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LOT 3007
Exceptional New Haven Arms Company Volcanic
Lever Action Carbine - Serial no. 13, 41 Volcanic cal.,
16 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The
New Haven Arms Company manufactured an estimated
1,000 lever action carbines, per page 83 of “Volcanic Firearms” (2011) by Lewis
and Rutter. They were offered with 16, 21, and 25 inch barrels, and were numbered
in the same sequence as the pistols and pistol carbines. The high condition example offered here has a 16
1/2 inch barrel and a rare plain polished brass frame. These carbines are generally encountered with factory engraved frames. The barrel is
fitted with a German silver blade front sight and is stamped “NEW HAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14.1854” in one line on the top flat. The frame is fitted with a
factory nitre blued elevation adjustable notch sight. The distinctive brass receiver has circular cut-outs on either end of the ejection port. The receiver and buttplate
are natural brass. The number “13” appears on the left side of the lower tang under the stock, on the stock under the buttplate, on the three tang screws, on the buttplate,
and on the two buttplate screws. The Volcanic lever action firearms are historically significant and represent an important step in the development of American repeating
firearms and self-contained cartridges. The lever action and integral spring-loaded magazine of these pistols and carbines served as the basic design for the Henry rifle, and
Oliver Winchester’s investment in the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company eventually led to the establishment of the Winchester
Repeating Arms Company and the Model 1866, 1873, and 1876 rifles. The Volcanic repeaters were mainly hampered by their
underpowered and often problematic ammunition. After the New Haven pistols, lever action designs focused on rifles and carbines.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel and magazine tube 50% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance and some light
pitting. The brass has a very attractive mellow appearance with faint scratches. The very fine receiver has tight fitting sideplates.
The stock is very fine with a hairline crack barely visible at lower tang, and some minor handling marks. Magazine follower jammed,
otherwise mechanically functions. A solid example of one of only 1,000 manufactured New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic carbines.
Provenance: The Gateway Collection.
Estimate: 22,500 - 35,000
According to "Volcanic Firearms Predecessor to the
Winchester Rifle" by Lewis and Rutter, a total of
approximately 1,000 New Haven Arms Company
Volcanic Carbines were produced.
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