Thanks for the commiserations Fred. As you too unfortunately know, it's every gun lovers worst nightmare to have their magnificient pieces of engineering and craftsmanship that they take such pride in and enjoy so much stolen, and probably sold cheaply for drug money to someone that will never give the rifle a good home nor appreciate what magnificence they now possess.
I'll have to check out about importing rifles from Canada into New Zealand, doesn't sound good vice versa as regards your efforts to import the set-trigger 452 sorry.
I had 3 original mint condition one owner 1950 mod 1's, in a light medium and dark stock. Has taken me 30 years to find the mod 1's in the mint condition that I wanted. It would be an absolute dream come true for me to find an original unfired mod 1 still in its box like marty did! Maybe one day aye? In the meantime I'll just keep lookin and dreamin. Cheers Dennis.
