Talk:Lee-Enfield rifle series

The SMLE is a specific variant of the Lee-Enfield used in WW1 and early WW2, also known as the No.1 Mk.III. Seeing as alot of the time the rifles in these movies and games are actually No.4s, maybe it would be better to call this article "Lee-Enfield RIfle" and separate it into sections for the various models, like was done with the M-16? - Nyles

Current USE?

From what I know, no 'front line' terrorist (I refuse to dignify them by calling them insurgents) uses the SMLE, even in Afghanistan. Some tribal villagers do hold and carry them, but they're private individuals. I asked three Army commanders who were in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the only time they ever saw SMLEs were in piles of old stashes of weapons, rusting, and they were extremely rare. Most of the enemy weapons are AKs and other Soviet weaponry. So I would not consider the SMLE as a weapon currently being used by a recognized force. Please, opinions on this anyone? MoviePropMaster2008 18:41, 20 November 2008 (UTC)

I never seen any insurgents or terrorists using SMLEs in my life.Oliveira

I agree. I brought it up because a contributor wrote "the rifle is still seeing use in the hands of enemy combatants in both Iraq and Afghanistan against US and Allied military forces." Personally I've never seen an enemy combatant (after the early 1980s during the Russian invasion) using Lee Enfields and certainly not NOW during the 21st century. I brought it up the first time because I am interested in seeing what proof the original writer had for that statement. Could be just a brain fart. Lord knows I've written those myself on IMFDB in the past ;) MoviePropMaster2008 09:04, 22 November 2008 (UTC)

MPM2008 and co.

Here's some links regarding the current use of the Lee-Enfield rifle in the Middle East and South Asia.

http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,137040,00.html?ESRC=army.nl

http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/200871212157.asp

P.S. MPM2008. Thanks for posting up those Lee-Enfield pictures. I really like those pictures and the other gun pictures you've posted in recent times. Roughneck Jase

Thanks for the compliment and the links. BUT... these links actually support my initial point that the Enfields aren't being used by active combatants in Iraq OR Afghanistan any more. I'm a Vet of ODS and I have LOTS of friends who are actively serving or served during OEF or OIF and everyone said that they found caches of old weapons, at NO TIME have any hostile forces ever used these antiquated weapons in a combat action. Why would they? They have tons of full auto AKs, RPKS, PKMSs, RPGs, etc. Again, I stand by my assertion that, though people dig up buried caches of antique weapons all the time in Afghanistan and Iraq, that's exactly what they are, "Caches of Antiques", not weapons any active terrorist would use. In fact the only enemy snipers encountered in Iraq used either Dragunovs, Romanian PSLs or the Iraqi Tabuk Rifle. I say over and over again, NO Enfields are being used by anyone as a front line weapon any more. They ARE all over the place in family collections in Baghdad or used by Goat Herders in the mountains of Tora Bora, but that's civilian ownership, not an active combat rifle. Running into an 80 year old tribal goat shepard with an Enfield, doesn't count towards that rifle being a 'battle weapon'. And certainly finding piles of them buried in the sand doesn't count either. I hope people kinda understand what I'm getting at. :) And thanks for the links and comment. MoviePropMaster2008 04:53, 30 November 2008 (UTC)

MPM2008,

Let's just say that we "agree to disagree" about the Lee-Enfield's current use in todays battlefield's in the Middle East and South Asia. What I'm trying to say is that rifles like the Lee-Enfield are among the many weapons at the disposal of various waring factions and insurgents in the Middle East and South Asia and if I was an Australian soldier (I'm an Aussie BTW) serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan, I wouldn't underestimate an insurgent armed with a rifle like the Lee-Enfield (or the Mauser 98 or the Mosin-Nagant). Besides, rifles like the Lee-Enfield are still potent infantry rifles by today's standards. Roughneck Jase

I think you're missing the point. No one discounts the usefulness of the enfield. He said that they were not used in combat, just owned by people. Like the .22 rifle (1022 ruger) is owned all over the U.S. by people, cops, soldiers, but it's not considered a combat rifle of the USA though it has been used in the past (the silenced version) for covert OPs. I've never heard of any of the warring factions actually using the Enfiled anymore either.