Book Review—Volcanic Firearms: Predecessor to the Winchester Rifle

by
posted on January 14, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
volcanic.jpg

Volcanic firearms, some of history’s first repeaters to use a self-contained cartridge, represent a profoundly significant, yet often overlooked, stage in the evolution of firearms development. The origins of the short-lived Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, and of the guns it designed and manufactured, have long been shrouded in mystery, hearsay and poorly-sourced apocrypha—until now.

In their book Volcanic Firearms, authors Edmund E. Lewis and Stephen W. Rutter go a long way toward dispelling the misinformation and confusion surrounding these guns through meticulous research of the erstwhile Volcanic Repeating Arms Company and of the major players behind its innovative designs. And a glut of historically noteworthy names, like B. Tyler Henry, Lewis Jennings, Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, were involved in the development of the Volcanic guns.

So nicknamed because their rate of fire was said to be comparable to that of an erupting volcano, particularly in relation to their contemporaries, the Volcanic designs utilized an early lever-powered action, which would later be refined further in the Henry Rifle—which itself served as precursor for the renowned Winchester Rifle.

Throughout the book’s 160 pages, the authors guide the reader through the entire history of the Volcanic design, from its inception in Walter Hunt’s Volition Repeater to its culmination in the Winchester. Along the way, the book catalogs with 340 color illustrations the many, many variations of the guns that were produced. Indeed, the book’s fine photography, offering beautiful example after beautiful example of these innovative guns, serves as one of the highlights of the work.

While Volcanic Repeating Arms Company has been defunct since 1866, its contributions to the gun world live on today in the designs it produced and the gun designers that it brought together. Anyone interested in the history of early repeating arms, 19th century American gunmakers or the lever-action rifle in general, will find Volcanic Firearms well worth the price of admission. Price: $50. Contact: Mowbray Publishing, 54 East School St., Woodsocket, RI 02895; (401) 597-5055; gunandswordcollector.com.

Latest

Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web
Gotw Rra Lar 22 Tactical Carbine Web

Gun Of The Week: Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine

This week, we're on the range with the Rock River Arms LAR-22 Tactical Carbine, a rimfire variant of the AR-15 that's designed for reliability and gives enthusiasts a way to shoot affordably.

The Armed Citizen® July 11, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Japanese Last-Ditch Small Arms Of World War II

The crude assortment of fighting tools used by the Japanese during World War II give clues of an unprepared and unmatched last-ditch fight that ultimately lead to Allied victory.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors.

2025 Optic Of The Year: Burris Eliminator 6

Even as new generation after new generation of Burris Eliminator continued to add more advanced technology and functionality, it remained odd-looking—until the launch of this year’s sixth-generation product, which is the first in the line that can mount atop a rifle using standard 34 mm scope rings.

I Have This Old Gun: Star Model B

Of the many Spanish-made firearms to emerge throughout the 19th and 20th century, one of the most recognizable is the Star Model B, largely due to its similarity to the Colt Model 1911.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.