This Volcanic Lever Action Carbine was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1857. The diminutive carbine has a 16 1/2-inch barrel with integral 20-shot magazine. The 'Type II', half-rib barrel has a nickel-silver front sight blade and blue finish. The top flat is stamped: "NEW HAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in one line. The brass receiver and crescent buttplate are silver-plated and factory engraved with broad, open, scrollwork. The receiver has a dove-tail mounted rear sight with thumb-wheel elevator. The rear sight, bolt and top of the cartridge elevator are fire blue. The hammer has deep, borderless, hand-cut knurling on the spur. The hammer, trigger, and lever are color casehardened. The straight grain, American walnut stock has a high polish varnished "piano" finish. The serial number is stamped: (1) on the heel of the stock beneath the buttplate, (2) the inside of the buttplate, (3) shanks of the hand fitted buttplate and tang screws and (4) on the lower left side of the receiver tang. All of the visible serial numbers match. The New Haven Arms Company manufactured approximately 1,000 carbines with 16 1/2, 21 and 25-inch barrels between 1857 and 1860. Volcanic carbines are rare and historically significant firearms. The revolutionary combination of "rocket-ball" primed cartridge, self-cocking toggle action and integral spring loaded magazine was a huge advance in firearms design. When combined with reliable rimfire and centerfire cartridges, the Volcanic action served as the basis for the Henry rifle and Winchester Model 1866, 1873 and 1876 rifles and carbines.