“Remember, with Belgian Colts Never Say Never…” (respectfully modified quote of Colt SAA authority John Kopec) # Variations, variations & more variations # The Coppell Classification

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. 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 New Model Army were combined in ways that Old Sam would not have dreamt of, namely

# 4 versions of arbors:

1st version

2^nd version

3^rd version

4^th version

# 4 different barrel lengths:

8“ barrel most common		7,5“ barrel early Cavalry Models
5,5“ barrel Marshal Models (aftermarket emblem on grip)	4“ barrel Pocket Army (pictorial proof only)

# 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 Centaure logo:

No corporate logo – early production

Corporate Centaure logo

# 2 types of Centaure logo:

Corporate logo rampant centaur

Corporate logo walking centaur

# different grip materials and finishes:

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 or markings

This way, we end up with 4 models, plus their respective variations and sub-variations as applicable. And our

complaining 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, forged or cast frames, vertical or horizontal arbor lock pins, etc. But this we leave to the sophisticated collectors.

WDN/September 30, 2009

© 2007 Wolf D. Niederastroth

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