Volcanic No. 1 Lever Action Pocket Pistol with six-inch barrel and factory engraving manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. in New Haven, Connecticut, c. 1858. This pistol is pictured on page 77 of "VOLCANIC FIREARMS" by Lewis and Rutter. The pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral eight-shot magazine, loading lever with finger hole, brass receiver and two-piece walnut grips. The receiver is silver-plated, the barrel is blued, the trigger, hammer and lever are casehardened, and the grips have a varnished piano finish. The top and sides of the receiver and back strap are decorated with the simple, open scrollwork typical of New Haven Arms Co. factory engraved firearms. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "NEW HAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14 1854" in two lines. The serial number "803" is stamped on the lower left side of the frame beneath the grips and on the inside of both grips. Volcanic No.1 Pocket Pistols with six-inch barrels are rare; only 225 were manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. between 1857and 1860. Engraved No.1 Pocket pistols with six-inch barrels are much more rare than pistols with plain receivers.

Very good. This pistol retains 25% of the original high polish blue and traces of the original silver-plated finish on protected areas of the barrel and receiver. The balance of the barrel/magazine has a gray patina. The barrel surfaces are light pitted and there are several shallow dents on the top flat. The barrel markings are fully legible. The brass receiver has a good-looking aged patina. Significant amounts of silver-plated finish are present on the inside of the grip and on the butt. The well-executed factory engraved scrollwork is crisp and deep. The receiver is free of significant handling marks, and the side plate joints are tight. The hammer, lever and trigger have a mottled gray patina with scattered light pitting and age discoloration. The refinished grips are fair condition with the butts sanded on both sides. This is a solid representative example of a factory engraved New Haven Arms Co. No. 1 Pocket Pistol with six-inch barrel.