Volcanic lever-action carbine with 16 1/2-inch barrel manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., in 1857. The Volcanic lever action carbines and pistols represented a significant development in firearms design and featured a self-contained cartridge, integral magazine and self-cocking lever action. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., was reorganized by Oliver Winchester as the New Haven Arms Co., in April 1857. Between 1857 and 1860 the New Haven Arms co., manufactured approximately 1000 Volcanic Carbines with 16 1/2 inch, 21 inch and 25 inch barrels. Improvements in cartridge design by B. Tyler Henry led to the development of the Henry rifle which retained the Volcanic lever action, integral spring-loaded magazine and brass receiver. The carbine has a blued octagon barrel with integral magazine, distinctive brass frame and crescent brass buttplate. The hammer and lever are color case-hardened, The barrel has a crescent brass front sight and a niter blue rear sight with elevation wheel is mounted on the frame. The straight grain walnut stock has a varnish finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "NEWHAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB 14. 1854" in one line. The serial or assembly number "13" is stamped on the left side of the lower tang, on the inside of the buttplate and on the shank of all of the hand-fitted buttplate and tang screws. All of the visible serial or assembly numbers match.

Excellent. The carbine retains 90% of the original blue finish on the barrel with some minor scattered light pitting present on right side, most of the mottled blue-gray case colors on the hammer and lever. There is some flaking of the finish near the juncture with the receiver. The brass frame and buttplate both have an attractive original mustard yellow color. The top left frame flat exhibits a small crescent shaped factory casting flaw. The barrel markings are crisp. The rear sight retains 75% of its bright nitre blue. The stock is in excellent condition; nearly all of the original varnish finish remains intact and the stock shows minimal handling wear. This is an outstanding example of a rare and historically significant Volcanic lever-action carbine. It would be very difficult to improve upon this rare carbine.