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LOT 1013
Scarce Factory
Engraved New Haven
Arms Company Volcanic
No. 1 Pocket Target Lever Action Pistol - Serial no. 553, 31 Volcanic cal., 6 1/2 inch octagon bbl.,
silver/blue finish, walnut grips. This is one of only an estimated 225 Volcanic No. 1 lever action pocket pistols
manufactured with the longer 6 inch “target” barrels (6 1/2 inch in this case) by the New Haven Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut
c. 1857-1862 per “Volcanic Firearms” (2011) by Lewis and Rutter, page 76. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend “NEW HAVEN CONN.
PATENT FEB. 14. 1854”. The lack of Volcanic markings and the addition of “PATENT” before the February 14, 1854, date indicates that the pistol was manufactured
after Oliver Winchester reorganized the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company into the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. The serial number “553” is stamped
on the left side of the butt beneath the grips and on the
inside of each panel. The top and sides of the receiver and the back
strap are engraved with the large open scroll work utilized by the
New Haven Arms Company on factory engraved guns. The pistol has the
distinctive octagon barrel with integral magazine, silver plated brass frame, and
lever with finger hole. The pistol has a small pinched blade front sight and rear
notch sight on the receiver.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 25% original blue finish on the barrel with smooth brown patina and
scattered light freckling on the balance, and 10% original silver plated finish on the frame, strongest on the top, edges and in protected areas. A crack is visible in the metal ahead of and behind the front
sight. The legend on the top barrel flat is defined, and the engraving remains crisp. Grips are also very good with a few filled in repairs visible in the upper corners, some minor lower edge wear, and a few minor nicks at the lower
corners. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
LOT 1012
Very Scarce
Factory Engraved
Smith & Wesson Large
Frame Volcanic No. 2 Lever
Action Repeating Pistol with 6 Inch Barrel - Serial no. 38, 41 Volcanic cal., 6 inch part octagon bbl., blue/
brown finish, rosewood grips. Smith & Wesson of Norwich, Connecticut manufactured approximately 500 of these .41
caliber large frame No.2 Volcanic pistols with a 6 inch barrel from 1854-1855, based on a patent of Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, prior to the
subsequent renaming of the company to Volcanic Repeating Arms in 1855 which then was sold to Oliver Winchester, reorganized as New Haven
Arms Company in 1857, which would ultimately become the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in 1866. Horace Smith & Daniel Wesson would
continue 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 which
would evolve 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 six inch barrel, whereas they are typically seen with 8 inch barrels. The top barrel flat
is roll-stamped “SMITH & WESSON/NORWICH CT/CAST-STEEL/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 serial number “38” appears on the grip frame and in pencil on the back of both grip panels.
CONDITION: Good with the metal surfaces displaying an authentic appearance of a well-traveled 19th century handgun. The original barrel legend is distinct, and the engraving is crisp. The refinished grips are also good with
numerous scattered dings and high edge wear. Mechanically fine. A rare, highly prized 6 inch S&W Volcanic pistol missing from even the most advanced collections.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000