X-mas in February 2010
Chicago in February can be pretty
miserable but Lincolnwood, some 10 miles Northwest of the downtown of the Windy
City is the Mecca of the Centaure aficionados the
world over. That is if you can make an appointment with Mitchell Shore at Shore
Galleries, 3318 W. Devon Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712 (www.shoregalleries.com).
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As the second son of
famous Sigmund “Sig” Shore Mitch was virtually born with Centaures
in his hands: during the 1960s, together with brother Scott, he is the one
who actually “made” the 3rd variation Regular New Model Army, the
variant with the Ormsby type naval scene on the
cylinder…but that is another story.
Today Mitch successfully
runs Shore Galleries’ family business in it’s third generation, “…from an
auctioneer of fine art, to a gun peddler”, as his dad used to exclaim.
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Shore Galleries traces it’s roots
back to 1956. It evolved from an auction house specializing in arts and
antiques to a sporting goods dealer, importer of reproduction antique firearms
and surplus military arms to the law enforcement supply company it is today.
But more importantly here, Mitch is the proud curator and keeper of the most
exciting and complete collection of early Centaures
and FAUL memorabilia known to this cowboy.
Thanks to the
introduction of Dr. Jim Davis of Replica Percussion Revolver Collectors
Association (www.rprca.tripod.com) a
contact was established with Mr. Leslie Field, formerly Mars Equipment
Corporation, Chicago (subsidiary of Shore Galleries, founded 1958, who among
other tasks were in charge of importing the Centaures
into the USA within the Shore group of businesses) and today legal counsel to
Shore Galleries. Back then Les Field’s prime responsibility was the military
surplus gun business and he acted as liaison officer with FAUL’s.
This gentleman is one of the original founders of the replica industry still
around.
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I will always be thankful to
Leslie Field for the wealth of background information he provided about the
early years in the life of the Centaures AND for
setting up this meeting February 27, 2010 with Mitchell Shore. Les had him open
his gun vault for me. This way I could have a look at this wonderful Centaure collection his dad and Bill Edwards had started.
Below are a few of Leslie Field’s and Mitch Shore’s recollections back from the
days and some pictures that I was privileged to take!
WDN/June 18, 2010
© 2007-10Wolf D. Niederastroth
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