| Name | Street | Town | State | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. | Norwich | Connecticut | 1855 | 1856 | |
| Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. | New Haven | Connecticut | 1856 | 1857 |
| Patent | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 10,535 | February 14, 1854 | Smith and Wesson's Patent Improvement in Fire-Arms view patent |
| 14,147 | January 22, 1856 | Smith and Wesson's Patent for Improved Primers for Cartridges of Fire-Arms assigned to the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company see Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. view patent |
| Contract | for |
|---|---|
| Product |
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The Volcanic repeating Arms Co. was formed by Smith and Wesson and Palmer in 1855.
One of the stockholders was Oliver F. WInchester. He was elected a director of the
company in 1855. Smith & Wesson made repeating lever-action pistols were nicknamed Volcanics. It is believed that the name originated in the Scientific American review of the arms in 1854. The name stuck and is widely used by collectors. Two size of pistoles were manufactured between 1853 and 1855. When the first Smith & Wesson Company cessed activity in 1855, the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company was formed by Horace Smith, Daniel B. Wesson and Courtlandt C. Palmer (financier from New York) in 1855. Oliver F. Winchester held also a small part of the shares. In 1856, When the company moved to Norwich, Connecticut, D. B. Smith and H. Wesson left Volcanic Repeating Arms Company and immediately continued their partnership again as Smith & Wesson. Henry, B. Tyler became Superintendent of Volcanic Repeating Arms Co.. Poor sales of the Volcanic guns brought the company into financial difficulties. The president of the company, Neil B. Gaston and Oliver F. Winchester where given mortages to secure their loans to the company. When Gaston died in December 1856, Winchester became president. He purchased Gaston's mortgages and became the company's principal creditor. He had planned to continue manufacture of the VOlcanic arms but the numerous other creditors of the company forced it into receivership. In 1857, Winchester's mortgages was nearly $ 40,000 and all assets of the Volcanic Repeating Arms Co. were assigned to him. He incorporated the New Haven Arms Co. to continue the manufacture of the Volcanics. Advertisement of Joseph Merwin, agent of the Volcanic Repaeting Arms in Carroll's New York City Direcotry ...Leading Mercantile FIrms of 1859 See Smith & Wesson, New Haven Arms and Winchester. Scheme of rocket-ball amunition for volcanic guns. This ammunition, made in either .31 or .41 caliber, was grossly underpowered as muzzle energy was an unimpressive 56 foot pounds. Picture of real Rocket-Ball amunition The frame of the Volcanic pistol was made of gunmetal, which is an early form of bronze. Softer than iron, gunmetal was easier to work with and would not rust. Pistols in .31 caliber were made in either 4 or more seldom 6 inch barrels holding 6 or 10 rounds respectively. The .38 caliber pistol came with either a 6” or 8” barrel carrying 8 or 10 rounds. Volcanic produced a greater variety of armes than had been offfered by Smith & Wesson, however only the .38 caliber was available for all lenght. A Volcanic Navy Pistol Carbine was produced in 3 barrel lengths 16” holding 20 rounds, 20” holding 25 rounds and 24” holding 30 rounds. The ammunition was held in a tubular magazine beneath the barrel that was loaded from the muzzle end by pivoting the loading sleeve. Factory records do no longer exist. The barrels of the Volcanics are marked THE VOLCANIC REPEATING ARMS CO. PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. Feb. 14. 1854 It is found that five separate dies were used for the markings, so often parts of the above bay be omited and in almost every case the lines are not correctly aligned. Example The serial number of the Volcanics started at one and guns with serial number near to 3000 have been observed. Therefore the ver all production of pistols and rifles is estimated at 3000
.30 caliber Volcanic Pistol, 4" barrel |
