Like the original Colt Armies complete or partial serial numbers are to be found on all major parts of the Belgian. Visibly on barrel, frame, trigger-guard but covered on the front (very early pistols only), side (early pistols only) or breech-side of the cylinder, hammer, back-strap and wooden grip. It is our today’s understanding that FAUL numbered pistols consecutively from “1” to approximately S/N 14500, no matter the model and/or variation. Only the C- and F-series pistols are numbered in separate blocks.
Two gaps of S/Ns exist between approximately S/N 14500 and S/N 18404 (USA), and again between S/N 18404 and S/N 51971 (Germany). At this point no reason for these gaps is known but suggestions are kindly invited in the FROCS forum.
S/N 51971 is noteworthy for another reason: 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. Back-strap and grip carry S/N 13709. This pistol was described in the German gun magazine DWJ in 1973 and was rediscovered only recently.
Neither factory nor Liege Proof house records exist any more. 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. Some early original sales slips have been found. According to old correspondence available from dealers it seems that the pistols were always in short supply, i. e. very short turn-around time on the dealer’s shelf. This gives a good guesstimate for the early period through February 1968. For the period from 1971/72 there are many old sales slips from the original buyers still available.
While the Liege Proof house used date letters, i. e. year codes from 1922 none has been discovered on any of the Belgians inspected. Below in the box are the date letters for the relevant period 1959 (begin of Centaure production) to 1977 (end of all gun production at FAUL’s)
| Letter | Year |
σ |
1959 |
τ |
1960 |
φ |
1961 |
a |
1962 |
b |
1963 |
c |
1964 |
d |
1965 |
e |
1966 |
f |
1967 |
g |
1968 |
h |
1969 |
i |
1970 |
j |
1971 |
k |
1972 |
l |
1973 |
m |
1974 |
n |
1975 |
o |
1976 |
p |
1977 |
So, please, holler when you find a date letter on your 1960 NMA.
Based on the inspector marks we have to assume that some 100 pistols were manufactured and proof tested already in 1959! Lowest number in the survey is S/N 38, highest 51971. Since the Liege Proof house did not mark any gun with inspector marks between 1968 and 1973 this would indicate that FAUL discontinued production of the Centaures during 1973.
After the first 500 regular NMAs with the rebated and plain cylinder were made the Civilian Model (C-series) was added later in 1960, numbered from C1 up. In late spring of 1961 the first fluted and stocked Army, the Cavalry Model (F-series), was launched, numbered from F1 up. Production started, however, already in 1960 according to the inspector marks found.
Regular pistols including the 2 prefix variations have all parts with matching numbers. No assembly numbers were used.
C- and F-series pistols have the serials with prefix on barrel, frame, and triggerguard. The prefix may or may not be present on cylinder, hammer and back-strap. Grips inspected do not feature the prefix.
Two exceptions from this rule have been encountered. In the variation with the Colt-type naval scene on the cylinder, from approx S/Ns 3900 (?) the serial on the breech-side of the cylinder does not match the numbers of the pistol on most of the guns discovered. In addition on most such specimens the inspector mark on the cylinder is different from the ones on barrel and frame. S/Ns 3128, 3281 and 3808 of this variation have 100 % matching numbers!
As most pistols in the USA come in this configuration an explanation might be that these cylinders were produced as consecutively numbered stock items from some point in 1965 (?). When a revolver with the Colt cylinder was to be assembled that part was simply lifted from existing inventory (?).
If pistols with extra cylinders with the Centaure proprietary cylinder were ordered this cylinder does not have matching numbers either.
Total Production
Based on the survey it is estimated that the total production of Belgian Colt between 1959 and 1973 amounts to less than 16,000 pistols only, namely
A further extrapolation of the data of the regular NMAs reveals the estimated number by variations and sub-variations, presented as a “hitlist”
1st variation (rebated plain cylinder) 6500
3rd variation (Colt-type cylinder scene) 5500
1st sub-variation 500
2nd variation 5000
2nd variation (proprietary Centaure cylinder engraving) 700
6th variation (fluted cylinder, finish hpg) 200
7th variation (fluted cylinder, ss finish) 100
de Luxe factory engraved 90
4th variation (fluted cylinder, finish B/CCH) 80
1st sub-variation (3-screw frame) 60
2nd sub-variation (4-screw frame) 20
5th variation (rebated plain cylinder, finish hgp) 50
Super de Luxe factory engraved 25
others (exhibition, sampler, cut-away) 10
Presentation factory engraved < 5
It is assumed that 50 to 60 % of the Belgians manufactured were sold into the USA, the rest to Europe and particularly to Germany. Furthermore, it seems that most of the US shipments were made in the period 1959 through 1970, whereas Europe and Germany only jumped on this bandwagon from the mid 1960s.
Some Thoughts about the Many Models & Variations
Between 1959 and 1973 FAUL appears to have been pretty creative and busy introducing new models and variations of the NMA. What could have been the rational?
1959
1960
1961
1962 (assumed)
1963
1968
1972
1973
1959 through 1963 seems to be a period of stable line extension at FAUL’s: only 3 models marketed, with the regular NMA in 3 variations/sub-variations, and the Civilian Model in 2 variations. Behind the scene in Liege internal design improvements were a continuing process, like the evolution of the square ended to the tapered ended arbor in 3 steps (with and without separate grease groove). With some overlaps to use existing stocks this program was completed around 1965. Sales must have been pleasing with no direct competition until 1963 (launch of Uberti’s 1860 Army) but market demand is supposed to have outgrown FAUL’s production capacity at around 1965/66 thanks to the booming US market.
Only one additional variation of the regular NMA was launched in 1968.
Flat or declining sales in the USA were offset by the Europeans rediscovering shooting C&B revolvers. Certainly the popularity of the Spaghetti Westerns was very influential here. This nice trend continued until the early 1970s when low-cost Italian and Spanish replicas flooded the market in general and C&B percussion revolver markets particularly, leading to an erosion of market prices in a still growing market. From today’s perspective it would appear that FAUL tried to combat this by using 2 strategies to a.) protect their market position as the premium supplier in the 1860 Army segment but also to b.) take advantage of the market growth:
1. Keep old and reach new shooters AND collectors with the NMA, increase production output: this would explain the addition of the Marshal models to extend the line to four models, but particularly the explosion in variations and sub-variations of the regular NMA plus the launch of the three factory engraved versions. They just went nuts. Noteworthy, however, is the fact that FAUL wrote gun history with the introduction of the first stainless steel percussion revolver as a variation of the regular NMA.
2. Implement cost cutting measures: to increase production unskilled labor was hired (which quickly led to quality complaints and subsequent loss in credibility as the high quality manufacturer…see details in Production page). Furthermore, we discovered the return of the square ended arbor without separate grease groove. Back straps that used to be welded from 3 separate parts were now casts. The inventory cutting, however, is another explanation for the many small-scale variations and sub-variations of the NMA.
The many short runs and variations of this period created a great interest for collectors of these guns.
MYTHBUSTER
WDN01.03.0