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    The Galleries

    • Robert E. Petersen Collection
    • Ancient Firearms - 1350 to 1700
    • Road to American Liberty - 1700 to 1780
    • A Prospering New Republic - 1780 to 1860
    • A Nation Asunder - 1861 to 1865
    • The American West - 1850 to 1900
      • Case 18
      • Case 19
      • Case 20
      • Case 21
    • Innovation, Oddities and Competition
    • Theodore Roosevelt and Elegant Arms - 1880s to 1920s
    • World War I and Firearms Innovation
    • WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond - 1940 to Present
    • For the Fun of It
    • Modern Firearms - 1950 to Present
    • Hollywood Guns

    Smith & Wesson Volcanic Lever Action Pistol (1)

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    This predecessor of the Winchester lever-action rifle was produced by Horace Smith & Daniel Wesson, who later became famous for their revolver designs. In 1855, Smith & Wesson sold their interest to the newly-organized Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. Production continued under this banner until 1857, when Volcanic was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Company, and was discontinued entirely in 1860. This design influenced the Henry and Winchester rifles that followed. One major drawback of the Volcanic was its lack of an extraction system, thus defective cartridges created problems in these pistols.


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