This Volcanic lever action carbine was manufactured c. 1857. This carbine has the rare 21 inch barrel with integral 25-shot magazine, brass receiver and crescent buttplate. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the New Haven Arms marking: "NEWHAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854". The serial number is stamped on: (1) the right side of the loading lever, (2) left side of the lower receiver tang beneath the stock, (3) top of the stock beneath the buttplate, (4) inside of the buttplate at the heel, (5) shanks of both hand-fitted buttplate screws, (6) shank of the lower receiver screw and (7) shank of the upper rear tang screw. The tang screw behind the trigger is numbered "141". The serial number on the right side of the lever indicates that this carbine was at least partially assembled by the Volcanic Arms Company before principal stockholder Oliver Winchester took control and reorganized the firm as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. The blued barrel has a half moon, nickel silver, front sight blade. A rear sight with round elevation wheel is mounted on the top of the receiver behind the ejection port. The rear sight has a blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The stock is straight grain American walnut stock with a varnished piano finish. Most New Haven Arms Volcanic carbines had engraved receivers and buttplates; carbines with plain polished fames are rare. Volcanic carbines and pistols are scarce and historically important firearms. The combination of the self-contained "rocket-ball" cartridge and self-cocking and loading lever action with integral spring-loaded magazine were revolutionary advances in firearms design. With the invention of improved cartridges, the Volcanic action and magazine served as the basis for the Henry lever action rifle and subsequent Winchester designs.

Very good. The barrel was refinished many years ago and the New Haven Arms legend on the top flat is faint. The barrel has a mottled silver gray finish with sharp edges and generally smooth metal surfaces. The brass receiver and crescent buttplate have a mellow aged patina and are in fine overall condition. The side plate joints are tight. Small amounts of blue and casehardened finish are visible on the hammer, trigger, lever and rear sight. The stock retains more than half of the varnish with numerous scattered dents and scratches and a hair-line crack on both sides of the stock that extends about four-inches from the buttplate. This is a solid representative example of a historically significant New Haven Arms Company Volcanic Carbine with seldom encountered 21 inch barrel.