I have a couple here which have never been FTR'd but they have certainly been USED.
One is a 1918 NRF which is complete and original in every way for a very-late wartime rifle, right down to the renumbered Bolt. It has been carried a lot, kicked around a lot but shot very little. It will make an honest 1-inch 2-round group out of a dead-cold barrel.
And I have a 1918 Lithgow which has been FTR'd twice, first time in 1931, second time in 1944, both times for woodwork. Everything is perfect, all numbers match, it has the original 1918 barrel and it was UNFIRED since Proof when my friend Gavin Tait bought it. That fact was the REASON that he bought it. We spent quite some time getting it repaired (woodwork again) and tuned and, when finally it went back on the range, it shot an honest half-inch at 100, 2 rounds from a dead-cold barrel. Next time, it shot 7/16. My eyes were a lot better back then, and even I coaxed 9/16 out of it. As I write this, it still has less than 200 through it since built. We finally got it shooting on October 19 in the year it was purchased. My birthday was the previous day..... and friend Gavin GAVE me the rifle: he had learned what he wanted to learn from it.
And I have an Ishapore 1948 which I am quite certain was unfired when I got it. To date, it has had exactly TWO rounds through it. This one even LOOKS new. Nice rifle, though the Indians did like to make their woodwork bulkier than anyone else.
If you are ever out this way, Lou, do drop by and we'll take them all out.
But a Great War rifle, still unfired AND never kicked around: that IS unusual!
Rifles which were in combat got beat to death and shot, rifles which stood guard duty got bashed around a bit and not shot. Something such as you speak of would have to be a reserve rifle at the back of the rack and overlooked.
I have only seen ONE which was absolutely PERFECT. Mister Woodend was a very nice man, but he wouldn't let me bring it home!
It was the Sealed Pattern.
Hope this helps.
