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Reading the thread on No1 MkIII's reminded me that some SMLE owners refer to them as 'Smellys' Personally I can never bring myself to refer to an SMLE as a smelly as it just seems wrong somehow. Here we have an iconic rifle carried into battle by our grandfathers and to call it a smelly just seems wrong. Anyone have any views on this?

Does seem disrespectful BUT typical British self-deprecating humour without any real 'malice' is the case here I think / hope?

I have to admit to using both depending on whom I happen to be talking to at the time. To the older members of our club its SMLE the younger ones smel--. Sorry no disrespect meant.

Personally I think of it as a term of endearment

Alan

I've used both, but I normally refer to it as an SMLE

As has been said, it's probably just the British soldier's dark-humour at work. Though, does anyone know if contemporary soldiers called it a smelly? Maybe they just called it "Enfield". Soldiers never seem to call their weapons my their true designations :lol:

"SA80" - not it's name, it's an L85
"Gimpy" - L7 GPMG
"SLR" or "FAL" - L1A1

Though I guess in a fire-trench it would be hard to call out "Please would you mind operating that; British, Machine-Gun, L110, 5.56x45mm, Thank you, awfully"

Much easier to shout "get on that Minimi and give those W some lead!" :lol:

salut,

The nickname in France for the Smle is "nez de cochon" (Pig's nose)...
However, I guarranty you that everybody, me included, would love to be the owner of a nice nez d'cochon

[quote="Tower.75"] Soldiers never seem to call their weapons my their true designations :lol:

"SA80" - not it's name, it's an L85
"[quote]

The L85A1 was often referred to as a "Gat" on account of it's superior build quality.

I haven't heard the A2 called that lately though.

Its got to be SMLE however you say it

But there are others BSA / Beezers
Anschutz / Annie

My mate calls his 9mm AR 15 / Milly

Dave

During my 22years issued with at times the SLR, SMG, SLP and L85, they wre all known as 'Gats' at sometime or other or even 'muskets' when referring to the SLR.

Soldiers during WW1 would have called their rifles just that, Rifle or Enfield or even 'bundle'. It was officially known as the R.S.M.L.E. The term No1 Mk111 was a post WW1 term when we have Rifle No1 MK111 (SMLE) Rifle No2 (.22 SMLE) and Rifle No3 (P14).

Steve

Does anyone else's hackles rise when people call it a "Mark 1 Enfield"?