I went to the range today to chrono some other loads. I brought along the old #2 and the five rounds pictured above. They all shot fine. But as expected with the badly worn bore, they scattered. Extraction was problematic. None could be extracted by the knife blade extractor. There is little leverage and the pitted chamber made it worse. So each was knocked out with a cleaning rod.

Being such a low numbered and all original example, I wouldn't want to rebore or reline it. The old boy will be relegated to retired collector status. It has earned it. I have other #2s to play with. But at least I can say that I fired it 

Oh, BTW. Since I was test firing it, I shot it across the chrono. With a full case of Blackhorn 209 (9.0gr), a starter pistol acorn blank primer and 87gr heel bullet, it averaged 1029fps.

That IS early! Please share some clear, close up photos.

Here are photos of the #2  serial # 46
Bob

Interesting to see the "knife" extractor on an early #2.   That clearly shows the evolution from the 1870 Army pistol into the #2 Remington.    I have been shooting my 50 caliber 1870 army pistol and those extracrors are kind of puny.  I'm pretty sure that the one that came on the pistol when I got it was a replacement.  It wasn't quite correct and never did work.   A few years ago I borrowed a friend's 1870 Atmy pistol and used his extractor as a pattern to mate a new one for my pistor.    Now it works as it should but I'm not sure how long it will last.

I have a pair of #2 rifles; a 22 and a 32-20.  The 32-20 was sleeved from 32 RF.  The serial number on the 30 inch barrel doesn't match that of the receiver although they are close differing by about 300.  Both my #2s have the sliding extractor.

George

George