GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE SMITH AND WESSON NO 1 VOLCANIC LEVER ACTION PISTOL. SMITH & WESSON VOLCANIC PISTOL 64 31 CAL Cal. 31. All steel construction with 4" oct to rnd bbl, pin front sight and fixed rear sight in top flat of frame. Top three flats of the bbl have the usual company and patent markings. Mounted with smooth 2-pc rosewood grips that are matching numbered to this pistol. Lever has a spur finger rest similar to the larger No. 2 pistol which is most unusual on the No. 1 pistol. Pistol is engraved in typical early foliate arabesque patterns without background on the frame, sideplates, top flats of the frame and backstrap. There were only about 1200 of these pistols produced by Smith & Wesson 1854-1855, at which time this branch of Smith & Wesson became the Volcanic Repeating Arm Company. Under the leadership of Oliver Winchester, Volcanic Repeating Arms continued production, later becoming New Haven Arms, which evolved into the famous 1860 Henry rifle. Post Civil War the company then became Winchester Repeating Arms and the rest is history. These little pistols were a very important step in the evolution of modern repeating firearms. Even though they were not overly successful due to their under powered cartridges and difficulty of extraction of a misfire or simply unloading to clean, they remained in service well into the 1860''s. PROVENANCE: The Estate of G. W. "Bill" Stewart of Sonora, Texas. CONDITION: Good to very good, all visible numbers matching. Bbl retains about 30% thin orig blue, mostly in the gullets and sheltered areas. Remainder of the pistol is a grey metal patina. Left side of the bbl at the joint of the bbl and loading sleeve is about a 5/8" long dressed area, apparently where a ding had occurred. Grips are sound showing about 80% orig varnish. Hammer spring has a broken tip and is now secured by a replacement large headed screw. Lever is a little loose, otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong bore with scattered pitting. 49973-417 JR29 (7,500-12,500)