This pistol was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. circa 1860, and has an integral six-shot magazine, brass "gunmetal" frame with flat bottom grip and loading lever with round finger hole. The barrel has an iron front sight with short, flat blade. A simple notched rear sight is mounted in a dovetail on the frame. The barrel has a high polish blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened, and the sights, cartridge elevator, bolt and trigger spring are niter blue. The two-piece walnut grips have a varnished piano finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "NEW HAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14 1854". This marking, which eliminates the "Volcanic" marking used by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co., was adopted after Oliver Winchester reorganized the company as New Haven Arms in April 1857. The serial number "1445" is visible on the left side of the frame beneath the grip and is stamped on the inside of both grips. The side plates, top and sides of the frame and back strap are decorated with the open scrollwork utilized by the New Haven Arms Co. on most No.1 Pocket pistols. Volcanic pistols and carbines are scarce and historically significant. Oliver Winchester's association with Volcanic firearms eventually led to the establishment of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., and the revolutionary Volcanic design combined with self-primed and self-contained cartridges marked the introduction of practical repeating magazine firearms.

Very fine. The pistol is all original and retains 70% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish on the barrel. 90% of the original case colors are present on the hammer, lever and trigger. Significant amounts of fire blue finish are present on the front and rear sights, bolt and cartridge elevator. The frame and side-plates have an excellent, un-touched patina and are free from scratches and handling marks. The side-plate joints are perfect. The factory scroll engraving is extremely crisp. The walnut grips are in excellent condition and retain 95% of the original piano finish. Wear is limited to some minor scuff marks and finish loss at the lower edges of the grips. This is an outstanding example of a factory engraved New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic No. 1 Pocket Pistol.