Remington 2 Sporting Rifle 30 in 38-40 Octagon With Lyman 1 Tang Sight – Antique

SOLD FOR: $2,661
Make: Remington
Model: Number 2 Sporting Rifle
Serial Number: H 40454
Year of Manufacture: 1873 – 1898 (Antique)
Caliber: 38W (38-40 WCF)
Action Type: Single Action, Rolling Block
Markings: The top barrel flat is marked “REMINGTON ARMS CO. ILION, N.Y. U.S.A.” The bottom barrel flat is marked “38W” and “&” just ahead of the forearm while hidden under the forearm it’s marked “40454” and “G2”. The rear of the forearm wood is stamped “0454”. The inside of the metal butt plate is stamped “40454”. The lower tang is marked “H 40454”. The left side of the receiver is marked “PATENTS / MAY 3 1864 / MAY 7 JUNE 11 / NOV 12 DEC 24 / DEC 3 1872 / SEPT 9 1873”.
Barrel Length: 30”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a D.W. King, Jr. “No. 1 Triple Bead Front Sight” and the rear sight is a Lyman No. 1 Combination Sight – 1st Variation. The rear elevator sight has been removed and a blank installed in the dovetail. The front sight is marked “D.W.KING, JR / DENVER, COLO.” on the rear and has patent dates on the front. For more information on these interesting and unusual sights, please see: http://www.histandard.info/King/KingCatalogs/cat19/Kingcat19D40-41P200R_1280_960.html. The tang sight is marked “LYMAN / REG. US PAT. OFF.” on the rear base of the elevation upright. For further information on the rear sight, please see: http://www.vintagesights.com/apps/blog/show/4339619.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece stocks are varnished smooth walnut. The forearm never gets wider than the width of the receiver, is retained by one screw and has a Schnabel tip inletted with a decorative black piece that might be ebony. The forearm has numerous small handling and compression marks, the most notable being on the right side, about 1” from the rear. The butt stock also has some handling and compression marks with the most notable on the belly. Neither piece has any notable chips, cracks or scratches. The LOP measures 13 3/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the crescent-like butt plate. The stocks rates in about Very Good to Fine overall condition for an antique.
Type of Finish: The barrel, trigger, rolling block, and hammer are blued. The receiver and buttplate are case colored.
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is almost bright and the rifling is amazingly sharp for a century old rifle. There is no erosion, we can’t remember the last time we saw a barrel from this era in such great condition.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows a general drift to a brown patina on the barrel while the case coloring of the buttplate has almost completely faded. The receiver still has the mottled case coloring, although it has muted over the years. The lower tang/trigger guard has case coloring on the sides but has lost it on the areas that received the most handling. The screw heads are surprisingly sharp but do show signs of a screwdriver. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This really seems to be an exceptional Remington rolling block rifle. Fjestad’s “Blue Book of Gun Values” states the Number 2 Sporting Rifle was manufactured from 1873 to 1909, so we know it has to be over one hundred years old. The bore is in exceptionally good condition and the entire rifle seems exceptionally well preserved and has been cared for and maintained exceptionally well. The rifle must have been owned by a real shooter, as the aftermarket front and rear sights that were later installed were serious sights, capable of target accuracy with the tang sight insert flipped into place and good field accuracy with the insert flipped out of the way. With the three heights available on the pivoting front sight, different distances could be quickly, accurately and repeatedly called up, without having to readjust the rear tang sight’s elevation. We expect excellent results to be obtained from this rifle, by someone willing to invest the time learning to handload the combination that makes this rifle perform to its highest potential.