Volcanic
The pistol presented here remains an
American icon, not for its production volume or its feats of arms, but for the
impact it had on the subsequent development of legendary weapons.
It is a Volcanic Model 1 pistol in .31
caliber, manufactured between 1857 and 1860 by the New Haven Co. in New Haven,
CT, by Smith & Wesson. The pistol was also available in .41 cal "Rocket Ball"
and could load up to 15 rounds depending on the barrel length. The "Rocket Ball"
combined the primer and propellant in the recessed cavity of a conventional lead
bullet, rather than the traditional loading system in which all components are
loaded separately.
The pistol's patent date is 1854,
making it designed by Volcanic (founded by S&W) during their first partnership
(1852-1855). The Volcanic Arms Co. was indeed located in New Haven, CT, likely
within the New Haven Co. buildings. For the record, the New Haven Arms Company
was founded after the failure of the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, which had
been founded as a stock company by Horace Smith, Daniel Wesson, and Courtland
Palmer, with several investors, including Oliver Winchester, then a shirtmaker.
In their day, these pistols were superior to any revolver, both in terms of cartridge capacity (depending on barrel length) and accuracy. But they were severely hampered by the anemic "Rocket Ball" ammunition, which ultimately led to their rejection by the military. Their other weakness was the firing pin, which often broke under heavy use due to the heat of the explosion.
This example is
not marked "Volcanic Arms Co.", but rather "New Haven Co." It was manufactured
no earlier than 1857, after Oliver Winchester—the company's largest
shareholder—reorganized and began to focus on producing the iconic Henry rifle,
the predecessor to the Winchester, released in 1860. The regular army purchased
100 of these rifles, and various state militias purchased a total of about
1,700. Even this small number was difficult to distribute due to various
logistical and administrative reasons generated by the war. In this environment,
Volcanic pistols disappeared from the scene.
The Volcanics are
based on the work of Walter Hunt (inventor of the trigger guard system and the
caseless "Rocket-Ball") and Lewis Jennings. These now rare and expensive pistols
did not have their heyday, but they were an essential step towards the creation
of that other Western icon, the Winchester.
Funnily enough,
these repeating pistols were nicknamed "Volcanic" because their rate of fire,
reminiscent of a volcanic eruption, was a characteristic feature of their
production.
To learn more
about the troubled history of these historic firms:
Marcel
(With assistance from HPH and Chris)
