Lot 17: Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Co. No. 2 Navy Pistol

This Factory engraved, silver-plated, lever action No. 2 Navy pistol was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1857. The New Haven Arms Company manufactured approximately 300 No. 2 Navy pistols with six-inch barrels. Most New Haven Arms No. 2 pistols were not factory engraved and had plain brass receivers. No. 2 Navy pistols with six inch barrels, factory engraving and silver-plated receivers, like this example, are rare. This pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral eight shot magazine, silver-plated brass receiver and loading lever with finger hole. The .41 caliber, "Type I" barrel has a full rib, crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, cone-shaped brass front sight and clam-shell shaped magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the New Haven Arms Company legend: "NEW HAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14, 1854" in two lines. The sides, top, back strap and side plates of silver-plated brass receiver are decorated with the simple, open scroll, factory engraving utilized by the New Haven Arms Company. The receiver has shallow cut-outs on either end of the ejection port and a dove-tail mounted, rear sight. The bolt has a single hook extractor. The hammer has coarse, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. A "1" inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the loading lever and the left side of the butt beneath the grip. The right side of the loading lever, right side of the butt beneath the grip and inside of both grips are stamped with the serial number. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel has a high polish blue finish, the receiver is silver-plated, the loading lever, cartridge elevator, bolt and rear sight are fire blue. The hammer and trigger are color casehardened and the two piece walnut grips have a high polish piano finish.

Fine. This pistol is all original and retains 50% of the original blue finish on the barrel/magazine with some light flash pitting on the top barrel flats immediately behind the rear sight. The barrel legend is light but legible. The brass receiver is in good overall condition with sharp factory engraving, perfect side plate joints and minimal handling marks. The receiver retains strong traces of the tarnished, delicate, silver-plated finish in protected areas. Nearly all of the silver plating is visible beneath the grips. The balance of the receiver has an attractive untouched patina. The bolt has a significant amount of the fire blue finish intact. Traces of fire blue finish are present on protected areas of the loading lever and rear sight; the balance of the finish has faded to a smooth brown patina. The case colors on the hammer and trigger have aged to a gray-brown patina. The two-piece grips are very fine and retain 90% of the high polish piano finish with some minor handling marks and some wear on the edges of the butt. This is an exceptional example of a limited production New Haven Arms Company No. 2 Navy pistol with very scarce six-inch barrel, factory engraving and silver-plated receiver.