Posted: 12/4/2009 8:10:46 AM EDT
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My Ist gun purchase, mail order no background check no waiting period mailed direct to me. A Centenial 1860 Colt replica, from 1969-aG-R-E-A-T year despite all the troubles of the era   The Black Powder is original last used 1977, bought ~1969 and has stayed in that flask, and the holster-from Dixie Gun Works-!969 too, the percusion caps are new from wally world The gold watch was my grandfathers-1920-30's maybe The history of this company suggests that some collectors consider them true 2nd generation Colts as they were a lic European manufacturer and used the original equipment but modern steel to get the first runs out their doors. http://www.1960nma.org/ " <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Centaure<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> – the True 2nd Generation Colt Army?[/span][span style='COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB'] A considered personal comment is probably in order here: [span style='font-weight: bold;']<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">[span style='FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold']“Are the [span]Centaures[/span] Armies re-issues[/span] [/span][/span][span style='font-weight: bold;']<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">[span style='FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold']or[/span][/span][/span][span style='font-weight: bold;'][span style='FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold'] <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">replicas?”[/span][/span][/span] There is no doubt about a licensing agreement between Sam Colt[/span][span style='mso-ansi-language: EN-GB'] and the Belgian Consortium of which the [span]Hanquets[/span] were a valued member. At the same time there exists no indication that Colt’s ever terminated or cancelled this contract. But it is a historical fact that no 1860 Army-type C&B revolver was ever produced outside the Hartford factory…until 1959 at Rue [span]Treppé[/span] Nr. 22, [span]Liège[/span], Belgium. Before [span]Uberti[/span] turned out their replica 1963 and before [span style='COLOR: black']Colt began marketing their 2nd generations between 1978 and 1982. <o:p></o:p>[/span][/span][/span] [span style='COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Comic Sans MS; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB']Some [span]Centaure[/span] enthusiasts are pushing this even further by presenting convincing arguments that the Belgians are the real 2nd generation Colt Armies with more DNA of the 1st generation than the ones finished under the Blue Dome in Hartford but with firm roots of production in [span]Gardone[/span], Italy. <o:p></o:p>[/span] [span style='FONT-FAMILY: Comic Sans MS'][span style='COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB']However, as the guru says the market is always right, consider this: prices for Centennial Armies at auctions on both sides of the Atlantic have increased significantly since early 2008. Even run down specimens of the more common 1st or 3rd variation [span]RNMAs[/span] or 1st variation Marshals demand[/span][span style='COLOR: green; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB'] [/span][span style='COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB']premium prices today nobody even thought of before. They are now achieving prices comparable to 2nd gen. Colt Armies and we are not even talking about rare Civilians, stocked Cavalry Models or small scale production variations of the RNMA here…Pards & pardettes, the[/span][span style='mso-ansi-language: EN-GB'] conclusions are all yours. " <o:p> And from a prio post of mine, I promised to post a pic and never did of my loaded BP 5 1/2 inch from the 70's. Still loaded after all these years- archives link http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=1&f=75&t=925635  </o:p>[/span][/span] |
Add pics for the Centennial  And copied from archive the back story to the loaded sheriff model To add a tribute to my Dad who passed away 10 years ago I reposted From my Fathers day post this year, some viewed then but were too busy that day got no comments Now on the tenth anniversary of his passing I reflect again. Still miss him. So I’ll repost this and add another memory to the storyline. But I’ll have to add the picture later as I’m pressed for time The anniversary of my dad’s passing came and flooded me with memories. One I’d like to share with you is from the very end . After he knew the Big c was taking him, my Dad got pragmatic. He didn’t worry about his remaining time .he wanted his life in order. That’s when I last visited him in a healthy active condition, he was at the table with a VFW buddy and neighbor trying to unload my old revolver. Years before when I was a teen, he worked with his own trucking company and had the assignment of getting a truck load of items from Gettysburg for a display at one of Boston’s premier downtown stores, called Jordan Marsh. Well prior to delivering these items he parked the truck overnight at our house to keep it well guarded. He took me away from my teen diversion-whatever it was TV ,model building, and said he wanted to show me something. We got up into the back of the moving truck and it was half full of boxes and such. He went to one and opened it to show me the civil war uniforms , buckles hats etc, while I’m checking that out he magicly it seemed presented a cap and ball revolver. Colt 1851 I later learned. Let me hold that told me how treat a weapon . b proceeded to let me dry fire it anyway. Pointed downward to the floor of the truck I didn’t know better . First experience with anything other than toy guns. Maybe a BB rifle. Well that ignited my passion for revolvers of Colt manufacture for sure. That led me not long afterwards to buy a mail order cap and ball reproduction. Actually several of them. As well as a original 1860 model. Well I soon learned how to load them and shoot them regularly on my Dads Cap Cod property after the summer crowd had left. Later when I left home for my first duy station, I left behind a full loaded reproduction 1860 44 cal . shortened barrel called the sheriffs version. He didn’t mind He had decided to jump through all the Massachusetts hoops for his pistol permit. . Well speed forward several years I return home and at one of the winter gatherings he asks what I want to do about my pistol. He had it stored in my old room, still loaded. I said well the fastest way to unload it is to shoot it, but I didn’t have a MA permit then. I left it with him. It was well sealed in lube and wax to keep the charge fresh. Again fast forward There he is at the table with this loaded cap and ball gun and he and his friend want me to take it home to FL so instead of asking me to unload it he says they’ll take care of it.I said nothing, but kept an eye on the proceedings Charlie his friend and he intently discussed the situation like they were the ‘bomb squad’ Finally agreeing to pull the primers first. But of course they had a devil of a time figuring out how to get that cylinder off the frame. Never once ask me for a thing. Engrossed and focused I saw my Dad happy at work with a friend. A long time since my mother’s passing that I’d seen that in him I stayed out of it , They were getting rowdier as each successful step was done. Finally they turned their attention to taking the lead bullets out and how to remove the gunpowder. soon they had denippled the cylinder Well , Charlie dug the powder out some with a wire pick and soap and water but in the end they decided to defuse it with oil Next they started to ram at the lodged in bullets. After several hours they got one of them out. Then he decided it was safe enough as is and handed over to me –all mine now. It was the most amusing and heartwarming performance by these two old vets that to this day 10 years later I never finished the job. I have it as he left it afraid to destroy that memory by altering the gun . Too sentimental ? maybe but I like my memories that way. best regards, TDK |