Make: New Haven Arms Co.
Model: No. 1 Pocket
Serial Number: 1347
Year of Manufacture: 1857-1862
Caliber: .31 Caliber No. 1 "Volcanic" Cartridge
Action Type: Lever-Action, Tubular Magazine Fed
Barrel Length: 3 1/2"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade threaded to the top-front of the magazine sleeve's front band. The rear sight is a "V"-notch dovetailed to the frame.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth wood. The interior of each panel has "1531" stamped. The left panel shows light wear, most notable at the bottom edge, with a few nicks, also mostly at the bottom edge. The right panel has more notable marks on the exterior and a couple of cracks showing on the bottom edge. The interior of the right panel has more notable cracking. Overall, the grips are in Good-plus condition as Antique and not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue and Brass
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is is gray with well defined rifling. There is erosion and stubborn fouling scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5+/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 75% of its metal finish. There is a little erosion on the bolt's single hook, but overall in good condition. The barrel assembly has some remaining finish, strongest in the flutes under the bore and around the rear where the barrel enters the frame. Other surfaces show wear and a little light surface erosion. The frame has a consistent crystalline appearance, consistent with aged brass. The frame has some nicks, mostly on the right side. The lever and hammer have mostly muted. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Fine condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The magazine spring is a little short, giving the magazine follower play when not loaded. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. 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, part of the beginnings of both Smith & Wesson and Winchester. The original 1848 "Volition Repeating Rifle" design by Walter Hunt was revolutionary, introducing an early iteration of the lever action mechanism and tubular magazine still common today. Hunt's design was not perfect, and only a couple of prototypes were made. Lewis Jennings patented improved versions of Hunt's design in 1849, built by Robbins and Lawrence Co. under the direction of shop foreman Benjamin Tyler Henry. Horace Smith was hired by Courtlandt Palmer to improve the Jennings Rifle, patenting the Smith-Jennings in 1851. By 1854, Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson along with Courtlandt Palmer and B. Tyler Henry, continued to further improve on the mechanism, developing the Smith & Wesson Lever pistol and a new Volcanic cartridge.
The new cartridge improved on Hunt's 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 including Oliver Winchester. Volcanic Repeating Arms Company obtained rights for the Volcanic designs and ammunition from the Smith and Wesson Company. Wesson soon rejoined Smith to found Smith & Wesson Revolver Company. Winchester forced the insolvency of Volcanic Arms Co. in late 1856, took over ownership and moved the plant to New Haven, CT, where it was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Co. in April 1857. Henry was hired as plant superintendent after leaving Robbins and Lawrence. While continuing to make the Volcanic, Henry began to experiment with rimfire ammunition, and adapted the Volcanic lever action design resulting in 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 great example of a rare New Haven No. 1 Pocket Pistol. Approximately 850 were produced by New Haven Arms and examples such as this with a plain frame are more scarce than engraved pistols. The grips have been replaced with genuine, but non-matching panels and the magazine spring has either compressed or lost a couple of coils over the last 160 years, but the pistol is otherwise in quite nice mechanical condition. This is a wonderful opportunity for fans of the Volcanic specifically, but also for those interested in early repeating firearms.
