This No. 1 Lever Action Pocket Pistol was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1857. This pistol has a plain brass frame that lacks the factory engraving found on most of the 850 No.1 lever actions manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company between 1857 and 1862. The pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral six-shot magazine, brass frame, loading lever with finger hole and two-piece, flat base, walnut grips. The .31 caliber, Type III barrel has no rib. The barrel has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring and pinchback front sight. The magazine has a small, brass, clam-shaped follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line New Haven Arms Company legend: "NEWHAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14.1854". The brass frame has a simple, dove-tail mounted, rear sight and semi-circular cut-outs at the front and rear of the ejection port. The bolt has a single hook extractor. The hammer has borderless, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. The serial number "50", is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. The barrel has a high polish blue finish, the frame is natural brass, the rear sight, bolt and cartridge elevator are fire blue, the hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened and the walnut grips have a high gloss piano finish.

Fine. The barrel has 40% of the original high polish blue finish with edge wear on the barrel flats and muzzle, and scattered spots of age discoloration. The New Haven Arms Company legend is crisp. The brass frame has a very attractive, untouched, patina and remains in very fine condition with near perfect side plate joints. Traces of fire blue finish remain on protected areas of the rear sight and cartridge elevator. The hammer, trigger and lever retain 50% of the muted case colors with some surface discoloration on the bottom of the lever. The grips are also fine and have 80% of the original piano finish with some finish loss on the lower edges and some slight handling marks. This is a fine representative example of a scarce New Havens Arms Company No. 1 Lever Action Pocket Pistol with scarce plain frame. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.