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The edges are sharp and the barrel legend is crisp with scattered surface oxidation. The brass receiver is in very fine condition with tight sideplate joints and minimal handling marks. The receiver has an attractive, untouched, aged patina with a few spots of age discoloration. The bolt and cartridge elevator retain significant amounts of fire blue finish. The finish on the loading lever has aged to a dull brown patina. The case colors on the hammer and trigger have faded
to a mottled brown patina. The grips are fine with light-moderate handling wear, a few chips on the top right panel at the frame juncture, and much of the original varnish. This is a very fine example of a scarce Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. lever action Navy pistol.
Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection.
20 Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 1014
Scarce Volcanic Repeating Arms Company Lever Action Navy Pistol - Serial no. 1765, 41 Volcanic cal., 8 inch bbl., blue finish, varnished walnut grips. This lever action Navy pistol with eight-inch barrel was manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. c. 1856. The pistol
has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral 10-shot magazine, brass receiver and loading lever with finger loop. The Type I barrel has a full rib, crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, cone front sight and steel, clam shell shaped, follower. 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 receiver has semi-circular cut-outs on the ends of the ejection port, a dovetail mounted rear sight, hammer with hand-knurled spur and two-piece walnut grips. The bolt has a single hook extractor. The serial number is stamped on the right side of the loading lever, right side of the butt beneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. A “1” inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grip. The
barrel has a commercial blue finish, the hammer is color casehardened, the cartridge elevator, rear sight, bolt and lever are fire blue and the walnut grips have a varnished piano finish. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. manufactured approximately 1,500 Navy pistols with eight-inch barrels between July 1855 and April 1857.
CONDITION: Very fine. This pistol retains 75% of the original blue finish on the barrel/magazine.