Predecessor to the more frequently encountered brass frame Volcanic, this is a rare example of the 4 inch 31 caliber lever action magazine pistol manufactured by Smith & Wesson Repeating Arms Company which began manufacturing in 1854. The company would be reorganized a year later in 1855, as the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company and the rest is history. Smith & Wesson focused their efforts to design and produce a pistol that could fire the self contained metallic cartridge using Rollin Whites bored through cylinder. While the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company would become the subsequent birth of the Winchester Repeating Rifle Company. Relatively little information is known about exact numbers of production. This pistol features the two line parallel barrel address on the top flat marked "SMITH & WESSON/ NORWICH CT." on the top barrel flat. The left flat is marked with the patent information in two lines "PATENT/FEB. 14 1854". The right flat is stamped upside down "CAST-STEEL". The frame, hammer and grip strap feature the typical open scroll and vine motifs. The serial number "153 G" is stamped on the right side of the ring trigger lever and on the ring trigger lever link. This ring trigger does not feature the common finger spur, and shows no sign of tampering. Some literature suggests this as a special order feature. Complete with "bag" style varnished wood grips. For further reading see; Roy Jinks "History of Smith & Wesson" and Supica and Nahas "Standard, Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 2nd edition".