|
|
Serial
Numbers #
General Placement & Rational
# Extra
& Mismatching Cylinders
# Gaps in the Serial Numbers
# Total Production # Colt’s New Generation Armies # International Distribution # Thoughts about the Many Models & Variations # Strategy 1 – Reach New Buyers # Strategy 2 – Increase Production Output & Implement Cost Cutting # Milestones of the Centaures # Mythbuster |
General Placement & Rational: Like the Colt Armies of 1860
through 1873 production complete or partial serial numbers are
to be found on all major parts of the Belgian. They were visible on barrel lug,
frame and trigger-guard ...
|
Typical
placement of serials on #12307 on barrel lug, frame and trigger-guard… |
…but trigger-guard of #7957 not numbered |
… or
stamped on the front (very early pistols only), side AND breech-side (early 3rd
variation RNMAs only) or breech-side only of the cylinder. A few pistols had no
digits on their cylinders or extra cylinder at all.
|
Digits
of #1269 on the front side of the cylinder |
Serial
number of #1423 between the cylinder scene |
Like
#4612 most pistols have (last) digits of serial on the breech side of the
cylinder |
#11783
without serial on cylinder |
Hammers and back-straps
were stamped with all digits of the serial number whereas the wooden grip was
usually marked with the last 2 or 3 digits only. Few grips are stamped with the last digit only of the serial number. Even
fewer grips of the very early pistols had their serial number written with a
pen under the grip.
|
Serial
on hammer of #9248… |
…and back-strap of #12043 |
Last 3
digits stamped in the grip of #12966 |
This
information refers only to of the
# Regular New
Model Army (RNMA)
# Marshal
incl. the F-prefix variant
# Civilian
(C-prefix)
# Cavalry
(F-prefix) Model
… but not to the Pocket Army. Because there were no visible
serial numbers applied to this pistol. For details scroll down or go over the the respective chapter of the
Models & Variations page.
It is our today’s
understanding that FAUL numbered their Centaure RNMAs, 1st variation
Marshals (3-screw version) and the factory engraved variants of these pistols
consecutively and together in one block of serial numbers, from #1 to
approximately #14,300, no matter the model and/or variation or sub-variation. Late
production models with F-prefix, i. e. 2nd
variation Cavalry Models and/or 2nd variation Marshals are also numbered
in this block, just the F-prefix is added to the serial number underneath the
barrel lug but these pistols have their serial number without this prefix on
the other numbered parts.
The models with C-prefix, i. e. 1st & 2nd variation
Civilian Models, early production F-prefix, i. e. 1st
variation Cavalry Models pistols, and the Pocket Armies are numbered in
separate blocks of serial numbers.
Extra & Mismatching Cylinders: in the USA you could order your 1st
variation RNMAs (rebated, plain cylinder) with extra cylinders. Your choice was
either an extra cylinder of the same kind, one with the Centaure proprietary
naval scene or the one with the Colt-type naval scene. The Colt- or Ormsby-type naval scene as some initiates call it was by
far the most popular one there. In Europe your 1st variation RNMA
could be had with an extra cylinder of the Centaure proprietary naval scene
only.
The
serial numbers of these extra cylinders did not match the one of the pistol. If
your 2nd or 3rd variation RNMA has a cylinder mismatching
the pistol this is likely the extra cylinder installed some years ago and the
original rebated, plain cylinder has gone missing. In other words what looks like
a 2nd or 3rd variation RNMA is actually a 1st
variation. Provided, of course the serial number is below the assumed total #14,300
of pistols without prefix!
Furthermore,
we have one 6th variation RNMA (stainless look, fluted cylinder), 2nd
sub-variation from 1973 in the survey with all matching numbers. This pistol
was delivered with an extra cylinder of the plain, rebated kind in the proper
high gloss polish without any serials.
A
caveat is in order here: mismatching cylinders can and did occur for other
reasons as well. The making of the Centaures required
lots of manual operations but in-process documentation procedures were under-developed
during that time at the Liège factory. This just called for the occasional mismatch
in the serial number department:
# due to transposed digits when stamping digits of the serial
number on the cylinder
# pistols assembled at the factory with a wrong i. e. mismatching cylinder back then when they were cleaned
together with a batch of other Centaures after being
returned from the Liège proof house...
# the roll-engraving of the Ormsby cylinder
scene was not applied at FAUL’s in Belgium but in Lincolnwood, IL, USA, home of
Centennial Arms Corporation. Quite a few such mismatching cylinders slipped
through the QC in Lincolnwood … and in the 1960s and early 1970s nobody really cared.
Why? 3 main reasons in my book. For details regarding this
procedure check the respective chapter of the MOTHERLOAD page.
1. Back
then the Liège Proof house was concerned about the matching of the visible
serial numbers only, namely the ones on the barrel lug, frame and trigger-guard…which were usually matching.
2. The
majority of buyers during the 1960s were shooters or re-enactors and not serial
number crazy as we are today. They purchased that C&B revolver as a shooting
iron and not as a collector’s piece where matching numbers enhance the value.
3. In
Europe during the 1960s and early 1970s C&B revolvers were available
without license in most countries like they still are today in the US of A. Legally
they were not really considered firearms.
Consequently
a. there was little pressure on gun makers regarding (proper)
marking and serial numbering of black powder guns.
b. FAUL’s
QC and the Liège Proof house alike (see 1. above) would go away with the visual
inspection and recording of the 3 matching serial numbers on the barrel lug,
frame and trigger-guard…and everybody was happy.
Gaps in the Serial Numbers: regarding RNMAs
and Marshals of the 1st variation two gaps of serial numbers exist
between ca. #14,300 and #18408 (USA), and again between #18408 and #5 1971
and/or #043573 (Germany). Please, browse down for a proposed explanation.
#18408’s barrel marking is unusual because
it reads “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK. If this was a late production 1973 made gun which the high serial number indicates her barrel
marking should just be “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”. The digits on the breech side of the cylinder read 458
but not 408 which would make this a pistol with all
numbers matching.
#5 1971 (below) has three unique features as
well:
1. this
is the Centaure with the highest 5 digit serial number currently known
2. there
is a distinct gap between the digits “5” and the “1971” of the S/N. No other
Belgian has been found where the S/N is embossed into barrel, frame,
trigger-guard and hammer in such a way.
|
#5 1971 |
The
late H. J. Stammel of German cowboy novel writer
fame, Western gun shooter and renowned cowboy gun collector owned the two Centaures #10024 and above pistol #5 1971. He
described the latter in the German gun magazine Deutsches Waffenjournal DWJ in 1971. He did not write , however, about the unusual
fashion in which the S/Ns were stamped.
3. when she was rediscovered
2008, the new owner let me disassemble and inspect her: the cylinder was
stamped correctly 971, i. e. the 3 last digits of the
S/N. Back-strap and grip were found marked with #13709 and 709 respectively,
however. She was also stripped of her original blue/CCH finish that she still
had in the 1971 article. There are 2 aspects to be considered here:
# in my opinion Stammel’s description of his #5 1971 in this 1971 DWJ
publication led later writers to state as a fact that ca. 60,000 Centaure
C&B pistols were manufactured … which I cannot substantiate at all, see
tables below.
# since this cowboy is one of
the last romantics who read too many spy novels what about this theory: “13709”
is the real serial number whereas “5 1971” is some kind of encrypted (date)
code to commemorate a date important to the then owner Stammel.
Like May (5) 1971 … assuming Stammel specially
ordered her from FAUL that way? No Centaure with the serial number #13709 is
currently known.
|
Back-strap
of #5 1971 |
If #13709 is actually the serial number the correct
barrel marking for that period 1972/73 should be “1960
NEW MODEL ARMY” like for the afore
mentioned #18408. But his paper appeared in the August 1971 DWJ edition implying
the making of # 5 1971 already during 1970! CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” barrel marking of # 5 1917 indicates production during the 1970/71
period ... |
This confusing story got a
new twist November 26, 2009 when Centaure #043573
was discovered at the big German gun show in Kassel at one of the dealer
booths. In line with FROCS SOPs she was liberated on the spot. This RNMA of the
1st variation, 2nd sub-variation RNMA has the barrel
marking CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW
MODEL ARMY”. #043573 is currently the only 6
digit Centaure known, has again the “wrong” barrel marking for a late 1973
production period but more importantly disassembly revealed that only barrel
lug, frame and trigger-guard were stamped#043573. Cylinder, hammer, BS and grip
were marked #11909 or digits thereof.
|
RNMA #043573; barrel lug, frame & trigger-guard stamped
#043573... |
…but hammer & back-strap marked #11909,
cylinder #909, grip 9 (not pictured) |
No Centaure numbered
#11909 is currently known. If #11909 were the actual S/N she was made earlier
during 1972. According to the data in our survey the barrel marking of that
1972 production period is confirmed to read CENTENNIAL TRADE MARK “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY”. Which is what we have here.
When I discussed the
subject with Colt collector and well-known Western gun dealer Kurt Bouras of
Mainz (www.classic-firearms.com)
he was not surprised at all and challenged me: “What did Colt do towards the end of the production of their 1860 Army?
Did they scrap the surplus parts? No, they grabbed whatever usable parts there
were on the floor and in the warehouse and assembled them into new
(mismatching) Armies or used the parts for conversions”. After having
digested his blunt statement here is my considered opinion about what happened
at FAUL’s between 1971 and 1973. Remember: at that time the writing was on the wall
that the Centaure production was about to come to an end. The Belgians swept
the house, double-checked quality and proof house
rejects and/or returned pistols (which were all serial numbered!), and cannibalized
them for usable parts. New parts from the production line namely barrels,
frames, trigger-guards were irreproducibly serial
numbered (currently no “rational” can be offered regarding the numbering system
and the logic applied), and mated with these salvaged parts to turn out new
pistols for sale.
|
Fitting and finish found
in these mismatching pistols is of the high standard you would expect from
FAUL’s. |
Does this theory make
sense to you?
I like to refer to these
pistols as Mixed Serial Factory Reworks or MSFRs. To get the
definition straight MSFRs comprise newly made or renumbered barrel, frame and/or
trigger-guard (visible serial numbers) mated with back-strap/grip assembly +/-
cylinder and hammer of returned and/or reworked pistols. Of course, these newly
assembled pistols were then fitted and finished like regular production guns.
Since the highest serial
number of a regularly numbered Centaure with all matching parts currently known
is #14270 it is suggested that you carefully check the matching of the parts
whenever you happen to stumble over a Centaure with a serial number higher than
#14270 … because you might just have found another rare MSFR. Based on my July
2011 re-calculation and new extrapolation of the 555 Centaures
then in the survey I estimate that the total number of MSFRs is ca. 40 (30 1st
variation and 10 3rd variation RNMAs).
Another gap of serial
numbers has been found in the Cavalry
Models: the first production runs were between 1960 and ended probably
1963, S/Ns between #F1 and around #F1000 (1st variations with 3
sub-variations, all featuring 7,5” barrels), i. e. I
believe that only ca. 1000 pistols were made during this early period. Many
were sold with matching stock. Another mini batch was produced ca. 1971 with 8” barrel (2nd variation), however. It is
assumed that no more than a total 140 of these later Cavalry Models without (1st sub-variation: almost flat 4th screws) and with
shoulder stock (2nd sub-variation) were made. Contrary to the
1st variation Cavalry Models these later production pistols have one
single F-prefix only stamped above the digits of the serial number under the
barrel lug whereas all other numbered parts are stamped without prefix, like
contemporary RNMAs and 1st variation Marshals!
The 2nd
variation Marshals (4-srew version)
was produced in the serial number range of the 2nd
variation Cavalry Model. Like these late Cavalry pistols these very rare variants
of the Marshals feature that single F-prefix in that same position under the
barrel lug (see pictures below).
|
F-prefix of #F85 1st variation… |
…and of #F11117 2nd
variation Cavalry Model |
F-prefix of #F11510 2nd variation
Marshal Model |
Neither factory nor period
Liège Proof house or Liège Army Museum records
exist any more or are available for studies. To relate serial numbers to year
of production this issue had to be addressed “indirectly”. Therefore, approximate
dates of original purchase can be estimated by Proof house inspectors’ time of duty which has been released recently. Some early original
sales slips have been found, too. According to old correspondence available
from dealers it seems that the pistols were always in short supply on both
sides of the Atlantic, implying very short turn-around time on the dealer’s
shelf. This gives a pretty good guesstimate for the early period through
February 1968. For the later period there are many old sales slips from the
original buyers still available.
The Liège Proof house used date letters as year codes since 1922. These date letters were lower case letters: Greek
letters for the period 1959 – 1961, Latin letters for the period 1962 -
1972. None of these date letters has been discovered on any of the
Belgians inspected. So, please, holler when you find a date letter on your 1960
New Model Army.
Based on the inspector
marks we have to assume that in addition to prototypes and model guns some 100 regular
production pistols were manufactured and proof tested already in 1959! Lowest regular
serial number on a in the survey is #2, highest is #14270 because we are
disregarding the MSFRs #18408, #5 1971 and #043573 in this equation. Since the
Liège Proof house did not mark any gun with inspector marks between March 1968
and 1973 this would indicate that FAUL discontinued production of the Centaures during 1973.
After the first 500
RNMAs with the rebated and plain cylinder were made starting 1959 (1st
variation RNMA) the Civilian Model was added later in 1960, numbered from #C1
up. In late Spring of 1961 the first fluted and
stocked Army, the Cavalry Model (1st variation), was launched,
numbered from #F1 up. Production of the Cavalries started, however, already in
1960 according to the inspector marks found. The special order Pocket Armies
were launched assumingly during 1962, numbered from #1 up.
Regular pistols
including the prefix models have all numbered parts with matching numbers or
(last) digits thereof. No assembly numbers were used.
C- and
F-prefix models (1st variation Cavalry Models only) pistols have the
serials with prefix on barrel lug, frame, and trigger-guard. The prefix may or
may not be present on cylinder, hammer and back-strap. Grips inspected do not
feature the prefix.
Later
Cavalry Models (2nd variation) and the 2nd
variations of the Marshal Models have one single F-prefix above the digits of
the serial number under the barrel lug only. All other serial numbers are
without the prefix.
Pocket
Armies known so far have no visible serial numbers! Their serial numbers are on
the barrel lug between the holes for the barrel pins, on the breech side of the
cylinder (as usual), on the left side of the trigger guard (covered by the
grip), on the lower left side of the hammer (as usual), on the rear side of the
frame below the right rear back-strap screw (covered by the back-strap), on the
right side of the lower strap of the back-strap (covered by the grip), in the
rear channel for the back-strap of the grip (as usual).
Total Production: based on the 555 guns reported into the survey by July 2011 or 3,4 % of
assumed factory output, it is estimated that the total production of Belgian
Colts between 1959 and 1973 amounts to ca. 16,300 pistols, give or take a few
(table below left).
Of all New Model Armies
produced the ca. 13,300 RNMAs represent the biggest chunk. They are the variant
most often encountered.
|
RNMA 1st
variation #925 (USA) An updated extrapolation
of the survey data reveals the estimated number of their different variations
and sub-variations, see table below. The RNMAs are
followed by the Cavalry Models with some 1,150 specimens manufactured, with
the Civilians coming in as a close third with 1,000 units made. Fourth are
the ca. 780 Marshals belly guns but only 80 can be projected for the rare
Pocket Armies snubbies.
|
Colt’s New Generation Armies: To
add some fresh perspective to this discussion, please consider that ca. 17,850
2nd generation Colt Armies were made and/or assembled between 1977
and 1991 plus another 11,850 3rd generation or Signature Series
Armies between 1994 and 2002. However, for a fair comparison of apples to
apples we deduct the commemorative issues, special and “limited” editions from
the Colt mix since they appeal to a small subset of collectors and to virtually
no shooters.
So, we end up with ca.
11,500 2nd and another 10,500 3rd generation standard
production Colt Armies. This equals a total of some 22,000 specimens. This compares
to ca. 15,900 Centaures excluding factory engraved, “colterized” models and other “special” variants or 28 %
less Centaures than newly made Colt Armies were produced . If you add the survival rate in this equation,
however, the number of newly made Colt Armies exceeds the Centaures
even further. This little math might stimulate some thoughts like which pistol
is perceived as a shooter and which as a display pistol rather and why?
What do you think? Please,
share your views over at the forum and kick-off some discussions
|
RNMA
2nd variation (USA-Germany) International
Distribution:
it appears that almost 50 % of the Belgian Colts
manufactured were sold into the USA, some 50 pistols to other parts of the
world like down-under, the rest to Europe and Germany in particular. Another
considerable European market for Centaures was
France but significantly less than Germany. It is probably fair to
say that most of the US shipments were made in the period 1959 through 1970
whereas European dealers and shooters jumped on this Centaure bandwagon from
1963 only. Early “first owner” sales were reported from Belgium, France and
Germany. |
Thoughts about the
Many Models & Variations: between 1959 and 1973 FAUL
appears to have been busy making prototypes and producing new models,
variations and sub-variations of the New Model Army.
What could have been the
rational? Browse further down to the summarizing milestones
of the developments: 1959 through1963 seems to be a period of straight line
extension, driven by the creativity of Bill Edwards and Sig Shore in the USA. They
identified most of the market needs and niches for modifications of the basic
Centaure “1960 NEW MODEL ARMY” design. During these early years already 4 of
the total of 5 models recognized today were launched:
|
RNMA 3rd variation #3408 (USA) |
#
RNMA in 3 variations plus a few
sub-variations #
Civilian Model in 2 variations #
Cavalry Model in 1 variation but 3
distinctly different sub-variations #
Pocket Army in 3 variations To this impressive list
we have to add a number of Centaures “colterized” by US restorer & gunsmith Thomas Haas or
his colleague Horacio Q. Acevedo, for the personal
collection of Edwards and Shore and also for sale to the public. |
|
Civilian Model 2nd variation #C489 (USA) |
Behind
the scene in Liège internal design improvements were an ongoing process, some
at the expense of period correctness: #
Modifications of the muzzle crown
from a flat to a rounded one #
Alterations of the front sight
from the initial PC low profile to the later taller blade to optimize POA and
POI. |
This alteration made the target shooters happy. And the FAUL technicians
did not stop there:
# Post type of the Pocket Army 1962
# Bead type front sight of the first
batch of Marshals made 1971.
# The evolution from the period correct square ended to the tapered arbor in 3 steps
(with and without separate grease groove) is another important development.
With some overlaps to use existing stocks this program was completed around
1965.
|
Cavalry Model 1st
variation #F651 with detachable shoulder stock (USA) |
# The first “down-sizing” of
chambers took place ca. 1964, the change from large to mid-size chambers.
Sales must have been pleasing Fabriques d’Armes Unies de Liège with no
direct competition until 1963 when Uberti’s launched
their version of the 1860 Army. Thanks to the still booming US market and some international sales like to New Zealand
market demand must have outgrown by far the FAUL’s production capacity around
1965/66.
|
Pocket Army 2nd variation from 1962 (USA) |
During the second half of the 1960s Sigmund Shore in
the USA gradually moved his business focus away from further developing the
Centaure line at Centennial Arms Corp. Bill Edwards was more and more busy
outside the Shore Group with his editorial tasks for gun magazines he had
never given up. He also got involved with other research projects. |
# Thanks to Clint Eastwood
and the Lee van Cleefs of this world, together with
the popularity of the Spaghetti Westerns
there unfolded another sales boost for Centaures on
the Eastern banks of the big pond.
|
RNMA 4th variation
#12043 (Germany) |
What had happened? The Europeans rediscovered black powder shooting.
This did offset the flat or declining business with the USA. Carefully at first but certainly determined, cousins
Paul and Albert Hanquet stepped into the drivers’ seat
vacated by Bill Edwards and Sig Shore. They further extended the Centaure
line of New Model Armies, to maintain their attractiveness among the
demanding shooters. |
From the late 1960s they got the backing of an eager,
motivated network of young and enthusiastic European Cowboy gun dealers like Bärbel Harlos in Germany.
|
RNMA 5th variation
#11882 (Germany) |
# 1967 is an important year from a technical point
of view. Because during this year the first RNMAs with the new stainless look, “in the white” finish
or high gloss polish as called by some were introduced. First Centaure
variants marketed in this pretty look were the 5th and 6th
variation of the RNMA. |
Noteworthy is the 6th variation because this is the first RNMA with a fluted cylinder!
# This launch period must have coincided with the second “down-sizing” of the chambers from mid-size to the small
version.
|
RNMA 6th variation
#12966 (Germany) |
Financially this nice and steady growth trend continued until the late
1960s/early 1970s when low-cost Italian and Spanish black powder replicas
flooded the US and European markets in general but particularly the
percussion revolver segment. This led to an erosion of market prices in a
still growing market. FAUL did not only to protect
their market position as the premium supplier in the 1860 Army segment. To
further participate in this still growing market they needed to develop and
implement new, hard hitting strategies. |
According to contemporary witnesses from
outside the Belgian factory and in an attempt to interpret what happened “after
the case” it appears that FAUL tried to combat this new and hostile development
by applying two strategies at the
same time. From today’s perspective these strategies were not properly “fine
tuned”. Hence they eventually led to the end of the Centaure production.
Strategy 1 – Reach New Byers in the high end plinking
and competition shooter’s fraction, at the same time provide unique 1860
pattern pistols for the discriminating collectors’ target group. This explains the 1971 line extension to five models and the launch of
further New Model Army variations til the cease of
the percussion revolver production during 1973.
The first European introduction was a new short
barrelled Centaure named Marshal
Model as a regular production gun.
|
Marshal Model 1st
variation #12150 (Germany) |
This is in contrast to the 1960s Pocket Army Model
which was to be had against special order and in the USA only. No
separate loading rod like the Pocket army but this pistol was fitted with a
convenient loading lever. This 5,5” barrel Marshal was first available with 3
screw (1st variation in 2 sub-variations), later a 4 screw (2nd
variation) frame and only in the trendy “stainless look”/high gloss finish. |
Next in line was the re-launch
of the 2nd variation of the Cavalry
Model 1971. This version was fitted with the 8” barrel of the RNMA. Only a
total of some 140 pistols were produced in two sub-variations.
|
Cavalry Model 2nd variation #F11166
(USA) |
The
1st sub-variation came without a shoulder stock and a pair of 4th screws almost flush with the
frame. The 2nd sub-variation had the typical protruding pair of 4th
screws. Most were supplied with a matching shoulder stock. |
Also the first factory engraved
RNMAs in de Luxe style became available at this
time. Like the 1972/73 factory engraved variants of the RNMA and the Marshal
they were marketed with the collectors in mind.
But in 1972 FAUL
really went nuts with an explosion in variations and sub-variations of the RNMA
plus the launch of two additional factory engraved
versions in RNMA (Super de Luxe, Presentation) and one
in Marshal (de Luxe) configuration.
|
RNMA 7th variation #12736 (Germany-RSA) |
It
is an often overlooked fact that FAUL wrote gun
history with their introduction of the first stainless steel C&B revolver (7th variation RNMA).
This happened years before Armi san Marco (ASM), Armi san Paolo (ASP) aka Euroarms,
Colt, Ruger and Uberti
realized the market opportunity or had acquired the technical know how to
join the joy ride. |
Strategy
2 - Increase Production Output
& Implement Cost Cutting: to accomplish these two
objectives additional unskilled labor was hired …
which quickly led to quality complaints and subsequent loss in credibility as
the high quality gun maker demanding premium prices in the market place … see details
in Production page.
Be that as it may the were a few clever measures implemented at the
factory that unfortunately did not pay out early enough, like the return of the
square ended arbour, but without separate grease groove this time. Or back-straps
that used to be welded from 3 separate parts were now casts.
The inventory cutting which went alongside with
this program, however, is another explanation for the many small-scale
variations and sub-variations of the New Model Army.
|
Presentation style
factory engraved RNMA #12422 (Germany) |
When you bring into
perspective the relative rareness of the different RNMAs, Civilians, Pocket
Armies, Marshals or Cavalry Models, their variations and sub-variations that leads
to another interesting insight: because it is the many short runs and variations over the whole period of
production of the Belgian Colts from 1959 to
1973 that created today’s growing interest for collectors of these guns.
|
Milestones of the Centaures
1796 - 1973 |
|
|
1796 |
Martin Hanquet
starts the Hanquet gun business |
|
1853 |
End of April: agreement between
Sam Colt and consortium of 7 Liège gun makers Ancion
& Co., Callotte, Dandoy,
Drisseur & Co., Hanquet (Jean), Petry, Brothers Pirlot
regarding licensed production of Colt C&B revolvers |
|
1913 |
May 30: Centaure trademark registered |
|
1950 |
FAUL official Colt distributor for
Belgium (ended 1992) |
|
1959 |
first model guns manufactured presented to Paul Hanquet
& Fred Roff, President Colt's |
|
|
commence production RNMA 1st variation 1st sub-variation |
|
1960 |
launch RNMA 1st variation 1st sub-variation in USA |
|
|
launch Civilian Model 1st & 2nd variation (production discontinued
with 2nd variation 1963) |
|
|
commence production of Cavalry Model 1st variation |
|
|
gradual introduction of pistols with
rampant centaur logo |
|
1961 |
launch Cavalry Model 1st variation 1st sub-variation (production discontinued
1963) |
|
|
launch Cavalry Model 1st variation 2nd sub-variation (production discontinued
1963) |
|
|
launch RNMA 1st variation, 2nd sub-variation |
|
|
Thomas Haas engraves die for Ormsby-style naval scene for RNMA 3rd variation |
|
|
launch RNMA 3rd variation, 1st sub-variation (prototypes) |
|
1962 |
launch RNMA 2nd variation 1st sub-variation |
|
|
launch special order Pocket Army in 3 variations |
|
|
launch Cavalry Model 1st variation, 3rd sub-variation |
|
1963 |
launch RNMA 3rd variation, 2nd sub-variation |
|
|
first pistols with 2nd version arbor observed |
|
|
first European sales recorded |
|
1964 |
launch RNMA 3rd variation, 3rd sub-variation (discontinued 1970) |
|
|
gradual change from early type ratchet
teeth on the back of cylinder to late type |
|
|
change corporate logo to walking centaur |
|
|
first pistols with mid-size chambers |
|
1966 |
launch RNMA 1st variation, 3rd sub-variation (discontinued 1970) |
|
|
first pistols with 3rd version arbor, regular through 1973 |
|
|
few 4th version arbors
found (repairs?) |
|
1967 |
launch RNMA 5th & 6th variation (prototype) pistols with high gloss
finish (stainless look) |
|
|
change from mid-size to small chambers |
|
1968 |
Liège Proof House discontinues
inspector marks and C over crown mark by Feb. 26 |
|
1969 |
end of transition from early to late
type ratchet teeth on the back of cylinder |
|
|
launch RNMA 2nd variation, 2nd sub-variation |
|
1970 |
gradual introduction of cast parts |
|
1971 |
launch Cavalry Model 2nd variation, 1st & 2nd sub-variation |
|
|
launch Marshal Model 1st & 2nd variation |
|
|
launch factory engraved RNMAs de Luxe |
|
1972 |
launch RNMA 4th variation |
|
|
launch RNMA 7th
variation first
stainless steel C&B revolvers |
|
|
launch 2 further grades of factory engraved RNMAs Super de Luxe & Presentation |
|
|
launch factory engraved Marshals de Luxe |
|
|
4th version arbor
commonly found through 1973 |
|
|
barrels with 8 & 12 (!) grooves found
in selected models & variations |
|
1973 |
discontinue all production of RNMAs, Marshals |
MYTHBUSTER
# Total number of Belgian Colts
approx 60,000 units? With only around 16,230 confirmed this MYTH BUSTED!
# Identical models and variations are
numbered using different schemes in the USA and Europe? With same system
applied MYTH BUSTED!
# No correlation of
serial numbers to year of production? Although no company and
Liege Proof house records are available anymore indirect
correlations through sales slips etc confirm correlation. MYTH BUSTED!
WDN/November 14, 2011
© 2007-11 Wolf D. Niederastroth