This is a very fine example of a lever action Navy pistol with eight-inch barrel manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. in New Haven, Connecticut, circa 1856. The pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral ten-shot magazine and swiveling magazine collar. The barrel has a nickel silver cone front sight. The brass (gunmetal) frame has a dovetail mounted fixed rear sight with simple notch. The ejection port on the top of the frame has a square cut on the front and semi-circular cutout on the rear. The loading lever has a round finger hole, and the hammer has coarse knurling on the spur. The two-piece walnut grips have a high polish piano finish. The barrel has a blue finish, and the hammer and lever are color casehardened. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB 14. 1854" in four lines. The serial number "2532" is stamped: (1) on the right side of the back strap beneath the grip, (2) on the right side of the loading lever, and (3) on the inside of both walnut grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel markings indicate that this pistol was manufactured after the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. was organized in April 1856, but before Oliver Winchester acquired control of the company in April 1857 and reorganized it as the New Haven Arms Co. Total production of Navy pistols with 8 inch barrels by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. is estimated to be approximately 1,500 pistols. The lever action pistols and carbines manufactured by Smith & Wesson, Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., and New Haven Arms Co. are historically important firearms. Volcanic firearms were the first repeating pistols and carbines to utilize a self-contained primed cartridge, spring loaded magazine, and repeating lever action mechanism. Although Volcanic firearms were not commercially successful, development of the basic design and introduction of improved cartridges paved the way for the successful Henry rifle and Winchester Model 1866 and 1873 rifles. In addition, shirt maker Oliver Winchester's investment in the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. introduced him to firearms manufacturing and ultimately led to his establishment of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

Very fine. The pistol retains 75%-80% plus of the original blue finish overall. Most of the blue finish is present on the barrel and integral magazine. There are several shallow marks on the top of the magazine collar behind the front sight and along the barrel edges. Contact points on the barrel and magazine have developed a nice plum brown patina. The barrel legend is crisp. The case colors on the hammer and finger lever have aged to a mottled plum brown patina. The frame has a mellow attractive patina. There are some shallow handling marks lightly visible in the edges of the side plates along the top of the frame and a few scattered dents on the left side plate surrounding the finger lever screw. The piano finished walnut grips remain in excellent condition and have 95% plus of the original high polish varnish finish. Wear is limited to shallow handling and storage marks with some edge wear along the bottom of the grip. This is an exceptional original example of a Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. Navy pistol with eight inch barrel.