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Historic Firearm Attributed to Influential Inventor William C. Dodge, Whose Work Greatly Improved Winchester and Smith & Wesson Firearms
NOTICE THE HOLSTER MATCHES THIS PISTOL AND IS MARKED 305
NOTICE THE "VOLCANIC" MARKING ON THE HOLSTER
Important Historic Note
Inventor William C. Dodge was an influential inventor and patent lawyer in the 19th century. Many of his patents were vital to firearms manufacturers, and later designs were sold to Smith & Wesson.
SIMILAR EXAMPLE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK VOLCANIC FIREARMS BY RUTTER
“Historical and Commercial Sketches of Washington and Environs”
(1884) notes that he invented “valuable improvements in firearms
and ammunition” including the automatic extractor used by Smith
& Wesson and in Europe, “eight or nine improvements upon the celebrated Remington military rifle and double-barreled breech-
loading shotgun, and others.” It also references his innovative
cartridge filling machine that was ordered by the government
after the Washington Arsenal explosion in 1864. This machine
made loading cartridges faster, more uniform, and safer. He
received a gold medal from the King of Italy and an appointment
as Knight Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic from the King of Spain in relation to his inventions, and his firm is noted as having “had entire charge of the patent business of several large manufacturing firms, among which may be mentioned E. Remington & Sons, the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., Hall’s Safe and Lock Co., besides many others.” His patents were influential in the genesis of the Smith & Wesson Model
No. 3 revolvers. Smith & Wesson bought his patent numbers 45,912 and 45,983 in 1869. Dodge also held U.S. Patent 114,653 for automatic ejection when the revolver was opened. This was one of the standout features of the First Model American. He is known to have presented some of the latter, including a No. 3 American and a Model No. 3 Russian Third Model revolvers previously sold by Rock Island Auction Company. His son William W. Dodge also patented improvements in firearms.
The pistol-carbine has a small blade front sight, “THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEWHAVEN CONN. FEB. 14 1854” double struck on top of the full ribbed barrel (most likely a factory error), wheel adjustable notch rear sight on the top of the frame, single hooked extractor, the noted silver plaque inscribed “W.C./Dodge,”“34” on the left side of the stock mount, and “305” on the right side of the left, left side of the grip frame, inside of both grips, and heel of the buttplate. The leather holster has two compartments,
one formed to the pistol and one formed to the stock and
is marked “305” and “Volcanic” on the belt loop.
CONDITION: Very good to fine, with strong traces of the
original blue finish mixed with aged blue and smooth
brown patina on the barrel and magazine tube, attractive
natural aged patina on the brass frame, some dings and
scratches mainly at the edges, and mild overall wear. The
grips and stock are also fine with strong original finish,
minor chips at the lower edges of the grips, and general
minor dings and scratches. The finish of all is untouched. Mechanically fine. The holster is good with moderate overall wear including flaking, slight tears, and legible markings on the loop. The portrait is very good with distinct image, minor spots, and light age and storage wear on the gutta percha frame. This is an absolutely incredible lot with a scarce Volcanic Pistol-Carbine with even rarer matching shoulder stock and holster, scarce ambro of a man with a Volcanic Pistol-Carbine, and historical inscription plate for W.C. Dodge, Oliver Winchester’s patent lawyer and one of the inventors of the Winchester Model 1866.
Provenance: Mike Clark Collection, Michael Simens, Private Collection.
Estimate: 75,000 - 150,000
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