.31 caliber Model No. 1 Magazine Pistol A pre-S&W piece of history!!

So a buddy of mine has a fairly extensive antique firearms collection that consists of many handguns. I was at his place a while back and this one caught my eye.......

I have never handled one in person and have never came across one for sale.

He is going to start liquidating his collection and has asked me to help with the value on some of the stuff including this .31 caliber Model No. 1 Magazine Pistol.

Only 850 No. 1s were produced from 1857 until 1862.

The piece appears to be in original condition.

As much as I would love to own it, I am sure it's above my pay grade!

Thoughts are appreciated.

I found this link on the web that seems to be the same pistol with the exception of the brass receiver....

American Rifleman | I Have This Old Gun: New Haven “Volcanic” No. 1 Pocket Pistol

John Watts had one of each (small frame/large frame) as I recall. Again, as I recall, David Carroll sold the entirety of John's collection a while back, but not all that long ago---and that's the brain I'd be picking for this type of information.

Ralph Tremaine

rct269 said:

John Watts had one of each (small frame/large frame) as I recall). Again, as I recall, David Carroll sold the entirety of John's collection a while back, but not all that long ago---and that's the brain I'd be picking for this type of information.

Ralph Tremaine

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I have been in touch with David and he is wanting more detailed photos so he can make an honest assessment.

I mentioned to David that my friend thought the gun would sell between $8,000 and $10,000 and David said if it was all correct that would be a reasonable selling price in his opinion. But I need to get more detailed photos.

I just figured someone on this forum may also have knowledge on such a piece.

I think the premier auction house selling most of these pistols is Rock Island. You can search their auctions back to 2009. Looking at late 2017 through 2018 brings us a few "Model 1" Volcanics in both round and square butt variety.

I think the most reliable way to value a particular gun is to look for what people actually are paying for them. Auction results below are ranging from the $8,000 range to over $13,000. The range is quite large and I think that is why David needs detailed photos to accurately value your example. Anyway, this should give you a ballpark range and these pistols, plus add the buyer's premium to get full price paid.

Historic Documented Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Co. Volcanic | Rock Island Auction

Silver-Plated, Deluxe Engraved New Haven Arms No. 1 Volcanic | Rock Island Auction

Fine New Haven Arms Volcanic Pocket Pistol | Rock Island Auction

Scarce Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 1 Lever Action Repeating | Rock Island Auction

Desirable Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Volcanic Pocket Pistol | Rock Island Auction

https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...on-small-frame-volcanic-no-1-repeating-pistol

https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...ven-arms-co-volcanic-no-1-lever-action-pocket

https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...s-co-volcanic-no-1-lever-action-pocket-pistol

I've got 2 of the New Havens, only. Never found the prior type like you show.

Then see this old thread for a mind blowing 2007 Rock Island Sale on New Haven Arms at $143,000 and some odd dollars ,buyer's premium included

Pre 1856 S&W Flobert (metallic ctg.) & Rollin white patent (bored through cylinder)

Also Mentioned in this old article:

Rock Island cards record-breaking 2007 | Antique Trader

Referring to Flayderman, page 262 (7th Edition), Flayderman refers to the two Smith & Wesson Lever action repeating pistols, the first being this one, .31 Caliber No 1 Pistol, 4" barrel, of which this one appears to be, with bag shaped grip, and should have a lever with a round finger hole, except this one has a round finger hole of the style of the .41 caliber No 2 Pistol, 8" barrel, with the spur. So, were some of these . 31 cal revolvers manufactured with a spur on the lever, not described in Flayderman's, or does this one have a replaced lever, that being originally from the .41 cal revolver, and are these levers even interchangeable?

My experience is consistent with the comment in the Standard Catalog 4th ed, pg 72, referring to both calibers: "The loading/cocking lever was produced with a round finger hole and spur extension at the end of the lever. Rarely one is encountered without the spur extension however it is generally believed that these were either removed by their owners or were special orders from the factory."

In his book Evolution of the Winchester by R. Bruce McDowell, he writes about the lever spur;

"Spurs were not common on the levers of small frame Smith & Wesson pistols, but were supplied on some pistols with serial numbers in the range 1 to 100 B."

He goes on to say not all pistols in this sn range have the spur, and that any small frame S&W pistol with the spur is "quite rare."

He pictures one with the spur (sn 8), with the early patent date of 1849, on page 79.

I do note that the examples from Rock Island auctions above do generally fit the comment that the spur was only on the early production in both calibers and the description in one auction specifically mentions that the spur is found on "the first 100". So this seems to be a more correct explanation than that I quoted from the Standard Catalog. I have one of each, but they are both early production, so I get to learn something new....

“The Rocket Ball”

The early magazine pistol and carbine are probably one of the hardest values to predict on the market today as far as selling price. I had to have a 41 Navy in my collection. Probably my last antique gun purchase prior to my divorce. Her loss my volcanic.
What’s really neat about these is the round they chambered.
“ The rocket ball”! Original examples sell for up to $400 on today’s market !
And early caseless bullet hollowed out and stuffed with black powder. Then sealed with a brass ring at the heel Centered with primer compound. The problem being when the round was discharged the recoil would cause the ring and primer to stick to the firing Pin. This would present a problem for the next round to chamber and a jam was the result. Since the mechanism was not designed to eject a case because a case did not exist the operator would have to pick the brass ring off of the firing pin prior to chambering the next round.

crossv said:

My experience is consistent with the comment in the Standard Catalog 4th ed, pg 72, referring to both calibers: "The loading/cocking lever was produced with a round finger hole and spur extension at the end of the lever. Rarely one is encountered without the spur extension however it is generally believed that these were either removed by their owners or were special orders from the factory."

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I referenced this as well, and it states most were shipped with the spur. I would have to think an absent spur was an after market modification by the owner and the specimen that Fladerman photographed and described was such a revolver and he is in error.

My feeling is that this gun is in original with no modifications and other than finish loss is in amazingly good condition.

To find a box of original ammunition would certainly be the frosting on the cake!!

BMur said:

The early magazine pistol and carbine are probably one of the hardest values to predict on the market today as far as selling price. I had to have a 41 Navy in my collection. Probably my last antique gun purchase prior to my divorce. Her loss my volcanic.
What’s really neat about these is the round they chambered.
“ The rocket ball”! Original examples sell for up to $400 on today’s market !
And early caseless bullet hollowed out and stuffed with black powder. Then sealed with a brass ring at the heel Centered with primer compound. The problem being when the round was discharged the recoil would cause the ring and primer to stick to the firing Pin. This would present a problem for the next round to chamber and a jam was the result. Since the mechanism was not designed to eject a case because a case did not exist the operator would have to pick the brass ring off of the firing pin prior to chambering the next round.

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There were a few variations of this bullet, none of which worked well. Although I once read some of the promo ads of that time stating outstanding results which I cannot conceive as being anywhere near factual. The original Volcanics were barely able to push the bullet out of barrel.

It wasn't until Benjamin Tyler Henry worked on it for awhile, resolving this problem with the brass bullet casing. But, of course, this was for Oliver Winchester. That's what makes these pistols so collectible to both S&W and Winchester collectors.

IIRC, as I read years ago, Smith & Wesson went bankrupt on this first venture.

I always thought the first 44 Henry rounds were copper cased?? Can't find much on the case other than an American Rifleman article, link below:

American Rifleman | Henry's Classic Henry

An excerpt states as follows: Finally, in 1860 the Henry made its debut. Employing much of the mechanism of the Volcanic, the arm was up-scaled and redesigned by B. Tyler. Replacing the anemic Volcanic bullet was a .44-cal., copper-cased rimfire cartridge which, with its 200-gr. lead bullet backed with 26 to 28 grs. of blackpowder, gave a respectable muzzle velocity of 1125 f.p.s. and a muzzle energy of 562 ft.-lbs.-about 10 times that of the Hunt Rocket Ball!

On another subject, did the round and square butt pistols run in the same serial number ranges or did they each have their own numbers? I ran across another American Rifeleman article on the 31 Model 1 square butt with serial number 66?? American Rifleman | I Have This Old Gun: New Haven “Volcanic” No. 1 Pocket Pistol

glowe said:

I always thought the first 44 Henry rounds were copper cased??

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Gary, That would make good sense. The likely were copper. Copper is easier to work with, more malleable, and, would press to form easier that brass.

It is the nomenclature "brass" as refers to cartridge cases, that I thought of. Thank you. Sal

Serial numbers

I bought this book after purchasing my 41 Navy Volcanic. The Author lists all the serial numbers. I was surprised how many were made. If My memory serves correctly all variations had there own serial numbers and there were more than you might think. The rarest I believe are the carbines. The Smith & Wesson marked are also low production. Then there are engraved vs non engraved, various barrel lengths and the 32 & 41 calibers. Again, there were more made than I thought! Several thousand if I remember right. Especially the 32’s.
I’m out fishing now but will be home Saturday night. I’ll post serial number info then if someone doesn’t post before that might have this book?
I think most of the early Rimfire cartridges had high copper content. I’ve noticed most early production cases of both Rimfire and centerfire had higher copper content with very sharp bullet crimps. The early primer material wasn’t great and needed all the help it could get to ignite the charge. That’s part of the reason hammer main spring tension was so heavy.

BMur said:

I bought this book after purchasing my 41 Navy Volcanic. The Author lists all the serial numbers. I was surprised how many were made. If My memory serves correctly all variations had there own serial numbers and there were more than you might think. The rarest I believe are the carbines. The Smith & Wesson marked are also low production. Then there are engraved vs non engraved, various barrel lengths and the 32 & 41 calibers. Again, there were more made than I thought! Several thousand if I remember right. Especially the 32’s.
I’m out fishing now but will be home Saturday night. I’ll post serial number info then if someone doesn’t post before that might have this book?
I think most of the early Rimfire cartridges had high copper content. I’ve noticed most early production cases of both Rimfire and centerfire had higher copper content with very sharp bullet crimps. The early primer material wasn’t great and needed all the help it could get to ignite the charge. That’s part of the reason hammer main spring tension was so heavy.

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Good book. Lots of great pictures and data. I met one of the the authors and purchased the book when it was first released. Paid a LOT more than the Amazon price I just checked. LOL. Had him personalize it to me. Sal

Many years ago I went on a search to discover if "anything" (what-so-ever) in the form of documentation, invoices, etc. were left over anywhere, e.g. a local library, museum, or college.

I came up blank. No physical evidence of paperwork of the New Haven Arms company nor the original S&W repeating arms remains.

All we have it the experience of the collectors over the past century who made notes and documented these old pistols.

Norm Flayderman was a pioneer at solid research and documentation of antique firearms. His book was "the" bible.

Looking at it today, Flayderman's STILL remains the "go to" reference but much more data and details on so many antique model firearms have surfaced with the advent of the internet.

The only thing to be remembered is the source and veracity of all of the research and data, old and new. Flayderman's is a good place to start.

Unfortunately, there are still some discrepancies. e.g. silver plating (and remnants of same). I have only encountered silver plating on engraved New Haven pistols. Other collectors, usually the minority, disagree ... especially if they're trying to sell one.

>>> Revision: Or is it that (it was suggested) ALL "engraved" New Havens were silver plated while the non engraved are mostly found in brass but some also silver plated. This research is a work in progress, of course. Basically, there is no way to prove anything except with the physical evidence you currently have in your hand, a trained eye, and high magnification.

The silver plating, over time, if not feather-edge back from handling, wear or polishing ... would just flake off over the years under certain storage conditions.

One of my New Havens had been in a commercial vacuum sealed package since 1962 when I opened it nearly 50 years later.

When first brought to me, I was scared stiff the silver plating might peel off in sheets or disintegrate when I removed the commercial plastic wrap that was still adhered, tightly, to the gun. Removing that old commercial vacuum wrap was a big project to me (more because of caution and fear not to ruin it), taken step by step, very carefully. Fortunately, the vacuum wrap served its intended purpose rather well.

Just something to think about. Sal Raimondi, Sr.

From my notes I can comment on the reason why we see silver plate and bare brass frames on these pistols. I believe the changes were made as ownership changed. There were actually three different companies that made these pistols.

The Smith & Wesson Company was formed in 1854, and manufactured the 31 and 41 Smith & Wesson Lever Pistols and the Volcanic projectile. The pistols were actually cast steel frames with silver plate. The pistols were stamped Smith & Wesson, Norwich, CT. A total of 1200 .31 and 500 .41 pistols were made.

When Oliver Winchester and others invested in the newly named Volcanic Arms Company in 1855, the venture made the .41 Volcanic with a brass frame, but continued to manufacture the .31 with cast steel nickel plate frame with leftover parts from S&W. This is when the pistols received the New Haven, CT stamp. Less than 1000 .31 pistols were assambled and 3000 .41 pistols were made.

It was not until the New Haven Arms Company, formed in April, 1857, that the brass frame .31 was manufactured along with the .41 and hardly any were plated. I have notes that state another 3370 .31 and .41 pistols were made until manufacturing ceased in 1861.