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LOT 3019
Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Company No. 2 Navy Lever Action
Pistol with 6 Inch Barrel, Silver Plating, Ivory Grips, and “Secondary
Serial No. 1” - Serial no. 2079, 41 Volcanic cal., 6 inch octagon bbl., blue
silver finish, ivory grips. This is one of only an estimated 300 Volcanic No.
2 Navy pocket pistols manufactured with 6 inch barrels by the New Haven
Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut c. 1857-1862, per page 78 of
“Volcanic Firearms” by Lewis and Rutter, but this is a truly special example.
The more elaborate scroll engraving on the frame closely matches the pair
(sn. 1401 and 1506) featured on pages 96 and 97 of “Volcanic Firearms” by
Lewis and Rutter which are documented as the only firearms known to have
been personally owned by Oliver Winchester. They are notably also mounted
with smooth ivory grips. Included letters from noted firearms author Herbert
Houze and Craig Newnan discuss the pistol. Houze notes that the presence
of the secondary number “1” may represent Oliver Winchester’s assigned
serial number and suggests that the pistol was assembled shortly after
Winchester took control of the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. and reorganized
it as the New Haven Arms Co. His investment in the company eventually led
to the establishment of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
The deluxe embellishment of the pistol certainly suggests it
was made for a special purpose. Houze theorized that it might
have been the first Volcanic completed under Winchester’s
control and that it may have been made as an exhibition piece. The
barrel is marked “PATENT FEB. 14, 1854/NEW HAVEN, CONN.” “2079”
is marked on the right side of the frame at the butt, back side of both
grips, and the right side of the lever. The left side of the lever and the grip
frame are marked “1”.
CONDITION: Fine with 85% original silver plating remaining on the frame and
lever and displaying attractively aged patina, nearly all of the darker “silver
gilt” finish remaining on the hammer, crisp engraving and markings, gray and
brown patina on the barrel, minor oxidation, and generally very minor overall
wear mostly from age. The slightly shrunken grips are very fine and have very
attractive natural aged tones and grain, minor age lines, some chips at the
corners, and minor scratches. Mechanically functions.
Provenance: The Craig Newnan Collection; The Dr. Gerald Klaz
Collection; The Richard Littlefield Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 16,000
According to "Volcanic Firearms: Predecessor
to the Winchester Rifle" by Lewis and Rutter,
approximately 300 New Haven Volcanic No. 2
Navy Pistols were produced with a 6 inch barrel.
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