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LOT 1010
Magnificent Documented Cased
Factory Engraved Volcanic
Repeating Arms Company 8 Inch
Navy “Holster Model” Lever Action
Pistol - Serial no. 1529, 41 cal., 8 inch
octagon bbl., silver/blue finish, walnut
grips. The Volcanic repeating firearms
are among the most distinctive and
famous antique American firearms,
and this incredible pistol is recognized
as among the absolute finest Volcanic
firearms in existence. It was featured
in the “Roll of Honor” in the February
2013 issue of “Man at Arms” and is
also featured on page 88 of “Volcanic
Firearms: Predecessor to the Winchester
Rifle” by Lewis and Rutter where it
is listed as “A magnificent Volcanic
Repeating Arms Company 8-inch
Navy pistol, serial number 1529,
cased in walnut.” With its extremely
high condition, even “magnificent”
hardly does it justice! It would be
essentially impossible to improve
upon. The Volcanic lever action
firearms of the mid to late 1850s
are very significant antique American
firearms and represent integral links in
the evolution of lever action firearms.
Though they were hampered by their
finicky and underpowered ammunition,
they demonstrated magazine fed lever
action designs were possible and laid the
groundwork for the historic New Haven
Arms Co. Henry lever action rifles of Civil
War fame and the following Winchester
Model 1866, 1873, and 1876 famously
used on the western frontier. As such, a
Volcanic pistol is a significant piece for
any Winchester collection.
The Volcanic Repeating Arms
Company was formed in July 1855
after the failure of the original
Smith & Wesson partnership, and
Oliver Winchester became one
of the investors . This extraordinary
Volcanic pistol is one of the 8 inch
barreled Navy “holster” models
manufactured by the Volcanic
Repeating Arms Company of
New Haven, Connecticut, prior
to the company being re-organized again
in April 1857 as the New Haven Arms Co. Per
Lewis and Rutter, only approximately 3,000
Navy pistols were completed, this includes
multiple barrel length variations. Flayderman’s
Guide indicates only approximately 1,500 were 8
inch variation. This pistol has a blued octagon barrel
and integral magazine, brass frame with silver plated
finish, niter blue cartridge elevator, and color casehardened
hammer, trigger and loading lever.
The two-piece walnut grips have a high gloss varnish finish. The
pistol has a nickel-silver cone shaped front sight on the barrel and
a fixed, niter blue rear sight mounted in a dovetail on the frame.
The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the three-line legend: “THE
VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN.
FEB. 14. 1854”. The serial number is stamped on the right side of
the loading lever, on the left side of the frame at the butt, and on
the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match.
The pistol frame, side plates, and backstrap are factory engraved
with the standard Volcanic style scroll and border engraving. The
large, open scrolls have scalloped borders and extend along the
top of the frame and the backstrap. The pistol is complete with
an original factory case. The walnut, American style case has four
compartments and a maroon velvet lining. The case contains the
original key, several rare Volcanic bullets, and a cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Excellent. The barrel and magazine have 85% of the
original blue finish with very minor edge wear and slight traces of
age spotting. 98% all of the original silver plated finish is reaming
on the frame and grip straps. The silver is only thinning
slightly on the high points of the frame and side plates.
The engraving on the frame and backstrap is crisp and
deep. The hammer, trigger, and loading lever retain 80%
of the muted original case colors. The bottom of the lever
and the hammer spur show some minor handling wear,
and the case colors have aged to a brown patina.
The cartridge elevator and rear sight have 75% of the
delicate original niter blue finish. The screw heads
have traces of the original niter blue finish and are in
excellent condition. The grips are also excellent with
nearly all of the original varnish finish and a barely
discernible hairline crack in the left grip from the top
of the grip to just below the brass screw escutcheon.
The factory case exterior is very fine with limited
scattered and very minor storage and handling marks.
The interior is fine and has dark maroon velvet lining
with minor marks and tears from contact with the pistol
and slight separation from the edge of the case in the
pistol compartment. This pistol is in outstanding
condition and would be an important
addition to any advanced American
Arms collection. No Winchester
collection is complete without
a Volcanic, and now you have
an opportunity for one of the
absolute finest!
Estimate: 65,000 - 95,000
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