The Volcanic lever action firearms are historically significant American firearms and are key links in the evolutionary tree that led to the Henry lever action rifle and the creation of Winchester Repeating Arms Co. and its innovative lever action rifles popular in the American West. The Volcanic repeaters were mainly hampered by their underpowered and often problematic ammunition but set the stage for further innovation. This is one of only an estimated 850 "No. 1 3 1/2 inch Pocket pistols" manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. of New Haven, Connecticut, in 1857-1862. The pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral six-shot magazine, round finger hole in the lever and flat bottom grips. The pistol is fitted with a pinched blade front sight on the barrel and a notch rear sight at the rear of the frame. The top barrel flat is marked "NEW HAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in one line. Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection

Fair overall with an artificial brown patina on the barrel and magazine tube, brass having an artificially aged, once cleaned appearance, undersized replacement grips. Mechanically fine.