Volcanic No.1 Lever Action Pocket Pistol manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut c. 1859. The pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral six-shot magazine, loading lever with round finger hole, brass frame and two-piece walnut flat bottom grips. The barrel and lever have a high polish blue finish. The brass frame is silver-plated. The hammer is color casehardened and the grips have a high polish piano finish. The rear sight, lever spring and magazine block have a niter blue finish. The top and sides of the frame and back strap are decorated with well executed open scroll engraving. The barrel is fitted with flat blade font sight and a simple, notched rear sight is mounted in a dovetail on the frame. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "NEW HAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in a single line. The deletion of "VOLCANIC" from the barrel legend occurred after Oliver Winchester formed the New Haven Arms Company on May 1, 1857. The serial number, "1187", is stamped on the lower left side of the butt underneath the grips and on the inside of each grip. All of the visible serial numbers match. Volcanic firearms are historically significant and represent an important step in the development of American repeating firearms and self-contained cartridges. The lever action and integral spring-loaded magazine introduced with Volcanic pistols and carbines served as the basic design for the Henry rifle and the Winchester Model 1866, 1873 and 1876 rifles. Oliver Winchester's investment in the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company eventually led to the establishment of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Extremely fine. This pistol is all original and retains 60% plus of the original blue finish and 85% of the original silver-plated finish. Significant amounts of the high polish blue finish are present on protected areas of the barrel and magazine. The silver-plated finish is tarnished and has some edge wear on the high points on the right side of the receiver with some flaking on either side of the hammer well. Significant amounts of niter blue finish remain on the rear sight, magazine block and lever spring. The lever has traces of the high polish blue finish in protected areas; the balance is a dark patina. The case colors on the hammer have faded to a dark gray patina. The engraving remains crisp and deep. The grips are in very fine condition and retain more than 90% of the piano finish varnish. There are several small chips and numerous dents present in the heel of the right grip. This is an outstanding example of a silver plated factory engraved New Haven Arms Company Volcanic No.1 Pocket Pistol.