Belgian Centaur with Thuer Conversion

[Hoof Hearted]

Built for fellow SASS Member, Lefty Dude

This was worth the work!



Early Belgian Centaur sporting a NEW IMPROVED Thuer®



This revolver also received a "factory" type bluing to set off the skill and craftsmanship of the Belgian workers!



Enjoy these closeups................

 

[Crawdad1]

HH, there is no limit to your skill!!!! Thanks for posting!!!
One question can that be converted back to the black powder cylinder?

 

[Hoof Hearted]

HH, there is no limit to your skill!!!! Thanks for posting!!!
One question can that be converted back to the black powder cylinder?

Thanks Crawdad !

While this example is an anomaly to your question (this early Centaur had tolerance issues), the Thuer® design requires no loading port or modifications that would preclude using your cap and ball cylinder.

Imagine a nice presentation box with your revolver nestled in the satin lining with a Thuer® conversion in the corner slot and all the accoutrements!

HH

 

[Willie Sutton]

Very pretty. We should talk.

Willie

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[Hoof Hearted]

My contact info is on my website listed in my signature line.
Give me a shout sometime............

HH

 

[snakeman]

Excellent work, on the conversion and the photos!

 

[Crawdad1]

I knew Mr. Sutton would be interested in this thread!!!

 

[whughett]

Ther were two categories in my beautfuly list, women and cars, you just added a third.
BTW the wood in the grip has a striking grain pattern.

 

[Smokin'Joe]

Hoof, Very nice! Is the solid face hammer part of the conversion?

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Hoof, Very nice! Is the solid face hammer part of the conversion?

While I do offer the "solid face hammer" service, as well as recommending it for all conversions, the Belgians are responsible for this one!

HH

 

[ivankerley]

every time i convince myself i don't need a conversion cylinder y'all post one and i start thinking fiscally irresponsible thoughts
beautiful work hoof
gene

 

[Willie Sutton]

That's a very early Centaure, I hope you've sent details to the FROC's on it? Be interesting to see how it varies from the later ones. Again, beautiful work. Original case hardening and wood?


Willie

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[Hoof Hearted]

Oh yea, Long John is already asking for a story............

Yes the CC is original, the silver plate, and the wood (refinished).

 

[savit260]

Very nice!!

 

[Crawdad1]

Will,
How can you tell that's an early one?

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Will,
How can you tell that's an early one?

Besides serial numbering there is no "Centaur" on the right side of the frame which was added in later production. Also the Cavalry model had no "fourth screws" in the frame for mounting a shoulder stock.

HH

 

[ivankerley]

was that also the difference on the original colts, in regards to the 3 screw or 4 screw?
3 screw was a cav model? Ive got a Uberti 1860 that Cimarron Calls a Army Civilian, its got 3 screws…
Just wondering
Gene

 

[Hoof Hearted]

was that also the difference on the original colts, in regards to the 3 screw or 4 screw?
3 screw was a cav model? Ive got a Uberti 1860 that Cimarron Calls a Army Civilian, its got 3 screws…
Just wondering
Gene

No and I may have mixed up the names but the Colt Civilian model is a three screw frame.
This one is actually a 1st model "RNMA" the Civilian and Cavalry designations came later.

Sorry for the confusion!
HH

 

[Willie Sutton]

"Will,How can you tell that's an early one?"


No letter prefix on the serial number stamped on the front of the cylinder.

Markings on the top of the BBL are an early style.

No "Prancing Centaur" on the left side of the frame.

I'd need to look at the butt, but there are some with and some without the shoulder stock attachment cut on the butt, and strangely enough there are ones with the cut there that do not have the relief on the recoil shield or the 4th screw required to attach a stock. That's an oversight for historical accuracy on these. This one is a three screw without the recoil shield cut, but the butt might still be cut for the stock. These are the details that the FROC's are documenting to try to understand the production changes as these evolved. As Hoof says, FROC's would call this a 1st model RNMA (Regular New Model Army).

Go to the FROC site and you can read about these for hours.

Start here:



http://1960nma.org/


Here's some specifics on a few varients:

http://1960nma.org/Characteristics/Major Characteristics17Jul13.htm



In addition, it's the "officers model" with the silver plated trigger guard. These are far less common than the blued ones, although it's not associated with being early or late production.


Willie

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[ivankerley]

No and I may have mixed up the names but the Colt Civilian model is a three screw frame.
This one is actually a 1st model "RNMA" the Civilian and Cavalry designations came later.

Sorry for the confusion!
HH

no problem! you do beautiful work, excellent website!
Gene

 

[StrawHat]

Doesn't the Thuer uses a cartridge that is inserted from the front of the cylinder? Do you have any ammunition? Photos please, if you do.

 

[Crawdad1]

I don’t know if this is true or not but a fellow black powder revolver ‘nut’ (like me ) I was talking to said that the steel used on those Centaurs is so hard you cannot use a regular file on it. Is that true?

 

[Crawdad1]

You know if we keep talking about these Centaurs someone might just walk in and turn the lights back on at that factory in Belgium.

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Doesn't the Thuer uses a cartridge that is inserted from the front of the cylinder? Do you have any ammunition? Photos please, if you do.

Strawhat, I thought we had this conversation before.....?
The NEW IMPROVED Thuer® that I build uses modern centerfire cartridges.

Regards, HH

 

[StrawHat]

Not sure, I do not recall if we did. Either way, thank you for clearing it up for me, and others.