2nd Conversion of Belgian Colt

[Long Johns Wolf]

When Karl Nedbal completed my Centaure Richards conversion last month I asked him if he would do a Centaure Thuer for me. He nodded but said not before November and he did not mention a year.
But appearantly he started straight away with the work. Here is one of the first pics of the Thuer conversion ring for S/N 7266. I'll keep you pards & pardettes informed of his progress
Long Johns Wolf

[Long Johns Wolf]

Nedbal is making headway: per July 10 the Thuer ring in the white and the cylinder lathed to specs are installed.
She should be completed pretty soon but then you never know with these conversion artists.
Long Johns Wolf

[Pettifogger]

You know you are making everyone on this side of the pond jealous don't you?

[Long Johns Wolf]

That's not the intention, Pettifogger, just to share the progess of this project...
Like many other pards & pardettes on both sides of the big pond I like to own and shoot a newly made Thuer...but missed the opportunitiy when Uberti sold a handful of their prototypes a couple of years back.
I am sure some of the many US converters are working on such a conversion as well. It will be stimulating to share experience.
Long Johns Wolf

[Crow Scout]

I am sure some of the many US converters are working on such a conversion as well. It

We sure are!  I'm working on my drawings now but am having a tough go at it.  I don't have any references to pull dimensions from but I'm working through it. 

I hope to start throwing chips in the next couple of weeks. 

LJW your Thuer is looking superb....... and yes I'm very jealous.   

[Long Johns Wolf]

Crow Scout: Nedbal is taking the dimensions from an original Thuer and makes the necessary adjustments that they fit into the Centaure. That's what he also did with the Uberti Thuers he did before. From what I understand the difficult task is the making and fitting of the tiny little parts inside the conversion ring that make the pistol function.
So, I am looking forward to your chips and will be sharing further pics from Nedbal as they become available.
I will gladly let you have the spece once this Centaure Thuer is completed...which hopefully will be in November 2008.
Long Johns Wolf

[Long Johns Wolf]

One happy customer here in Germany because I collected my Centaure Thuer on Friday.
Wanted to add pics of the Thuer but the system doesn't take my jpg's any more. Very strange!
Now I want to give her a work-out. So, will try to make some ammo tonight with the tools machined by the master. Nedbal showd it to me once & I hope for the best with my 2 left hands.
Long Johns Wolf

[Fox Creek Kid]

I'm starting to hate you Germans with all those sweet conversions!! 

[Long Johns Wolf]

Fox Creek Kid: nobody loves us, hu, hu, hu. What are we doing wrong? And don't hate me, please. I am not mad at you because your US girls and boys did so much better at the Olympics.
The master guns smith who did the Thuer is Austrian. Incidentally he needed exactly 3 months for the job.
I said it before and I say it again: there are many high-class gun smiths in the US. One will surely come up with a Thuer soon because the demand is out there.
If I could only figure out how to add a pic to the thread
Long Johns Wolf

[Fox Creek Kid]

A little off topic, but a great friend of mine (we used to work together) is a German immigrant here and loves the U.S. He told me he will never return to Germany as he loves being able to buy more guns here and shoot all the time. I call him "der Spieß". 

[Long Johns Wolf]

Fox Creek Kid: your German friend is right and I envy him.
Long Johns Wolf

[Long Johns Wolf]

Now what is this? I can add pics again.
Here is another view of the Centaure Thuer.
Long Johns Wolf

[Long Johns Wolf]

SH: part of the package are empties made from .44 Mag brass and the Thuer cartridge loading fixtures. Tonight I load a couple of rounds with the holy black using the Thuer loading tool. I plan to take her out to the range tomorrow.
Before the smith had her proof tested with heavy loads under 280 gr bullets he fired a couple of rounds to check function and accuracy. His accuracy was more than OK. I hope I can reproduce his accuracy. Plan to use his 280 grainers and 200 grainers as well.
Long Johns Wolf

[piebiter]

I'd be interested in hearing your range report LJW.

[Long Johns Wolf]

Loaded 12 Thuer rounds yesterday for tonight's work-out. Below is a pic of the first one I did.
X fingers for tonight. I'll report my experience ASAP.
Long Johns Wolf

[Long Johns Wolf]

Range report part 1: I had loaded 12 rounds Tuesday, fired 11 yesterday and I am excited.
Started the work-out with with 6 in the chambers. Pressing the cartridges into the chambers was easier then anticipated.
At our local indoor range I fired 1 round downrange to get the feeling: nice boom, pretty thick smoke, significant recoil because I used Karl Nedbals 280 grainers over cases "filled to the rim" with BP. The bullets were outside lubed with lube for smokeless!
The other 5 rounds were fired from 8 meters in quick succession. I am pleased with POA/POI.
Switching the conversion ring to the ejection mode produced (too) positive ejection of the empties. They landed on the ground around 2 meters in front of me.
2 comments here: #1 the impact of the hammer blow is transfered by this little part in the conversion ring to the rear end of the empty next to the loading port on the right forward side of the cylinder...good...but the other empty on the left side may also move forward and block the rotation of the cylinder. I realized what was going on to late because I only watched the right side for the empties to jump out of the cylinder
#2 you are well advised to count your empty cases or  do a visual check that the chambers  are really empty
Did I say I am excited?
Long Johns Wolf

[Long Johns Wolf]

Range report - part 2: next I attempted to load the other 6 rounds into the chambers.
Round #1 no problem. #2...chamber still contained the ampty case and now I have something that looks like a Thuer Magnum. I had to disassemble the pistol to remove it. Could not separate it in two on the range. Loading of the remaining 3 rounds was no issue.
Fired the 4 rounds from 15 meters. Again this was more for function and fun, not for accuracy. At that distance she is hitting a bit high.
Ejection of the 4 empties was positive.
Long Johns Wolf

[Long Johns Wolf]

Range report - part 3: what do I make out of the experience? Did I say I am enthusiastic?
After 11 rounds fired the inside of the barrel and the front of the cylinder were pretty dirty.
Next steps? Finding the right load: instead of 280 grainers I will be using my regular 200 grainers and a bit less of the BP to have some space for grease between load and bullet (which hopefully delays building of this crud). Any suggestions here what kind of lube to use?
Nadbal needs to make more cases for me.
Did I mention I am happy with the pistol?
There you have it. The Nedbal Thuer works reliably when I do my part...I have to pay attention to the details because this is not what I would call a "forgiving gun". I am very happy to have her and look forward to some serious target shooting with the Centaure Thuer. The potential for accuracy is there.
Have a look at the Thuer Magnum below. Would you have suggestions how to separate the 2 cases without damaging them? Have removed the bullet and powder from the top one but the hot primer is still in there.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Congratulations, you are probably the first human being to fire a Thuer conversion in 138 years!! Neat gun. 

[Black River Smith]

To separate try, soaking only the bottom casing in hot soapy water.  Maybe the brass will expand just enough and with the soap be able to pull or wiggle apart.

With the live round I would not apply direct heat.

If you want water in the lower casing, use an awl to remove spent primer.

Oh by the way,  very nice.  You are real lucking to have such a nice conversion....  Your First Model turned out nice also.