Deactivated 1917 SMLE MKIII Rifle SN. 8802 *

Deactivated SMLE MKIII, in very good deactivated condition. Kings Crown 1917 dated, BSA manufacture. The SMLE, or 'smelly' as it was fondly known was by far the most modern and effective rifle in use during WWI. Its ability to endure the conditions in the trenches and keep operating was second only to its rate of fire. It also had double the magazine capacity of any other weapon of the period and when you had a battalion of Tommies where each man was trained to fire at least 30 aimed shots a minute, it is no wonder that many Germans thought they were under machine gun fire. A British classic. All deactivated weapons sold by D and B Militaria are deactivated in the United Kingdom and hold London or Birmingham proof marks and a certificate stating that the weapon has been deactivated correctly.