Lot 12: Volcanic Repeating Arms Company Lever Action Navy Pistol

This Lever Action Navy pistol with eight-inch barrel was manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company c. 1856.This pistol has the distinctive brass receiver, octagon barrel with integral ten-shot magazine and loading lever with finger loop. The receiver has a natural brass finish, the barrel/magazine is high polish blue, the hammer and trigger are color casehardened and the rear sight, bolt, cartridge elevator and lever are fire blue. The two-piece walnut grips have a varnished piano finish. The .41 caliber, Type I, full ribbed, barrel has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, brass cone front sight and clam-shell shaped magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the legend: "THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB. 14. 1854" in three lines. The brass receiver has semi-circular cuts on the front and rear of the ejection port and dove-tail mounted rear sight. The receiver lacks the factory engraving found on most Volcanic Repeating Arms pistols. The bolt has the early single hook extractor. A "Y" inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the loading lever and the right side of the butt beneath the grip. The serial number is stamped on the right side of the lever, right side of the butt beneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company manufactured approximately 1500 Lever Action Navy pistols with eight-inch barrels before it was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Company by Oliver Winchester in early 1857.

Excellent. This exceptional pistol shows only storage wear and retains most of the original, high polish blue, casehardened and fire blue finish. The barrel has 95% plus of the high polish blue with traces of edge wear and hints of thinning on the upper flats. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company legend is extremely sharp. The brass receiver has a beautiful, un-touched patina and remains in excellent condition with perfect side-plate joints. The rear sight, bolt, cartridge elevator and lever retain most of the delicate fire blue finish. The hammer and trigger have 90% of the muted case colors. The two-piece grips are excellent and retain 95% of the original piano finish with a few very insignificant storage marks. This is a truly exceptional example of a scarce and historically significant Volcanic Repeating Arms Company Lever Action Navy pistol in extraordinary condition.