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“Remember,
with Belgian Colts Never Say Never…”
(respectfully modified quote of Colt SAA
authority John Kopec) #
Variations, Variations & More Variations # The Coppell Classification |
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Mullie the Bullie, FROCS #9 is
always complaining |
…and Mullie the Bullie FROCS #9 thoughtfully but
nonetheless bitterly complains: “What a confusing story”…He sure has a
point there. Variations,
variations & more variations: because Fabriques
d’Armes Unies de Liège produced a great number of variations of the basic Colt
Army M 1860, even more than Colt’s. During the early days reasons seem to be the
aspirations of Bill Edwards and Sig Shore in the USA in cooperation with the
Hanquet cousins Paul and Albert in Belgium to reproduce all major known Colt
models but also the ambition to have proprietary FAUL variations
combined with the desire to use up existing inventory. From ca. 1970 another
push for new variations was noted from the German dealer of FAUL, B. Harlos
of Schwäbisch Hall. At the Liège factory major constituents of the
1960 New Model Army were combined in ways that Old |
Sam would not have dreamt of but today’s collectors’
community loves it.
# 4 versions of arbors:
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1st
version |
2nd version |
3rd version |
4th version |
# 4 different
barrel lengths:
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8“
barrel most common |
7,5“
barrel early Cavalry Models |
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5,5“
barrel Marshal Models (aftermarket emblem on
grip) |
4“
barrel Pocket Army |
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# 3 variants of
frames:
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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):
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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 |
# 3 types of
factory front sights
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Typical
blade type of RNMA #8654 |
Post
type of Pocket Army |
Bead
type of early Marshal #11337 |
# at least 2 different
steal alloys used:
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Carbon
steel |
Stainless steel |
# 2 cylinder
shapes:
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Rebated
cylinder |
Fluted
cylinder |
# 2 different naval
scenes on the cylinder:
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Centaure
proprietary naval scene |
Colt/Ormsby-type naval scene |
# back-straps with and
without toe on butt:
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Cut in the butt for shoulder stock |
No cut in the butt |
# frames without and
with the corporate Centaure logo:
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No corporate logo – early
production |
Corporate
Centaure logo |
# 2 types of
Centaure logo:
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Corporate
logo rampant centaur |
Corporate
logo walking centaur |
# different grip materials and finishes:
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Varnished |
Oiled |
Oiled
& Centaure logo 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. Where Paden and I had a
couple of beers when we sorted this out.
# 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, front sights or markings…
This
way, we end up with 5 models, plus their respective variations and
sub-variations as applicable. To read more and for some in depths information
on this subject please, visit the introductory chapter of the Models & Variations page.
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And
now our complaining pard Mullie the Bullie finally sees the light at the end
of the tunnel...and it is not the train coming at him! A
more complex classification system was discussed during some brain storming
but was turned down eventually: like the different # versions of the arbors, # number of threads of screws or nipples used, # number of grooves of the barrel, # welded or cast back-straps, # forged or cast frames or hammers, |
# vertical or horizontal arbor lock pins, # variations in the
barrel markings,
# size or type of fonts used in the factory markings or
# Liège
Proof house stamps, etc.
Because
such an academic approach we leave to the more demanding collectors, wouldn’t
you agree?
WDN/May 16, 2011
©2007-11
Wolf D. Niederastroth
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