This is an example of a rare deluxe Volcanic No. 2 Navy Pistol manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. prior to the Civil War. This deluxe pistol features silver plated brass receiver that is decorated with bold Germanic scroll engraving on a punch dot background. The barrel was originally blue and the hammer and finger lever have a casehardened finish. The top of the barrel is marked "REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEWHAVEN CONN. FEB. 14. 1854". The "VOLCANIC" markings which were part of the barrel legend were omitted after Oliver F. Winchester reorganized the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., as the New Haven Arms Co., in April 1857. The matching serial number is stamped on the right side of the finger lever under the right grip on lower frame and on the inside of both ivory grip panels. New Haven Arms Company advertisements from February 1859 list the "No. 2-8-inch Navy Pistol" available "OO-plated and engraved" for $20.00. The engraving on this pistol is more detailed and better executed than the relatively simple engraving shown on the standard engraved Volcanic revolver illustrated on page 6 of "The Book of Winchester Engraving" by R.L. Wilson. The combination of detailed scroll and border engraving silver plated receiver and ivory grips appears to be nearly identical to the pair of deluxe engraved Volcanic pistols with 8 inch barrels made for Oliver Winchester shown on page 6 of the same book. This pistol almost certainly represents the highest level of engraving, finish and deluxe features available on a New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic pistol. Also an artist painting of this pistol #1638 was used for the cover of the 14th annual edition (1960) of Gun Digest by John T. Amber.