This is a fine example of a Lever-Action Navy Pistol manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut, between 1855 and 1857. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company manufactured an estimated 1500 Navy pistols with eight-inch barrels before the company was re-organized by Oliver Winchester as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. The pistol has a blued octagon barrel with integral magazine, brass frame, casehardened loading lever with round finger hole and two-piece, varnished walnut grips. The barrel has a brass pin front sight. A fixed rear sight is mounted on the receiver dovetail. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEWHAVEN. CONN. FEB. 14. 1854"in three lines. The full serial number, "1470" is stamped on the right side of the loading lever, on the lower left side of the frame underneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The Volcanic repeating pistols were a unique and innovative design that fired a 'Rocket-Ball" with self-contained powder and primer and featured an integral, spring-loaded magazine and lever-action mechanism. The Volcanic lever-action mechanism was the forerunner of the Henry and Winchester lever-action rifles and the .41 Rocket ball cartridge was the predecessor of the rimfire and centerfire cartridges introduced and perfected in the 1860s.. Manufactured in limited numbers,Volcanic lever-action pistol are are scarce and historically important firearms.

Fine to very fine. The pistol retains 45% plus of the original blue finish on the barrel. The balance of the barrel has aged to a plum blue patina. There are a few isolated patches of shallow pitting on the barrel. The barrel markings are crisp. The receiver has an attractive age patina. The side plate joints are tight and the brass shows minimal handling marks. The casehardened finish on the loading lever and hammer has a mottled, silver-gray patina. The grips are very fine plus and retain 80% plus of the original varnish finish and show only light, scattered handling marks. This is a fine example of a Volcanic Repeating Arms Company Navy Pistol with eight-inch barrel.