New Haven Arms Co. No. 1 Volcanic Pocket Pistol manufactured c.1860. The New Haven Arms Co. manufactured approximately 850 No. 1 Pocket Pistols with .31 caliber, 3 1/2-inch barrels between 1857 and 1860. This pistol has a silver-plated brass receiver with deluxe Germanic scroll engraving on a punch-dot background. The engraving features star-burst designs surrounding the lever screw, a stylized hounds head in the scrollwork on the left side plate and elaborate punch-dot, cross-hatched with dots and wheat chaff borders. The engraving is very similar to the "New York" style engraving executed by Louis D. Nimschke on Colt revolvers and is almost certainly an early example of Nimschke's work. The barrel and six-shot magazine have a deluxe high polish blue finish, and the hammer, trigger and finger-lever are color casehardened. The cartridge elevator, trigger spring, bolt and rear sight are fire blue. The two-piece factory grips are stamped on the inside with the pistol serial number. The pistol has a steel front sight blade on the barrel and dovetail mounted rear sight on the receiver. The hammer has fine border-less knurling on the spur. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the New Haven Arms Co. legend: "NEWHAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in one line reading toward the breech. The serial number is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grip. All of the visible serial numbers match. Special factory grips of this material are rare on any Volcanic pistol. Although many New Haven Arms Co. No. 1 Pocket Pistols were factory engraved, the deluxe engraving on this pistol is far more elaborate than the simple scrollwork utilized for New Haven Arms factory engraving. The high polish blue finish on the barrel and silver plated receiver are also indicative of a special order, deluxe engraved pistol.

Very fine. This pistol is all original and retains 80% of the original high polish blue finish on the barrel and at least 90% of the silver-plated finish on the receiver. The bolt, cartridge elevator and rear sight retain significant amounts of the fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger and finger lever have about 70% of the mottled case colors with some silvering. The detailed and flawlessly executed scroll and punch-dot engraving and elaborate border work is crisp and sharp. The grips have yellowed slightly but remain in fine overall condition with several small stress lines visible on both bottoms. This is a very rare example of a New Haven Arms Co. No. 1 Pocket Pistol with deluxe engraving and finish and special factory grips.