I would think that as long as it's loaded with BP or kept to BP pressures, it would be fairly safe.
But like with all other things re-engineered beyond their norm, use at your own risk !!

The only difference between a 1 1/2 and a #1 BP is the width of the receiver and the barrel thread. While the width might not be a problem, the barrel thread is similar in diameter to the Win HW, small thread but, overall the RB is much weaker than the HW.

A much harder call on this one, I think I would limit the 1 1/2 to 38/55.

Frank

.38-40 and .44-40 were the largest cartridges catalog'ed for the No 1 1/2, as per Marcot's book.   

**though there is a comment about a few cadet rifles being made to accommodate the .45-70, who knows if they were made for use of the carbine cartridge with 55gr loading (would seem most likely) and if heat treatment or steel composition may have been different for these???

The .40-70 would make me a bit squirmy.  Even if YOU baby it with mild loads, who knows how much stress the last guy put on it?

kootne wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2014 at 8:04pm:

I'm not positive, but I believe the #1 military has equal length tangs top and bottom also. Sporting #1 have a long lower tang that's unique to the model.

I bought a nice enough #1 sporter this past week for a very good price as a 1 1/2.  Not sure how they arrived at the determination that it was a #1 1/2, I didn't ask.  Wood was poor, but I'll use it for the action anyway.

dave

Hi all,
I bought the rifle because it and all the extras are worth much more than I paid.
The rifle is definitely a 1 1/2 and has been verified by info that was sent to me by some members here.

Flat side, narrow receiver with Remington markings on left side.
Non-rebated octagon top.
Receiver tangs equal length.
Rotary extractor.
Exposed barrel shank of about .800 diameter.
# matching narrow buttstock with original buttplate.
# matching forearm with metal nosepiece.

The PO converted the rifle from .22lr to 40-70 himself.
He said that his load for this was 50 grains of 3F blackpowder under a 385 grain bullet.
I don't believe that he shot it much.

I'm not sure what I'll do yet but I do appreciate all the replies and info.
I have probably answered my own question...
If I'm worried enough to ask you guys about the strength of this, then I'm worried enough not to pull the trigger.
Thanks again,
Dave

"Have handled a few one and a halves. Passed on a real nice one several times because 350.00 seemed an outrageous price".

$350 "outrageous". really ?  I'd buy every one I see at that price, the actions alone are worth more than that. According to the Marcot book Remington only manufactured about 4.700 in 13 years. If you think $350 is outrageous for a 1 1/2, you should check on line or at a gun show and see the prices on #2s and #4s, welcome to the real world.