I just got a #2 in 38/40 and it's in pretty good condition other than the normal dings and wear that you would expect. The problem is that the extractor only works maybe one out of ten times. It's a bar extractor and seems to be activated by a cut out washer [for lack of a better term] that goes around the breechblock pin. In the schematics that I've seen for the #2 this part is not shown. When the breechblock is opened without a round chambered the extractor comes back as it should but can be pushed back in with my finger. The extractor looks good but the cuts on the washer thingy look worn so that is what I think needs to be replaced. Can't find one online and it would help if I knew what it was called [actuator?] One cool thing about this rifle is that there are four shotgun pellets imbedded in the buttstock, I'd sure like to know that story. Thanks

These are pictures of a #7, but is the same, unless yours is an early rifle with a rotary extractor.

The first picture show the breech block cut out Val is talking about.  No washer.

The second shows the lug coming down from the extractor into the bb cut out.

In the #7, if you remove the extractor retaining screw in the front, upper left side of the action, the extractor can be pulled out.  You can then inspect the parts.
Bob

I agree, I've disassembled a number of rolling blocks over the years and am familiar with the engagement of the breechblock and extractor. I have never seen this before either. What's interesting is that with the 38/40 I also bought  another #2 in 32/20 and the extractors are the same. The left side of the breechblocks are perfectly smooth with no extractor cut and if you look down with the breechblock open you can see this ring or whatever engage the extractor. The only thing that I can think of is that this may be a type that was used in the centerfires. I don't have a rimfire to compare it to and my knowledge is limited to #1s, 4s and 5s.These are not early rifles and so the plot thickens.

O.K, I think that I came up with an answer. Both of these rifles were given breechblocks that were made to accept the rotary extractor. The washer that I talked about looks like a rotary extractor but it's flat with cut outs to accept the bar extractor. Seems to me that Remington wanted to use up old parts so they put some of these modified breechblocks in #2s. Another thing about these rifles is that they don't have the metal end caps on the fore ends. Instead they have ebony inserts much the same as those on Winchesters. Both rifles came from the same estate so they may have been purchased together, who knows?