Referring to a Smoothbore as a Smoothie

[user 48702]

I see this term from time to time in reference to no particular smoothbore weapon and was wondering, when did it start, was it common terminology back in the day, or is it just a nickname? What was the original terminology for a smoothbore in the mid 1700s? Musket, trade musket, shotgun, other? I wonder how many folks back in the mid to late 18th century called a smoothbore a smoothie? I can just see Ol' Jebidiah walking into the trading post and asking Amos if he could take a look at one of them thar smoothies he's got hangin on the wall.

 

[DuncNZ]

He probably said " that thar gun " if he wanted to look at a smoothbore , , if he wanted to look at a rifle he probably said "that thar rifle gun " and he would have asked "how many balls to the pound does it run to ? "

 

[PathfinderNC]

I think General Wayne, in 1777, referred to his soldiers as being equipped with “a varied compliment of Smoothies and other Smokepoles” .

 

[user 48702]

I think General Wayne, in 1777, referred to his soldiers as being equipped with “a varied compliment of Smoothies and other Smokepoles” .

So General Wayne, in 1777, actually referred to smoothbore weapons as "Smoothies" and rifles as "Smokepoles"?

 

[Cpt Flint]

Smoothies, Rondies, Remmies, and the like are used by modern BP shooters who live in apartments and shoot on public ranges and are completely out of touch with real muzzle loaders. They also “run” trick stainless steel nipples in Remmies etc. Most of these people use cap locks and BP substitutes and are not the real BLACKPOWER AND FLINT dedicated NMLRA competitors who keep the Sport alive as it should be.

 

[Phil Coffins]

They also grew up with blankies, binkies, doggies and still talk like that. Just the way it is.

 

[2 shots]

so let me get this right... if you dont own a house and are not lucky enough to have a piece of land you can shoot on .. you are not really into muzzle loading? it is nat. muzzle loading rifle assc. not nat. muzzle loading flint lock rifle assc. yes?? correct me if im wrong. not many forge their own barrels or make their own powder.

 

[Winchester97]

I don't know about you all, but I've always found being exclusive and generally offensive is the best way to attract new shooters to this sport. At least I found another name for the ignore list.

 

[Stantheman86]

Smoothies, Rondies, Remmies, and the like are used by modern BP shooters who live in apartments and shoot on public ranges and are completely out of touch with real muzzle loaders. They also “run” trick stainless steel nipples in Remmies etc. Most of these people use cap locks and BP substitutes and are not the real BLACKPOWER AND FLINT dedicated NMLRA competitors who keep the Sport alive as it should be.

So now we have people "gatekeeping" blackpowder shooting

People who don't look down on other people who buy various blackpowder guns and supplies, which keep the sport alive way more than a handful of people who think that if you don't own a custom built flintlock you don't deserve to shoot muzzleloaders.

 

[Ponderosaman]

Yep, we got us an elitist. By the way, here's a pic from the website of his elite organization who are the only ones properly keeping traditional muzzleloading alive. Give me a break View attachment 178722

Fluted barrel. Noice!

 

[jackpine54]

I mostly shoot my smoothie on my backyard range, because it's easy. When I do take her or any of the my other rocklocks to the public range I usually draw a crowd. I've let a lot of others take their first muzzleloader shots with my guns. I don't care what we call them, how we dress when we shoot them or where we call home. The more of us enjoying front stuffers the better. Sorry for the off topic rant.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

From my reading (I'm no expert) terms back in the 18th century varied by region and weapon type. Musket may have been used a bit generically at times for smoothbore weapons (seems to have become so generic in the 19th century asto include weapons with rifled barrels), Fusil or fusee in other locations, simply using the term gun would have also been seen related to smoothbore weapons.
That said, my underwear have yet to get bunched by words folks use today for them.

 

[Kentuckyjed]

Yep, we got us an elitist. By the way, here's a pic from the website of his elite organization who are the only ones properly keeping traditional muzzleloading alive. Give me a break View attachment 178722

We call those type of guns "the other modern gun" and not true muzzleloaders in Kentucky, even though they are loaded from the muzzle. It's just not the same in my opinion.

 

[Britsmoothy]

I like a bickie with my cup of tea.

Call the dam things what you will.
If you understand in this context a smoothie is referring to a smooth bored gun then it worked! If however you do not wish to use the terminology then don't.
What no one has a right to is correcting any one that has not done anything particularly wrong!

From a personal take I refuse to call a 12 gauge a 12 bore. But I understand what someone is referring to all be it they are wrong. If they said 12 ball I would have more sympathy but either way I have no grounds or qualifications to demean such a person. I'm quite sure that in some field or walk of life they are quite normal.

 

[AtlatlMan]

Who doesn't like a tasty walnut smoothie...

 

[toot]

I think General Wayne, in 1777, referred to his soldiers as being equipped with “a varied compliment of Smoothies and other Smokepoles” .

and flinch locks & rock locks.!

 

[toot]

Who doesn't like a tasty walnut smoothie...

and a slurpy?

 

[dylan84]

So now we have people "gatekeeping" blackpowder shooting

People who don't look down on other people who buy various blackpowder guns and supplies, which keep the sport alive way more than a handful of people who think that if you don't own a custom built flintlock you don't deserve to shoot muzzleloaders.

With $200 caps might as well be loading centerfire! lol

 

[rich pierce]

Thinking this is clickbait intended to start a “spirited” discussion.

 

[Magungo1066]

Smoothies, Rondies, Remmies, and the like are used by modern BP shooters who live in apartments and shoot on public ranges and are completely out of touch with real muzzle loaders. They also “run” trick stainless steel nipples in Remmies etc. Most of these people use cap locks and BP substitutes and are not the real BLACKPOWER AND FLINT dedicated NMLRA competitors who keep the Sport alive as it should be.

I am glad no one had this attitude toward me when I first started out. I doubt I would have ever found myself here.