1860 Army Belgium made ?

Springfield Kid · October 15, 2009, 05:04 PM

I have noticed in the past a few 1860 Armys being listed as Belgium made on Gun Broker .
Does anyone know the true value of these cap and ball pistols ?
Seems the bidding is higher than on the more common Italian made reproductions .

Hawg · October 15, 2009, 05:14 PM

They're not exactly clones but more like reissues. in 1853 Colt gave a license to Union d'Armes de Liege to manufacture Colt pistols. These were made under that same license to Colt specs in the 60's and 70's. They called it the 1960 Centaur.

madcratebuilder · October 15, 2009, 05:52 PM

They go for $400 -$450 on GB normally. They a well made, good steel. Not uncommon for them to need work. There is a member here who has rebuilt many of them.

arcticap · October 15, 2009, 06:37 PM

Here's the Friends of the Centaur Society website:

http://www.1960nma.org/

Quote:

Welcome to the Friends of the Centaure Society. This website is for collectors and gun enthusiasts who are interested in the "Belgian Colt" and want to learn more about the European brother to the Hartford Colt 1860.

Doc Hoy · October 15, 2009, 08:26 PM

When you hold a Centaure it seems just a bit heftier than a Pietta, or a ASP or ASM. I never measured the dimensions of the pistol, but it just seems slightly bigger.

I like mine but I don't shoot it any more. I have "rifleo" rehab it and then retired it.

mykeal · October 15, 2009, 10:13 PM

Here's a comparison of the Centaur with a Pietta and a Euroarms (Armi San Paolo) example. I don't know that the Centaur is any larger; it seems a bit heavier, however. I'll have to weigh them all one of these days.

Bootsie · October 16, 2009, 02:40 AM

Did some comparative measurements of 1 2nd gen Colt Army and 2 Centaures a while ago. For details see www.1960nma.org, Production page.
Muzzle dia
# 2nd gen. #207514 (1982): .655
# Centaure C418 (1961): .675
# Centaure 12307 (1972): .686
Rifling groove dia
# 2nd gen. #207514: .458
# Centaure C418: .448
# Centaure 12307: .445
This would make the Centaures slightly more front heavy.
Bootsie aks Long Johns Wolf

Doc Hoy · October 16, 2009, 06:00 AM

I think I remember holding mine next to other examples and realized that the barrel is longer by about 3/16 inch.

I am on travel so I can't get to them now and this issue is simply way to urgent to wait until I get home to redo the comparison.

October 15, 2009, 05:04 PM	#1
Springfield Kid Member Join Date: September 29, 2009 Posts: 50	1860 Army Belgium made ? I have noticed in the past a few 1860 Armys being listed as Belgium made on Gun Broker . Does anyone know the true value of these cap and ball pistols ? Seems the bidding is higher than on the more common Italian made reproductions .

October 15, 2009, 08:26 PM	#5
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	Yup! When you hold a Centaure it seems just a bit heftier than a Pietta, or a ASP or ASM. I never measured the dimensions of the pistol, but it just seems slightly bigger. I like mine but I don't shoot it any more. I have "rifleo" rehab it and then retired it. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

October 16, 2009, 06:00 AM	#8
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	And.... I think I remember holding mine next to other examples and realized that the barrel is longer by about 3/16 inch. I am on travel so I can't get to them now and this issue is simply way to urgent to wait until I get home to redo the comparison. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath. Last edited by Doc Hoy; October 16, 2009 at 06:01 AM. Reason: Poor spelling

October 15, 2009, 05:14 PM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	They're not exactly clones but more like reissues. in 1853 Colt gave a license to Union d'Armes de Liege to manufacture Colt pistols. These were made under that same license to Colt specs in the 60's and 70's. They called it the 1960 Centaur.

October 15, 2009, 05:52 PM	#3
madcratebuilder Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2007 Location: Northern Orygun Posts: 4,923	They go for $400 -$450 on GB normally. They a well made, good steel. Not uncommon for them to need work. There is a member here who has rebuilt many of them.

October 15, 2009, 10:13 PM	#6
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	Here's a comparison of the Centaur with a Pietta and a Euroarms (Armi San Paolo) example. I don't know that the Centaur is any larger; it seems a bit heavier, however. I'll have to weigh them all one of these days.

October 16, 2009, 02:40 AM	#7
Bootsie Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2007 Location: Hofheim/Germany Posts: 102	Did some comparative measurements of 1 2nd gen Colt Army and 2 Centaures a while ago. For details see www.1960nma.org, Production page. Muzzle dia # 2nd gen. #207514 (1982): .655 # Centaure C418 (1961): .675 # Centaure 12307 (1972): .686 Rifling groove dia # 2nd gen. #207514: .458 # Centaure C418: .448 # Centaure 12307: .445 This would make the Centaures slightly more front heavy. Bootsie aks Long Johns Wolf