Belguim 1860 “colt” centennial arms

[Andrewmtnman]

Dad bought this new in the 60’s. By the looks of it, he had shot it quite a bit. There was a pinhole in one cylinder, the cylinder over shot the bolt when cocked, didn’t index the bolt and had some missing screws. I found no parts to be available from centennial arms which is no longer around. So, I took a shot and ordered a Pietta cylinder, which surprisingly had the same ship engraving scene on it. Along with that I ordered a Pietta hand, and some screws from DGW. Low and behold, the cylinder fit with a much tighter fit than the original, not too tight, but not sloppy like the old one. The knob/pin on the hand needed to be filed down to fit in the original hammer. It’s diameter was a couple thousands to big. Oiled it up, reassembled and it functions beautifully. The timing and indexing is spot on. Just thought I would share with anyone interested.
Best of all Dad’s ticked pink!

 

[hrt4me]

Great job; I am surprised the modern Italian Pietta cylinder fit the 50+ year old Belgian revolver

I hope your dad gets to fire it again!

Does your Belgian Centaure 1860 have the notch in its grip base for the shoulder stock?

Finally, are you a FROCS member?

 

[Notchy Bob]

Good work, Andrew!

You mentioned a pinhole in one cylinder (chamber?). For safety’s sake, I would recommend permanently repurposing that cylinder for something other than the revolver. Old cylinders make terrific pencil or punch holders, for example. That pinhole, if between chambers, will likely cause a chain fire. If it’s out the side, you’ll at least get a jet of hot gas coming out where you don’t want it.

Congratulations on making a shooter out of a clunker!

Notchy Bob

 

[hrt4me]

You mentioned a pinhole in one cylinder (chamber?). For safety’s sake, I would recommend permanently repurposing that cylinder for something other than the revolver. Old cylinders make terrific pencil or punch holders, for example. That pinhole, if between chambers, will likely cause a chain fire. If it’s out the side, you’ll at least get a jet of hot gas coming out where you don’t want it.

if that one chamber has a pinhole out the side of the cylinder, then maybe remove its cone and designate that as your safety chamber to keep empty...?

 

[Andrewmtnman]

Great job; I am surprised the modern Italian Pietta cylinder fit the 50+ year old Belgian revolver

I hope your dad gets to fire it again!

Does your Belgian Centaure 1860 have the notch in its grip base for the shoulder stock?

Finally, are you a FROCS member?

I was very surprised myself. He will in April when decides to head north again. It does have the notch. No I am not a member, yet

 

[Andrewmtnman]

Good work, Andrew!

You mentioned a pinhole in one cylinder (chamber?). For safety’s sake, I would recommend permanently repurposing that cylinder for something other than the revolver. Old cylinders make terrific pencil or punch holders, for example. That pinhole, if between chambers, will likely cause a chain fire. If it’s out the side, you’ll at least get a jet of hot gas coming out where you don’t want it.

Congratulations on making a shooter out of a clunker!

Notchy Bob

That cylinder will NEVER be shot. I will somehow disable it without destroying it.

 

[Andrewmtnman]

if that one chamber has a pinhole out the side of the cylinder, then maybe remove its cone and designate that as your safety chamber to keep empty...?

To risky for me. I’d rather buy another cylinder if I want a spare. That thing is loose as a goose in the frame

 

[B P Arn]

Drilling out the threads for the nipple will disable the chamber.

 

[appalichian hunter]

If mine I would remove the nipple and pour the chamber full of lead, that way no possibilities of making a misteak. A bit heavier but sems like a sure-fire way of Dis-Abeling that chamber.

 

[Notchy Bob]

That is a handsome revolver. I think that M1860 Colt was really the pinnacle of development for revolvers, in terms of both aesthetics and ergonomics… Grace and style with practical effectiveness.

Have you had a chance to shoot it yet?

Notchy Bob

 

[Whitworth]

That is a handsome revolver. I think that M1860 Colt was really the pinnacle of development for revolvers, in terms of both aesthetics and ergonomics… Grace and style with practical effectiveness.
Notchy Bob

Can't argue with that, though I prefer shooting my .36 Navy, my 1860 Colt is the prettiest indeed, sharing it's streamlined look with it's smaller brother the 1862 Police. JMHO

 

[CyrusP]

I love resurrection stories! Great job!

 

[Long Johns Wolf]

Andrewmtnman & campfire: If you wish to learn more about the FROCS-FRiends Of the Centaure Society or consider joining this International Non-Profit special interest visit the Centaure & FROCS website www.1960nma.org and send me an email at [email protected].
Long Johns Wolf

 

[Andrewmtnman]

Thanks all. Good ideas on disabling the old cylinder! I plan to shoot it today. See if I can grab some more pics with smoke

 

[toot]

I have an 1802 HARPERS FERRY FLINTER, in 54 CAL. made by them. and they are doing north of $ 600.00. now.

 

[Andrewmtnman]

The ole girl shot very well today. I used 20 gr of Pyrodex P and .451 ball. Kept it a bit light. I guess I can go up to 30 gr safely.

 

[jimhallam]

My first revolver was a Centaur, bought in 1962 from a gunshop called "Roberts", St. Martins Lane, just beside Trafalgar Square in London. It is a mystery to me why most people think that Uberti were the first to make a GOOD copy 1960 Army .... the parts on mine interchanged with an original.
I was just about to go to teacher training college, but the Metropolitan Police gave me a Firearm Certificate for "one .44 percussion revolver" as a collectors' item -- - the start of 60 years collecting ;-) I wish that I still had it.