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LOT 1016
Exceptional Volcanic Lever Action Navy Pistol from the Winchester
Arms Collection/Cody Firearms Museum - Serial no. 1732, 41 Volcanic
cal., 8 inch octagon bbl., blue/brass finish, varnished walnut grips. This
is a extremely fine example of a historic Navy size lever action pistol
manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., c. 1856. The pistol is
complete with a letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center that states it
was formerly part of the Winchester Gun Museum and was deaccessioned
from the Winchester Arms Collection of the Cody Firearms Museum and
sold at auction in June 1991. The pistol has the distinctive blue octagon
barrel with integral magazine, brass receiver and casehardened lever with
finger hole. The barrel has a brass cone front sight. A fixed rear sight is
mounted in a dovetail on the receiver. The casehardened hammer has a
knurled spur. The two piece flat bottom walnut grips have a high polish
varnish finish. The top barrel flat is roll stamped “THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING
ARMS CO./PATENT NEWHAVEN CONN. FEB. 14. 1854” in three lines. The
barrel legend indicates that the pistol was manufactured by the Volcanic
Repeating Arms Co. before the firm was reorganized as the New Haven
Arms Co. by Oliver Winchester in April 1857. The serial number is stamped
on the right side of the lever, the right side of the butt underneath the grip
and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The
Volcanic pistols and carbines were revolutionary firearms which combined
a primed self contained rocket ball cartridge, integral magazine and
repeating lever action. The Volcanic pistols and carbines drew shirt maker
Oliver Winchester into firearms manufacturing. The Volcanic lever action
and integral magazines were refined to serve as the basis for the successful
New Haven Arms Co., Henry lever action rifles and the Winchester Model
1866, Model 1873 and Model 1876 rifles.
CONDITION: Extremely fine. The barrel and integral magazine retain at
least 90% of the original blue finish. The barrel has some very minor
edge wear at the muzzle and numerous shallow wide dents present on
both sides adjacent to the receiver. The blue has developed a slight plum
colored patina. Most of the niter blue finish is present on protected areas
of the cartridge elevator and bolt. The hammer and lever retain 80%
of the original case colors which have faded to a mottled gray-brown
patina. The brass frame and side plates are in fine condition with a few
scattered handling marks (removal of the grips exposed much remaining
silver plating). There are three very small dents in the top of the right side
plate but the joints of both side plates are tight. The follower is a period
replacement. The grips are very fine and retain nearly 90% of the original
varnish finish. The grips have minor handling marks; the right grip has
slightly more wear with a shallow dent next to the screw escutcheon, a
small chip at the back edge and finish loss along the heel. Wear on the left
grip is limited to some minor handling marks and some varnish wear along
the heel. The barrel markings and serial numbers are sharp. Mechanically
excellent. This is a historic example of a historically significant Volcanic
Repeating Arms Co. lever action navy pistol from the Winchester Gun
Museum. It would be hard to improve on this outstanding pistol.
Provenance: The Winchester Gun Museum; The Cody Firearms
Museum; Private Collection.
Estimate: 25,000 - 42,500
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