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Desirable 21 Inch Barrel New Haven Arms Company Volcanic Lever Action Carbine

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
Desirable 21 Inch Barrel New Haven Arms Company Volcanic Lever Action Carbine

Estimate: $20000 - 30000
This Volcanic Lever Action carbine was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co., c. 1857. The carbine has a blued octagon barrel and integral magazine, brass receiver and crescent buttplate and casehardened hammer and loading lever. The straight grain walnut stock has a varnished finish. The barrel has a nickel-silver front sight blade. A niter blue rear sight with elevator thumb wheel is dove-mounted on the receiver. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line legend: "NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB. 14, 1854". These abbreviated marks which eliminated "VOLCANIC REPEATING ARMS CO." were introduced in April 1857 after Oliver Winchester took control of the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., and reorganized it as the New Haven Arms Co. The serial number "66" is stamped on the left side of the lower receiver tang, written in pencil on the face of the stock wrist, stamped on the shank of each of the hand-fitted stock and buttplate screws and stamped on the inside of the buttplate heel. The revolutionary Volcanic repeating carbines and pistols featured self-cocking lever actions, integral magazines and were chambered for a cartridge with self-contained propellant and primer. Although the Volcanic pistols and carbines did not prove to be a commercial success, the development of reliable cartridges allowed the Volcanic lever action and integral magazine to serve as the basis for the Henry rifle and the Model 1866 Winchester. The investments of clothing manufacturer Oliver Winchester in the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., led to the establishment of the New Haven Arms Co., and, eventually, the Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
BBL: 21 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 41 Volcanic
Finish: brass/blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 66
Condition: Fine. The barrel and integral magazine have traces of blue with the balance a crisp plum brown patina. The surface of the barrel and magazine are smooth with sharp edges. The barrel markings are crisp. The casehardened finish on the hammer and loading lever has aged to a deep brown patina. Some of the mottled case colors are visible on the sides of the hammer. The rear sight retains about 40% of the niter blue finish. The brass receiver and buttplate are both in excellent. The brass has developed a very attractive mustard yellow patina. The side-plate joints are perfect. Wear on the receiver and buttplate is limited to very minor handling marks. The stock is very fine-excellent; most of the original varnish is intact; wear is limited to some minor scratches and light handling marks. The magazine follower is a crude period replacement. This is a very good example of a historically significant Volcanic carbine. A Volcanic carbine or rifle is a key component for any advanced collection of Winchester firearms. This outstanding Volcanic carbine would be the centerpiece of any Winchester or 19th Century repeating arms collection.
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