This is a extremely 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, brass 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 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. Provenance: Gillespie collection.

Extremely fine. The barrel and integral magazine retain at least 90% of the original blue finish. The barrel has some very minor edge wear at the muzzle and numerous shallow wide dents present on both sides adjacent to the receiver. The blue has developed a slight plum colored patina. Most of the niter blue finish is present on protected areas of the cartridge elevator and bolt. The hammer and lever retain 80% of the original case colors which have faded to a mottled gray-brown patina. The brass frame and side plates are in fine condition with a few scattered handling marks (removal of the grips exposed much remaining silver plating). There are three very small dents in the top of the right side plate but the joints of both side plates are tight. The follower is a period replacement. The grips are very fine and retain nearly 90% of the original varnish finish. The grips have minor handling marks; the right grip has slightly more wear with a shallow dent next to the screw escutcheon, a small chip at the back edge and finish loss along the heel. Wear on the left grip is limited to some minor handling marks and some varnish wear along the heel. The barrel markings and serial numbers are sharp. This is a historic example of a historically significant Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. Lever Action Navy Pistol from the Winchester Gun Museum. It would be hard to improve on this outstanding pistol.