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LOT 12
Very Scarce Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson Large Frame
Volcanic No. 2 Type II Lever Action Repeating Pistol with 6
Inch Barrel - Serial no. 28, 41 Volcanic cal., 6 inch part octagon bbl.,
blue/brown finish, rosewood grips. Per “Volcanic Firearms: Predecessor
to the Winchester Rifle” by Lewis and Rutter, Smith & Wesson of Norwich,
Connecticut, manufactured fewer than 500 of these .41 caliber large frame
No. 2 Volcanic pistols in 1854-1855. They are based on a patent of Horace
Smith and Daniel B. Wesson and were manufactured prior to the subsequent
renaming of the company to Volcanic Repeating Arms in 1855. The company
was then reorganized by Oliver Winchester as the New Haven Arms
Company in 1857 which would ultimately become the Winchester Repeating
Arms Company in 1866. Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson continued to
pursue their own development of revolvers starting around 1856, and the
rest is history. Surviving examples of these early Smith & Wesson Volcanics
are scarce and extremely desirable in any condition, as part of the beginning
of the development of lever action repeaters that evolved into the Henry
and Winchester 1866 rifles, and they also mark the very beginning of Smith
& Wesson. This factory engraved, early production large frame No. 2 Volcanic
lever action pistol has the rarely encountered 6 inch barrel, whereas they are
typically seen with 8 inch barrels, and has the distinctive “Type II” features
which include a crowned muzzle, rounded magazine lock T-bar spring and
two carrier block spring screws. The frame has a hump behind the lever,
loading lever with finger spur, and single screw cartridge carrier spring. The
6 inch, .41 caliber, part-round/part-octagon barrel has an integral
10-shot magazine below, a “pinched” blade nickel-silver front
sight blade, and round magazine follower. The top barrel flat is
roll-stamped with “CAST-STEEL” ahead of the two-line legend
“SMITH &WESSON/NORWICH. CT.” and “PATENT.” The top of the
frame has a screw-fastened notch rear sight. The hammer has fine
hand-knurling on the spur. The receiver sides, top, backstrap, sideplates,
and back of the hammer are decorated with the well-executed, open scroll
engraving that was standard on S&W Volcanic pistols. The matching serial
number “28” is stamped on the back of the rear sight, on the right side of
the butt under the right grip, and correctly handwritten inside the rosewood
grips.
CONDITION: Very good, with a mix of smooth brown and gray patina, and
scattered freckling. The S&W legend on the top barrel flat is defined, and
the engraving remains crisp. Grips are very good with much of the period
refinished piano varnish finish, a few areas of surface flaking, dents, and
scratches. Mechanically fine. This Smith & Wesson No. 2 Volcanic pistol serves
as an important evolutionary step in the history of lever action repeating
firearms!
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "Volcanic Firearms, Predecessor to the
Winchester Rifle" by Lewis & Rutter, fewer than
500 Smith & Wesson .41 caliber large frame No. 2
Volcanic pistols were manufactured
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