Make: New Haven Arms Company

Model: No. 2 Carbine, "Volcanic"

Serial Number: 2975

Year of Manufacture: 1857-1862

Caliber: .41 Caliber Smith & Wesson No. 2 "Volcanic" Cartridge

Action Type: Lever-Action, Tubular Magazine Fed, Cartridge Firing Rifle

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked "T??? / RE??? / PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB.?????" (see Our Assessment). The left of the bottom tang under the stock is marked "2975". The shank of each of the stock and buttplate mounting screws are marked "29 / 75" between the head and the threads. The inside of the buttplate tang and the stock on the buttplate tang inlet are each marked "2975". The barrel, collar, and magazine block each have assembly number "117". The receiver and the tang of the buttplate have factory engraving.

Barrel Length: 16 1/2"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade slotted to the barrel collar. The rear sight is a "V"-notch adjustable for elevation in a base dovetailed to the top-rear of the frame.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece smooth walnut with straight grip, straight comb and brass crescent buttplate. The stock has some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a crack at the left-rear corner of the bottom tang. There is some discoloration and finish loss, mostly in the belly and around more notable marks. The LOP measures 13 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light wear and discoloration, the surfaces show the crystalline appearance of old brass. Overall, the stock is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Brass

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well defined rifling. There is some scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 30% of its metal finish. Most remaining finish is in the brass frame. There is infrequent blue finish, mostly on the rear sight base. There is a little case color on the front face of the hammer, visible when cocked. The iron parts have scattered surface oxidation. The frame has scattered discoloration. The extractor hook base is present, but much of the hook has broken off. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable on the bottom edges of the frame in front of the lever. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. Most markings are clear, the barrel address is incomplete (see Our Assessment). Overall, this carbine is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: Please note, this carbine is designed to be operated by first cocking the hammer, then operating the lever. The design is not intended to be operated using only the lever. The action functions correctly. The hammer spring is strong, the trigger is crisp. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Volcanic pistols and carbines are an incredibly important piece of American firearms history, being a part of the beginnings of both Smith & Wesson as well as Winchester. The original 1848 "Volition Repeating Rifle" design by Walter Hunt was revolutionary, introducing an early iteration of the lever action repeating mechanism and the tubular magazine still common today. However, Hunt’s design was far from perfect, and only a couple of prototypes were developed. Lewis Jennings patented an improved version of Hunt’s design in 1849, and versions of the Jenning’s patent design were built by Robbins & Lawrence Co. (under the direction of shop foreman Benjamin Tyler Henry) and sold by C. P. Dixon. Horace Smith was also hired by Courtlandt Palmer to improve the Jennings Rifle, patenting the Smith-Jennings in 1851. By 1854, partners Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson along with Courtlandt Palmer and B. Tyler Henry, continued to further improve on the operating mechanism, developing the Smith & Wesson Lever pistol, and a new Volcanic cartridge.

The new cartridge improved upon the Hunt Rocket Ball with the addition of a primer. Originally using the name "Smith & Wesson Company", the name was changed to "Volcanic Repeating Arms Company" in 1855, with the addition of new investors, one of whom was Oliver Winchester. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company obtained all rights for the Volcanic designs (both rifle and pistol versions were in production by this time) as well as the ammunition, from the Smith and Wesson Company. Wesson remained as plant manager for 8 months before rejoining Smith to found the "Smith & Wesson Revolver Company" upon obtaining the licensing of the Rollin White rear loading cylinder patent. Winchester forced the insolvency of the Volcanic Arms Company in late 1856, took over ownership and moved the plant to New Haven, Connecticut, where it was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. B. Tyler Henry was hired as plant superintendent when Robbins & Lawrence suffered financial difficulties and Henry left their employ. While continuing to make the Volcanic rifle and pistol, Henry began to experiment with the new rimfire ammunition, and modified the Volcanic lever action design to use it. The result was the 1860 Henry rifle. By 1866, the company once again reorganized, this time as the Winchester Repeating Arms company, and the name of Winchester became synonymous with lever action rifles.

This is a very interesting example of a scarce New Haven No. 2 Carbine, a .41 Caliber Volcanic rifle with a 16 1/2" barrel. Approximately 1,000 carbines were produced by New Haven Arms with (nominal) 16", 21" and 25" barrels; most of these were the 16" barrel guns. Carbines were in the same serial range as the pistols, with the highest known carbine serial being 3062. The barrels were of three different types, first with a full-rib on each side between the barrel and magazine, second with a half-"rib" actually integral to the barrel, and third with no rib at all. It is thought that the Type I barrels were from left-over Volcanic Repeating Arms barrels, though some of the latest serial number carbines have a Type I barrel, including serial 2975 here. Observed barrel markings display the new New Haven barrel address, but this specimen appears to have a Volcanic Repeating Arms barrel address. It is incomplete, not uncommon for the Volcanic Repeating Arms guns, but possibly scrubbed by New Haven when this rifle was assembled.

In any case, this is a very interesting example of the New Haven No. 2 Carbine with matching numbered parts and strong mechanics. One other interesting idiosyncracy is that the stock and buttplate mounting screws are all indexed and serial-marked, but the top buttplate mounting screw is indexed perpendicular to the bore, while the others are all parallel. This is a wonderful opportunity for fans of the Volcanic specifically, but also for those interested in early repeating firearms. Please see our photos and good luck!