Belgium made Colt replica?

[rdstrain49]

Has anyone got any information about Belgium made replicas? I found one (Colt new army) marked 1960 ( that's not a typo, 1960) New Army made in Belgium. No makers name. One proof mark looks very similar to the colt logo. Appears to be very very well made. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[junkman_01]

Colt never made a 'New Army' revolver. Colt just called the model 1860 the Army revolver. Remington made a revolver called the 'New Army'. I have no information on Belgian repo's, but if it is well made, it's a keeper for sure!

 

[mustang_steve]

belgian proof marks: http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

I wish I could find a list of gun makers, but I'm suspecting it's either in french or Flemish (both being common languages within Belgium)....neither of which I speak.

A fun site about Belgium's gun industry: http://www.ufa-belgium.com/

 

[Jim Watson]

Centennial Arms imported the Belgian "Centaur" revolvers.
They were indeed marked 1960 New Model Army.
A 2007 thread has background and history, with a position that the make goes back to a 19th century licensing agreement with Mr Colt himself.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240021

 

[rdstrain49]

Thanks to all for the help and information.

 

[shunka]

Congratulations of your find!

I offer you what many consider to be, if the ultimate, at least the penultimate website regarding the Centaur Colt, aka the Belgian Colts. This is the work of Panhandle Paden and Long Johns Wolf

http://www.1960nma.org/

yhs
shunka

 

[rcflint]

Centaur

The stamping you see similar to the Colt logo is the Centaur logo. There is a very devoted following of the Belgian Centaurs, search the websites like this one with the keyword, and you will find them.

It is a very well made and very authentic repro, probably the best you will find.

 

[madcratebuilder]

The Belgian Centaurs are really a well made revolver, good steel with a good finish. Some had QC issues and being that they are 50 years old many need some smithing to get up to snuff. The prices have gotten out of sight in the past few years.

Centennial model of the 1960 Colt Army "Centaure"

 

[rdstrain49]

I took the Centaur apart last night, stripped it to the frame. Very minor surface rust in the chambers, cleaned up to near new. The only wear that I see is very light wear at the loading lever pivot. The inside after cleaning looks like new. Now to see if it shoots. It is not for sale, but any idea of value? I gave about $200 for it in a package deal of three BPs.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I gave about $200 for it in a package deal of three BPs.

You stole it, in stated condition it would be in the $500 area on Gunbroker. Great score on a great revolver.

 

[goon]

Didn't happen to find it in a slightly overpriced gun store in PA, did you?

 

[rdstrain49]

mad; thanks for the info. Nice to know that for once I didn't get taken.

goon: no, found it at a gun show in Rapid City SD. It was part of an estate out of Mn.

Range report tomorrow, I hope

 

[goon]

Cool. I thought I saw one similar to that at a store maybe seventy miles from me sometime last year. I avoided it because I figured if something broke I'd have a terrible time finding parts, but now I wonder if that was the best choice I could have made.

 

[rdstrain49]

After having been inside the Centaur, I don't see much problem fitting new; hand assembly, cyl. lug (bolt), trigger, springs, and even hammer. Some fitting to be sure, but no big problem. Don't pass on the next one. I can sum up the range report in one word. WOW!!!!!.

 

[DutchmanDick]

I bought one of these with a well-worn finish at a gun show about 20 years ago for $50. Shot it a few times, and it cracked between the part of the frame the cylinder pin screws into and the cylinder hand slot. Totally ruined. I probably got one of the ones with QC problems. Traded it to a gunsmith as a parts gun for some work on another gun.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I bought one of these with a well-worn finish at a gun show about 20 years ago for $50. Shot it a few times, and it cracked between the part of the frame the cylinder pin screws into and the cylinder hand slot. Totally ruined. I probably got one of the ones with QC problems. Traded it to a gunsmith as a parts gun for some work on another gun.

Had this ever been fired with a conversion cylinder? The conversion cylinders place undue stress in that area of the frame. It was a common fracture point on the original conversions. You may of had a stress raiser on the inside corner. The Belgian steel is as good as you well find in a BP revolver.

 

[DutchmanDick]

No, this was before conversion cylinders were commercially available. The only ones I know of that existed at the time I bought it were the custom Gren conversions, which completely altered the gun.

 

[rdstrain49]

In 30 years as an armorer I have seen all manner of things happen to firearms. I saw a mod 19 S&W and a Colt Python blown to bits ( not at the same time ) while shooting factory 38 spl target loads. When it comes to firearms, sometimes stuff just happens.