As this column is for collecting, here are a few photos of the rare 1896 military rolling block rifle.  Late in 1896 Remington introduced its first rolling block made for a smokeless powder cartridge. slightly better metallurgy, the Edwards sight, and some breech block modifications rounded out the major identifying features.  Remington could not make the existing manual rotary extractor function with the new popular rimless cartridges (the most popular being the 7mm Mauser) so they reverted to the Straight Bar type of extractor circa 1866 to 1873.  The easiest key to identifying this model is the front sight assembly. A longer narrow slotted base with a pinned blade. This front sight was abandoned with the introduction of the model 1897 a few months later.  Most of the 1896 rifles were chambered in the 7mm Spanish Mauser.  A few, even rarer, 1896 rifles were chambered in .30 US (30-40 Krag). The cartridge designation was typically marked on the top of the barrel just forward of the upper hand guard. This feature is not always seen on individual rifles.  Marking the caliber on military rifles was not a Remington practice for the rolling block rifles manufactured from 1866 until 1896.  Many of the early 1896 Edwards rear barrel sight were marked on the left side with elevation indicators that went up to the number 14. Remington changed the highest elevation marking for most Edwards sighted smokeless cartridge rolling blocks to 13. This change seems to have occurred in the middle of the ever so brief 1896 production.  Extra safety features saw the addition of an added cross pin to retain the firing pin in the breech block as well as the reduction of the diameter firing pin tip.  These features were carried over into the 1897 production.  George Layman estimates a total of 1,100 of the 1896 rifles were ever produced.   This rarity is not regularly recognized and the rifle can sometimes be purchased at a very reasonable price given it scarcity.

I used to have one of these in 7x57.  I bought it at a gun shop for $75 about 35 years ago.

Teddy Roosevelt could have written a very comprehensive, in-depth report on their effectiveness in the day.

  I just picked up an 1896 barreled receiver at a flea market this past Sunday. Serial numbered 473 on the sides of the tangs. It's missing the bar extractor, block pins, main spring, trigger spring, rear sight , stocks and a couple screws (like me  ).
The extractor screw hole looks to have been enlarged and the breech block has been messed with in that the firing pin has been bushed and the front radius face scalloped out.
 
The roll marks on the tang are;

Remington Arms Company Ilion, N.Y.
Pt May 30, 1864 May 6th June 11th Nov 12th Dec 24th 1871
Dec 31st 1872 Sept 9th 1873 Jan 12th March 16th 1874

Breech block has a short vertical thumb tab instead of the more horizontal one as on the later model 5 actions.

Are these considered to be a #5 action? And are the breech/hammer pins interchangeable between the earlier   
#1 and later #5 actions? 
 
I may end up doing nothing with this... or I may slowly get the parts needed to put it back together for some cast bullet shooting. I figure a minimum of $150 in parts is needed. I only have $20 in it so it wouldn't be too much a hit if all came to nought!

John

I may take you up on that offer, thanks.

I have some parts left over from a later #5 7mm rifle that I can use. Just need to find them. LOL

That action was re barreled to a 38-55 sporter carbine and restocked so I have a butt stock and fore stock and some of the hardware that does fit the older action. The wood hand guard is hiding somewhere in my gun room, I hope! But I do know I'll need a bar extractor.

John