The various iterations of Volcanic firearms each represent an important step in the development of American lever action firearms history. The lever action and integral spring-loaded magazine introduced with Volcanic pistols and carbines combined with improvements in self-contained metallic cartridges served as the basic design for the New Haven Arms Co. Henry rifle. Oliver Winchester invested in the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. which became the New Haven Arms Co. and eventually led to his establishment of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. which produced the Winchester Model 1866, 1873, and 1876 rifles based on largely the same designs as the Henry. The engraving on this pistol is the classic style found on New Haven Arms Co. pistols and rifles, and this example also has a tremendous amount of original finish. The pistol has the distinctive blued octagon barrel with integral magazine, "gunmetal" frame with scroll, border, and floral engraving, blued round finger hole lever, and varnished flat bottom walnut grips. The pistol is fitted with a pinched blade front sight threaded on the barrel and a dovetail mounted notch rear sight at the rear of the frame. The top barrel flat is marked "NEW HAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in two-lines. The deletion of "VOLCANIC REPEATING ARMS CO." from the barrel legend occurred after Oliver Winchester assumed control of the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. and re-organized it as the New Haven Arms Co. on May 1, 1857. The matching serial number is stamped on the left side of the grip frame and back of each grip.