Three Of A Kind

posted on March 3, 2015
aff-threeofakind-1500x844.jpg
Michael Ives

One of America’s first handguns designed for self-contained ammunition got off to a rough start. Initially, Smith & Wesson (engraved example) in Norwich, Conn., offered .31-caliber lever-action pistols that fired a hollow bullet, filled with primer and propellant all inside the projectile. But in 1855, S&W dropped out, to be replaced by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company of New Haven, Conn. The longer Volcanic guns fired a slightly larger .41-caliber projectile, while their smaller counterparts were chambered for the same .31-caliber rounds used in the earlier S&W product line.

A common problem inherent to both Smith & Wesson and Volcanic lever guns was that there was no provision for extraction. If a projectile loaded into any of these arms failed to fire, the “dud” had to be forced out of the chamber and out through a small frame opening. Despite this handicap, these pistols were the forerunners of the American Civil War-era Henry rifle and the later Winchester line of lever-action repeating arms still in production today.

The NRA National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va.; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo.; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M.; each have fine selections of historic arms on display. Admission to each is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit www.nramuseum.com, phone (703) 267-1600 or email [email protected].

Latest

cocking a handgun
cocking a handgun

Gun Skills | Training Grip Strength

It is imperative to balance the strengthening of your hands to best embrace this constitutional freedom and to avoid any injuries in the process.

Gun Review | Beretta 92XI

Fans of both the 1911 and the iconic Beretta 92 are going to find a friend in this introduction.

Americans Are Taking Their Safety Into Their Own Hands

Across the country, Americans are waking up to something citizens of this nation have long known: You need to be your own first responder.

John Commerford, NRA-ILA Executive Director, Discusses Our Biggest Legislative Battles

There are still many battles ahead in the defense of our Second Amendment and NRA-ILA is always leading the charge.

From Bad to Worse for Canadian Gun Owners?

Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse for beleaguered Canadian gun owners, that’s exactly what happens.

The Armed Citizen® May 9, 2025

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.