the manufacturing process they applied
their logo stamp to the butt…”
The “3” of F340 or the “34” of F802 stamped on the
inside of yoke and butt plate and pencilled in the wood then could be some kind
of assembly number but also the code or ID of a contract manufacturer of the
cast brass parts…Pards & Pardettes, what do you
make of this? Do you have similar marks and stamps on the shoulder stocks of
your Cavalry Model?
The barrel markings of this 1st variation read
“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY“
“1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK CHICAGO U.S.A
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3.2 – 2nd
Variation: like the 1st variation but with a
rebated cylinder roll-engraved with a naval scene. We believe this scene is
of the Centaure proprietary not of the Ormsby kind. Pictorial proof for this variation exists
from a 1962 ad published in Guns Magazine. The
only known specimen is F620 from the USA but no pictures |
Cavalry Model 2nd variation |
are currently available for further analysis.
Specimens of this 2nd variation are found in the same range of
serial numbers as the 1st variation. I believe no more than 20 such
pistols were made for the US market during the early 1960s.
FAQ: Why this
short production run of the 2nd variation Cavalry Model?
IMHO it is a fair guestimate that Roncarati of Liège, FAUL’s contract manufacturer for semi-finished barrels,
frames and cylinders was behind schedule in supplying fluted cylinders for the
Cavalry project for one reason or the other. If at the same time orders of
Centennial Arms Corporation could not be processed for that very reason but an
ample inventory of cylinders was available from the completed Civilian project
with the Centaure proprietary naval scene what
management decision was Mr. Hanquet likely to have
taken? Yes, make your customers happy, complete orders on hand with the
cylinders available. Hence this variation.
3.3 – 3rd Variation: contrary to the 1st
and 2nd variation of the Cavalry Model this one has an 8” barrel.
In addition the guiding screws are only protruding 1,88 mm/.074 in from the
frame. These 3rd variations were probably shipped from the factory
without shoulder stocks. Few pistols are currently known, like below S/N
F11117, discovered in April 2008. The centaur of the logo is of the walking
kind.
Note right picture: it provides
details of frame and “guiding” screws (longer screw for the right, shorter one
for the left side of frame):
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F11117 |
F11117 “guiding“ screws |
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Serial number on barrel with F prefix, on frame and trigger-guard
without prefix |
Cylinder has matching S/N 117 |
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Below strange looking 4 screw
Centaure F11295 was sold by a German dealer through Egun auction March 2009.
One previous owner had her nickel plated. This pistol had a rebated, plain
cylinder installed and not the fluted one usually found with Cavalry Models.
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F11295 |
Serial number on barrel with F prefix, without on frame and
trigger-guard |
All regularly numbered parts of the pistols are
stamped with matching numbers except for the cylinder: the correct proof mark
of the Liège Proof house is present but the digits “650” are stamped on the
breech side.
OAL of the “guiding” screws of F11295 is 6,88
mm/.271 in (right) and 4,86 mm/.191
in (left). Interestingly, The number of grooves in the barrel is 7 for
F11117 but 8 for F11295.
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Correct proof mark on cylinder |
Cylinder marked #650 |
Guiding screw protrudes only marginally over frame |
It is my assumption that the original fluted
cylinder of F11295 was lost somewhere along the road years ago. The currently
installed cylinder is either a replacement or came originally with the pistol
as an extra cylinder.
Had F11295 present herself with a cylinder with
matching numbers I would today gladly proclaim the discovery of a 4th
variation of the Cavalry Model!
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Back then you had the option to
have this variation enhanced with two medallions inlaid into upper end of the
grip. With the Centaure logo medallions the pistol
had to be specially ordered through your German dealer. |
From Bärbel Harlos,
Germany catalog 1973 |
But the surprises did not end here. A
3.4 – 4th Variation: almost identical to the 3rd
variation but the guiding screws extend 6,5 mm/.255 in from the frame. Like the 3rd variation the
centaur of the logo is of the walking kind. Pistol comes with a matching stock.
By today 2 pistols were reported from the USA namely S/N F11166 (below)
and F11226, both with matching shoulder stock.
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F11166 |
Butt plate |
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Stock of F11166: could this
be hash marks for 23? |
Butt plate of F11166: note 23 |
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Bottom tang mortise of F11166: no marks |
Yoke of F11166: note 23 |
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Is “23” another assembly number or the ID for
another contract manufacturer of wood and brass of the shoulder stock?
One thing is for sure: these shoulder stocks are a
great field for new discoveries and we have a lot more to learn. Please, share
your ideas with us over at the FROCS forum.
Barrel marking of the 2nd and 3rd
variation reads
CENTENNIAL
TRADE MARK "1960
NEW MODEL ARMY"
Pricing: 1962 a Cavalry Model complete with detachable
shoulder stock would have cost you US $ 139.95, whereas just the pistol would
have been 89.95, the stock only 59.95 at Centennial Arms Corporation, Chicago.
1964 the complete set would have been already 144.50!
WDN/September 17, 2009
© 2007 Wolf D. Niederastroth