Posted by SGT on May 22, 2008, 9:36 am, in reply to "Re: Skeet Special "
Jim, who knows what may have happened, but the 1930's were uncertain times; the gun could have been ordered then not delivered because the orderer failed to pay the COD balance due. It could also have been returned for some unknown reason, or built simply as an inventory piece to keep employees busy during a slow period. At any rate, a fair number of Skeet Special guns were built in configurations that do not remotely resemble catalog specifications. There are even a few Skeet Special engraved examples out there with 32" barrels fitted with trap gun features and options. The bottom line is that the Skeet Special engraving pattern appealed to some shooters who wanted engraving at a low cost. The other bottom line is that there are no absolutes with Smith guns; and to put in print that a certain grade was only shipped with such and such options, or features is just not true. The unfortunate aspect of such writings is that so many collectors are left with a wrong impression, which will nearly always result in their bypassing, at some point in their collecting, a truely unique and rare original gun because it failed to conform to the preconceived notion of that grade they have seen printed as fact. So my best advice to any collector, do your homework and be prepared.