Product Details
NEWHAVEN ARMS CO.
A RARE .41 (INTERNALLY CHARGED) LEVER-ACTION REPEATING CARBINE, MODEL 'VOLCANIC', no visible serial number,
for between 1857-60, with octagonal 16 1/2in. barrel with integral magazine tube below, applied nickel blade fore-sight, the top-flat with traces of 'NEWHAVEN ARMS CO CONN, PATENT FEB 14 1854' near the breech, slab-sided brass receiver with elevating rear-sight dove-tailed to the top-flat, external central hammer, plain walnut butt-stock with brass crescent heel-plate, iron finger-lever and brass magazine tube slider, the whole with traces of an older re-finish
Other Notes: The Volcanic could be termed the father of the self-contained caseless cartridge. Unfortunately like a lot of good ideas, it was probably at least 100 years too early. Using a hollow bullet filled with black powder and capped off with a paper endplate with fulminate of mercury applied internally, the 'firing pin' crushed the compound on firing, igniting the charge within. Subsequent erosion and corrosion around the breech area caused by the acidic priming compound soon led to the guns being very unpleasant to fire; this coupled with a production of only around 6200 arms of all types (3200 with the Newhaven address), make the Volcanic a rare piece indeed.
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Estimate £5,000-7,000