GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
SPECTACULAR VOLCANIC ARMS NO. 2 NAVY LEVER ACTION PISTOL ONCE IN SAMUEL COLT''S PERSONAL COLLECTION. VOLCANIC NAVY 1275 41 Cal. 41. Wonderful Volcanic Navy in near new condition in standard configuration with 8" oct bbl that has integral magazine, silver pin front sight & fixed rear sight in top flat of receiver. Top flat of bbl has a crisp 3-line Volcanic Repeating Arms address. Mounted with smooth 2-pc walnut grips that are matching numbered to this pistol. Serial number was observed on left side of buttstrap under the grip, inside each grip & right side of lever. No further disassembly was affected to check for other matching numbers. Accompanied by a 39-pg letter from renowned author & Colt historian R. L. Wilson wherein he certifies that this pistol, identified by SN was de-assessed from the Connecticut State Museum Collection where the Samuel Colt arms collection was housed since 1957. Contained in this voluminous letter linked here in provenance are details of Colt''s close affinity to other manufacturers of his era and why he collected arms of competitors invention. Prospective bidders should read the detailed history of this particular arm and the minutiae associated as it is quite involved and interesting.
There were only about 1,500 of these pistols produced 1855-1857. The Volcanic Arms Co. succeeded the Smith & Wesson Volcanic line in 1855 and then were themselves bought by Oliver Winchester and became the New Haven Arms Co, remaining in business under that name until 1860. The Volcanic design fostered the venerable model 1860 Henry rifle which became very famous during the Civil War & later on the American frontier. The Volcanic line is extremely important in the history of the development of repeating arms. PROVENANCE: Samuel Colt Firearms Collection; Colt Factory Museum, Hartford, CT; Connecticut State Library/Museum, after 1957; inventoried by Norm Flayderman in 1974 and given tag #1319; traded by State of Connecticut Museum, 1980; Theodore Hutcheson Collection, Chattanooga, TN. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Appears to be new and unfired. Bbl & magazine retain about 98% crisp orig blue with crisp sharp edges. Frame and sideplates are also crisp & new with clean sharp edges and only 2-3 very faint, very minor scratches and overall shows a wonderful mustard patina. Hammer retains about all of its orig case colors, showing wear on left side. Lever retains about 70% thin orig blue. Grips are sound with crisp sharp edges and retain virtually all of their orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore with a few spots of rust that may clean. Bolt & carrier retain most of their orig fire blue except on bottom of carrier which has faded to grey. 50142-1 JS101 (75,000-85,000)