“Remember, with Belgian Colts Never Say Never…”
(respectfully modified quote of Colt SAA authority John Kopec) and Mullie the
Bullie bitterly complains: “What a confusing story”…He sure has a
point there.
|
Mullie the Bullie, FROCS #9 |
....thoughtfully
complaining |
Because
FAUL produced a great number of variations of the basic Colt Army M 1860, even
more than Colt’s. Reasons seem to be their aspiration to reproduce all major
known Colt models but also the ambition to have proprietary FAUL variations combined
with the desire to use existing inventory. At the Liège factory major constituents of the 1960 NMA were combined in ways that Old Sam would not have
dreamt of, namely
# 4
versions of arbors:
|
1st version |
2nd version |
3rd version |
4th version |
# 3 different
barrel lengths:
|
8“ barrel
most common |
7,5“ barrel early Cavalry Models |
5,5“ barrel
Marshal Models |
# 3 variants of
frames:
|
3-srew frame w/o cuts for stock |
3-srew frame cut for stock |
4-srew frame cut for stock |
# 3 different
chamber lengths (interior depth):
|
Early “large” chamber: 30,06 mm/1,183 in |
Middle “mid-size” chamber: 27,35
mm/1.076 in |
Late “small“ chamber: 22,75 mm/.896 in |
# at least 3 different finish combinations not counting
factory engravings here:
|
Blued:
barrel, wedge, cylinder, screws Case colors: loading lever, frame, hammer Silver plated: back strap,
trigger guard |
Blued:
barrel, wedge, cylinder, backstrap, screws Case colors: loading lever,
frame. Hammer Brass: trigger guard |
High gloss polish/”in the white”: barrel, loading lever, cylinder, hammer, back strap Blued: wedge, screws Brass: trigger guard |
# at least 2 different steal alloys used:
|
Carbon steel |
Stainless steel |
# 2 cylinder
shapes:
|
Rebated cylinder |
Fluted cylinder |
# 2 different
roll-engravings of the cylinder:
|
Centaure proprietary naval scene |
Colt-type naval scene |
# back-straps with
and without toe on butt:
|
Cut
in the but for shoulder stock |
Not cut in the butt |
# frames without
and with the corporate centaur logo:
|
No corporate logo – early production |
Corporate centaur logo |
# 2 types of
centaur logo:
|
Corporate logo rampant centaur |
Corporate logo walking centaur |
# different grip materials and finishes:
|
Varnished |
Oiled |
Oiled & centaur emblem |
Ivory |
The Coppell Classification: we did not even start looking at factory markings and
engravings in detail. But this situation obviously calls for some structuring
of the major characteristics of the Belgian. Since nobody seems to have thought
about it before I am herewith suggesting the following easy to use categorizing
system of distinct visible features of Centaure variants and call it the …
Coppell Classification … for Coppell in Texas near Dallas.
·
major differences
= model: barrel lengths and selected frame features
·
intermediate differences = variations of the model: finishes, cylinder
shapes, roll-engravings, corporate logo, alloys…
·
minor differences
= sub-variations of the variation: like different back-straps or
markings
This
way, we end up with 4 models, plus their respective variations and
sub-variations as applicable and pard
|
|
Mullie the Bullie finally
grasps it...
A more complex classification system could also
include not directly evident features like different arbors,
different threads of screws or nipples used, difference in rifling, welded or
cast back-straps, etc.
But this we leave to the sophisticated collectors.
|
WDN/February 2, 2009
© 2007 Wolf D. Niederastroth