SMLE or Smelly?
Moderator: dromia
Re: SMLE or Smelly?
I have not heard it called that but I did walk over to pick up a magazine from Terry Abrams, 'Hi Terry, have you got any magazines for a, um, number, erm.....' talk about your mind going blank.
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John25
Re: SMLE or Smelly?
To a matelot, any firearm was a long musket or a short musket.
Thus, my SLR was my long musket, my browning was my short musket and my SMG was my tractor gun.
However, my SMLE is my SMLE, my number four - just that, my number four
My nickel plated S&W mod 3 is my tarts gun!
Whatever their names I love them all and every one, whenever I use it, is my favourite at the time.
However, to think that my SMLE might, at some time, been in the hands of some bloke in action, makes me respect it and the unknown history attached to it.
Thus, my SLR was my long musket, my browning was my short musket and my SMG was my tractor gun.
However, my SMLE is my SMLE, my number four - just that, my number four
My nickel plated S&W mod 3 is my tarts gun!
Whatever their names I love them all and every one, whenever I use it, is my favourite at the time.
However, to think that my SMLE might, at some time, been in the hands of some bloke in action, makes me respect it and the unknown history attached to it.
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Strangely Brown
- Posts: 414
- Joined: Wed May 11, 2011 8:15 am
- Home club or Range: NRA
- Location: New Forest
- Contact:
Re: SMLE or Smelly?
The term Smelly was bought back to life by the late (and greatly missed!) Pete Bloom.
Peter did an article in Classic Arms Magazine called "Smelly Bits", which was a collectors guide to the accessories and accoutrements of the rifle No1 MkIII*; Pete had been a Royal Marine who after winning two MiD's in Northern Ireland came out of the services and wrote a column in Guns Review called "Around the Ranges" where he would write about the wind conditions, light (and personalities) that affected the scores of the day.
He was also a student of the Great War and this where he bought back to life the slang that Tommy used to describe his weaponary, hence the article in Classic Arms magazine being called "Smelly Bits".
We have rather a lot to owe Pete Bloom; for it was he who made it possible for Civilians to shoot alongside the Army at Bisley in the 1998? service rifle competitions, something that we can still do today, albiet that the army choose to shoot their competitions elswhere these days given the pressure they face when having to do back to back tours in hostile environments.
Pete was also instrumental in getting LERA (Lee Enfield Rifle Association) established along with Paul Quilliam and was the first editor of "Dispatches", LERA's newsletter.
Peter did an article in Classic Arms Magazine called "Smelly Bits", which was a collectors guide to the accessories and accoutrements of the rifle No1 MkIII*; Pete had been a Royal Marine who after winning two MiD's in Northern Ireland came out of the services and wrote a column in Guns Review called "Around the Ranges" where he would write about the wind conditions, light (and personalities) that affected the scores of the day.
He was also a student of the Great War and this where he bought back to life the slang that Tommy used to describe his weaponary, hence the article in Classic Arms magazine being called "Smelly Bits".
We have rather a lot to owe Pete Bloom; for it was he who made it possible for Civilians to shoot alongside the Army at Bisley in the 1998? service rifle competitions, something that we can still do today, albiet that the army choose to shoot their competitions elswhere these days given the pressure they face when having to do back to back tours in hostile environments.
Pete was also instrumental in getting LERA (Lee Enfield Rifle Association) established along with Paul Quilliam and was the first editor of "Dispatches", LERA's newsletter.
Mick
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