Volcanic lever action carbine manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1857. This carbine features the rarely encountered 25-inch barrel and is complete with the original walnut case. New Haven Arms Volcanic carbines with 25-inch barrels are extremely rare. Very few 25-inch barrel carbines have been identified by collectors. Several cased Volcanic 25 inch carbine are known to exist. This carbine and the walnut presentation case are illustrated and described on pages 80 and 92 of "Volcanic Firearms" by Edmund E. Lewis and Stephen W. Rutter. The carbine has a silver-plated brass receiver and faceted crescent buttplate. The barrel, rear sight, trigger and screws are blued, and the hammer and lever are color casehardened. The stock is nicely figured American walnut with a high polish finish. The receiver and buttplate heel are engraved with the open scrollwork that was standard on factory engraved New Haven Arms Company pistols and carbines. The side plates and front of the receiver are decorated with scrolls and chain style borders. The top of the receiver, edges of the hammer slot and upper tang are engraved with feather patterns and scrollwork with scalloped borders. The faced buttplate heel has matching engraving. The carbine has a Type III barrel with no rib. The barrel has an arched, nickel-silver front sight blade. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the New Haven Arms Company legend: "NEW HAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB.14 1854" in a single line. The top of the receiver has a standard, dovetail mounted, wheel adjustable rear sight. The serial number, "73", is stamped on: (1) the lower left side of the receiver tang beneath the stock, (2) the heel of the stock beneath the buttplate, (3) the inside of the buttplate and (4) on the shanks of the hand-fitted buttplate and tang screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The case is straight grain walnut with four brass hinges and brass reinforcements on the corners of the body and lid, The lid is secured by two swinging brass hooks and a mortised brass lock. The case interior is lined with burgundy velvet and has eleven compartments for the carbine, three 100-round tins of cartridges, a cleaning rod and tools. The case contains a key and the bottom of a lacquered cartridge tin.
Fine. The barrel has aged to a plum blue patina and retains traces of the original finish on the sides and magazine. The edges are sharp. The New Haven Arms legend is crisp. There is some fine pin prick pitting on the rear two-inches of the top flat and left side of the barrel/magazine which have been touched up with cold blue. The remainder of the barrel/magazine surfaces are smooth with minimal wear. The receiver and buttplate retain 85% of the delicate silver-plated finish with thinning on high points and some tarnish in protected areas. The engraving remains sharp. The hammer has most of the muted case colors. The case colors on the lever have faded to a silver-gray patina. The sides of the lever have some scattered pitting. The stock is in very fine condition and retains most of the original finish. Wear is limited to a few insignificant handling and storage marks. The case exterior is in very good overall condition with moderate handling wear and one hairline crack in the lid. The interior is in fine condition; the lining is slightly faded and soiled but has no significant wear. All of the case partitions are solid. This is a fine example of a rare, cased factory engraved, New Haven Arms Volcanic carbine with 25-inch barrel.
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