Lot 17

New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic Navy Lever Action Pistol-Carbine

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New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic Navy Lever Action Pistol-Carbine

Estimate: $55,000 - $85,000

Starting Bid: $47,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Exceptional, Extremely Scarce, Well-Documented New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic Lever Action Pistol-Carbine with Highly Desirable 16 1/2 Inch New Haven Marked Barrel, Shoulder Stock, and George Madis Letter The Volcanic arms produced by the New Haven Arms Co. were the direct predecessors of the Henry lever action rifle and set the stage for the explosion of popularity of lever action rifles in America in the second half of the 19th century with the success of the Henry and Winchester Model 1866. This extremely scarce Volcanic pistol-carbine was manufactured c. 1857 and also represents the last group of lever action repeating pistols. Thereafter, lever actions were almost exclusively long guns. The barrel bears faint traces of the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. marking which was removed by the new company. As noted in the included letter, George Madis states that knowledgeable collectors believe that fewer than 50 of these pistol-carbines were produced, with far fewer having survived to this day, making them extremely scarce on today's collectors market, particularly in high condition like this one and having the matching shoulder stock. This particular pistol-carbine is pictured on p. 84 of "Volcanic Firearms: Predecessor of the Winchester Rifle" by Lewis and Rutter and is noted as exceptionally rare. The authors also state the barrel has the Type I rib and very faint traces of the Volcanic address, and the serial number on the lever is also as found on guns produced by Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. In the included George Madis letter, he notes that Oliver Winchester, who had already owned stock in the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., purchased the balance of the company's stock in February of 1857, meaning that all machinery, materials, patents, and other assets were transferred to the successor company, the New Haven Arms Co. Listed among the transferred assets were approximately 2,000 guns in the process of being assembled and finished, and the pistol-carbines are believed to be a small portion of that total number. He goes on to state that the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. had produced these pistol-carbines in various barrel lengths but the New Haven Arms Co. never did other than this small number that were assembled after the takeover by Winchester. Madis notes that the new company deemed it necessary to remove the Volcanic markings from the already manufactured barrels and simply stamped them with the New Haven patent marking seen on this example. He notes that these pistol-carbines were essentially manufactured by the Volcanic company but assembled by the New Haven company in an effort to not waste already produced parts. Madis also details his examination of this gun, noting that the internal numbers are all matching, all of the markings and numbers are correct and original, and that it was only the second original firing pin he had seen on a Volcanic out of all the examples he had viewed. He finishes the letter by stating: "Historically important arms such as this are very rarely seen or offered. With the condition, rarity, originality and age of well over a century, this gun merits a prominent place in any collection or museum." The pistol-carbine itself has the scarce and highly desirable 16 1/2 inch barrel marked "PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB. 14. 1854" on the top flat and with faint traces of the factory removed Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. markings just visible. The matching serial number is visible on the right of the lever, left of the grip frame, and stamped inside both grip panels. Madis noted that the matching number is also on many interior components. The matching assembly number "12" is on the right of the grip frame, inside the buttplate, and on the butt of the stock. Madis notes that "16" is marked on the top of the barrel under the loading sleeve and on the rear face of the loading sleeve. It is fitted with a brass pin front sight, an elevation adjustable notch rear sight, and a pair of smooth walnut grips. The correct, original shoulder stock is numbered "489" on top of the buttplate tang, which is noted as rarely matching the pistol itself. Overall, this pistol-carbine is a truly scarce, high condition time capsule that has survived nearly 170 years to be available to today's collectors.

Manufacturer: New Haven Arms Co.

Model: Volcanic

BBL: 16 1/2 inch octagon

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 41 Volcanic

Finish: blue/brass

Grips: walnut

Serial Number486

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Exceptionally fine, retaining 85% of the original blue finish on the barrel and magazine tube and 40% of the original case colors on the hammer and lever with the balance a mixed grey-brown patina. The cartridge elevator, trigger spring, bolt, and rear sight retain 40% of the original nitre blue. The brass shows an attractively aged, untouched patina and tightly fitting sideplates. The grips are very fine with some scattered light dings, a circular gouge on the lower rear caused by the stock, slight gaps where they meet the frame, and most of the original varnish. The shoulder stock is very fine with the attaching iron showing grey patina, some light handling marks on the wood, almost all the original varnish, and attractively aged brass on the buttplate. The brass buttplate has an un-polished patina and shows minimal wear. Mechanically functions. This is an extremely scarce, exceptionally fine example of a New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic pistol-carbine, a variation that will be found in only the most elite collections of 19th century American arms!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000