Carefully remove the trigger guard (don't bugger the screw) and see if the tab (part you can't see just forward of the screw that ) is also stamped with the number. If it is, that is one indication that it may be an original. As far as a faker leaving "some faint trace of the makers name, address, and pat'd,"that makes absolutely no sense. Any markings would have been of the company that reproduced the gun--such as Uberti or Pietta. It could be that the gun was refinished/reblued and the original markings on top of the barrel buffed away--I have an original and the markings on top of the barrel are very faint. Also, the contour of the trigger guard is a bit suspicious--too loopy/rounded and doesn't fit quite as tightly as it should and most had 8" (not 5 1/2" barrels). Compare yours to the contour of this orignial remington.
http://www.icollector.com/Remington-...l-pe_i10488286