This is a very fine example of a historic Navy size lever action pistol manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., c. 1856. The pistol is complete with a letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center that states it was formerly part of the Winchester Gun Museum and was deaccessioned from the Winchester Arms Collection of the Cody Firearms Museum and sold at auction in June 1991. The pistol has the distinctive blue octagon barrel with integral magazine, gun metal receiver and casehardened lever with finger hole. The barrel has a brass cone front sight. A fixed rear sight is mounted in a dovetail on the receiver. The casehardened hammer has a knurled spur. The two piece flat bottom walnut grips have a high polish varnish finish. The top barrel flat is roll stamped "THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB. 14. 1854" in three lines. The barrel legend indicates that the pistol was manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., before the firm was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Co., by Oliver Winchester in April 1857. The serial number, "1732" is stamped on the right side of the lever, the right side of the butt underneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The Volcanic pistols and carbines were revolutionary firearms which combined a primed self contained rocket ball cartridge, integral magazine and repeating lever action. The Volcanic pistols and carbines drew shirt maker Oliver Winchester into firearms manufacturing. The Volcanic lever action and integral magazines were refined to serve as the basis for the successful New Haven Arms Co., Henry lever action rifles and the Winchester Model 1866, Model 1873 and Model 1876 rifles.