Volcanic No. 1 Pocket Pistol manufactured c. 1860 by the New Haven Arms Company. The pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral magazine, brass receiver and lever with finger hole. The pistol has a small brass half-moon front sight and dovetail mounted rear sight on the receiver. The barrel has a high polish blue finish, the hammer and lever are case hardened and the receiver has a natural brass finish. The two-piece walnut grips have a high polish 'piano' finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend: "NEW HAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in one line. The lack of Volcanic markings and the addition of "Patent" before the February 14, 1854 date indicate that the pistol was manufactured after Oliver Winchester reorganized the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company into the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. The serial number "1381" is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grips and on the inside of each grip. The top and sides of the receiver and the back strap are engraved with the large, open, scroll work utilized by the New Haven Arms Co., on factory engraved guns. The New Haven Arms Co., produced an estimated total of 3300 lever action pistols and carbines between 1857 and 1860. This total includes an estimated 850 No. 1 Pocket Pistols. Volcanic pistols and carbines are scarce and historically significant firearms. The Volcanic lever action, integral magazine and self-contained 'rocket ball' cartridges represented a significant advance in firearms design. The basic Volcanic designs evolved into the Henry lever action rifle and the Winchester Model 1866, 1873 and 1876 rifles and carbines. Oliver F. Winchester's investment in the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company and subsequent controlling interest in the New Haven Arms Company eventually led to the establishment of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Fine. The pistol is original and untouched with 30% plus of the original high polish blue finish in protected areas of the barrel and magazine and mottled case colors on the hammer and lever. The barrel has a mottled silver-gray patina with patches of age discoloration and scattered traces of light pitting. The legend on the top barrel flat is clear. The receiver is in very fine condition with a very attractive un-polished patina. The surfaces of the receiver and side-plates have minimal handling wear and the factory scroll engraving is sharp. The fine grips retain nearly 90% of the varnished piano finish and scattered handling and storage marks. This is both a fine and attractive example of a scarce and historically significant, factory engraved, New Haven Arms Volcanic No. 1 Pocket Pistol