Last edited by threedflyer; 09-17-2024 at 11:46 AM.
Volcanic Arms provides an interesting tie in between Smith and Wesson, and Winchester just before 1860. The Volcanic design, owned by Smith and Wesson was enlarged and reengineered by Winchester (Henry Repeating Arms) to become the Henry rifle. The Henry rifle was then modified to become the 1866 Winchester. The Volcanic design existed until the end of the 1873 and 1876 Winchester line, well into the 1900s.
These cartridges were terribly underpowered, but, like the Rollin White patent for the bored through cylinder that made S&W a monopoly, the Volcanic cartridge lifter design made Henry, then Winchester, a monopoly. Everybody else had to come up with evasive designs to compete (or attempt to compete) with S&W and Winchester. Even Colt and Remington had to pay S&W a royalty to use the bored through cylinder. S&W also had the patent on the rimfire priming method, and they were paid a royalty for that until 1867-69, somewhere in that time frame.
Awesome condition, thank you for sharing. That thing in the center is a primer, correct?
Thanks Relics for sharing your information.
thank you for sharing.
Words are weapons sharper than knives - INXS
The pen is mightier than the sword - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
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That's very neat, thank you!
Now let's see Lee make a mold for that!
The center is a cork plug/seal here is a link with more info on the Volcanic cartridge also known as the ROCKET BALL
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_Ball
You can see the relationship of this Smith and Wesson Volcanic pistol with the Henry rifle, and then the 1866 Winchester.
https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...peating-pistol
Thank you for the pic and info. Really cool!
NRA Life 1992
My avatar is almost a dead ringer for my little buddy Chico. Six pounds of mean that thought he was a Pit Bull. Miss that little guy.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |