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LOT 5
Documented Factory Engraved Silver-Plated, New Haven Arms Company No.1 Lever Action
Pocket Pistol as Featured in the Book “Volcanic Firearms” - Serial no. 740, 31 Volcanic cal., 4
inch octagon bbl., blue/silver-plated finish, walnut grips. This No. 1 lever action pocket pistol was
manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1858. This pistol is pictured on page 75 of “Volcanic Firearms: Predecessors
to the Winchester Rifle” by Lewis and Rutter. The pistol has a blued, .31 caliber, octagon barrel with integral six-shot magazine, silver-plated brass
frame, casehardened lever, trigger, and hammer, and two-piece, piano-finished, walnut grips. The Type III barrel lacks the rib found on S&W and
Volcanic Repeating Arms pistols, and it has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, pinch-back steel front sight blade and brass, clamshell follower.
The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: “NEW HAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14. 1854 “ in two lines. The frame has a crescent-shaped cut out at the front of
the ejection port and simple, dovetail mounted, rear sight. The serial number is stamped on the left side of the grip frame beneath the grips. “774” is
stamped on the inside of both of the walnut grips. The sides and top of the frame and back strap are decorated with simple factory engraving consisting
of open scrollwork and scalloped borders. As the caption of the illustration in “Volcanic Firearms” notes this engraving is one of several engraving styles
found on New Haven Arms Company Volcanic pistols and carbines.
CONDITION: Very good. The barrel retains 50% of bright, original blue finish with some high point and edge wear as well as a few scattered age spots. The
follower retention screw is replaced. The New Haven Arms Company legend is sharp. The frame has most of the silver-plated finish with some edge wear
and tarnishing. Traces of fire blue are present on the rear sight and cartridge elevator. The hammer, trigger, and lever have 70% of the muted case colors. The
replacement grips are fine overall and retain 85% of the original piano finish. There is a small chip missing from the front edge of the left grip and several
small dents in the edge. The right grip has several shallow handling marks. The pistol hammer will not hold at full cock, otherwise mechanically fine. This is an
attractive example of a silver-plated
New Haven Arms Company No. 1
lever action pocket pistol with
variant factory engraving.
Provenance: The Gerald Klaz
Collection; Property of a
Gentleman.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED
IN THE BOOK VOLCANIC
FIREARMS BY LEWIS & RUTTER