Premier Skeet

Posted by Harry K. on February 7, 2012, 8:07 pm
99.59.180.131

I have a Premier Skeet with serial number S 54310. I was wondering if this a factory built gun or one built from parts after Marlin closed down production? Thanks for any comments.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Patriot on February 7, 2012, 8:48 pm, in reply to "Premier Skeet"
24.14.160.134

I'm pretty sure all Marlin era (post 1945) were on the FW frame, so the number would have to be FWS 54310.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Harry K on February 7, 2012, 10:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
99.59.180.131

It is marked FW, and it is a featherweight frame. The top of the right barrel however, is not marked.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on February 8, 2012, 7:42 am, in reply to "Premier Skeet"
76.84.67.250

I agree that SN 54310 should be an FWS number. The frame, at least, should be marked FWS. The ledgers show that this Premier Skeet was finished in 1950.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Bill Murphy on February 8, 2012, 9:23 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
173.66.198.36

Do we consider 1950 a parts gun or a factory gun? I saw Premier Skeets for sale new unfired as late as 1960's. I assumed those guns had been assembled a very short time before they were offered to me for $225 each.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Dick Miller on February 8, 2012, 9:28 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
96.228.93.120

Bill, Were those guns in a shop in London Bridge (Va Beach) by chance? If so, I'm told that they were assembled by the shop, not Marlin.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by jimmyd on February 8, 2012, 9:31 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
71.176.21.86

Where is London Bridge VA. ?

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Dick Miller on February 8, 2012, 10:24 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
96.228.93.120

Jimmyd, Now a part of Virginia Beach. As I recall, the shop name was Hadsell's Gun Shop on Va Beach Blvd.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by John L. on February 8, 2012, 10:36 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
71.251.183.141

That's right Jimmy, a couple blocks east of the new Lowes Home Improvement Store. I remember it, but wasn't into Elsies at the time!

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by jimmyd on February 8, 2012, 10:51 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
71.176.21.86

I have herd about that owner who had bought trailers of LC Smith parts.........lots of them and had enough to make alot of guns out of them. I think he was the same person who had enough Elsie parts to turn out several new .410's Same person ?

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Dick Miller on February 8, 2012, 11:02 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
96.228.93.120

As I recall, the back wall of the shop had a whole row of Premier Skeets that were assembled from parts that the owner had acquired. My guess is that this shop was the source for the P Skeets that don't appear in the factory records.

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Harry K on February 8, 2012, 8:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
99.59.180.131

Hi Bill,How many of those $225.00 Premier Skeets did you buy?

Re: Premier Skeet

Posted by Harry K on February 8, 2012, 8:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
99.59.180.131

Jim, So can I assume this was one of the very last Marlin made Premier Skeets?

Final Serial Number

Posted by Jim Stubbendieck on February 9, 2012, 7:59 am, in reply to "Re: Premier Skeet"
129.93.92.57

The final serial number for a Premier Skeet is 56256. The final serial number in the ledgers (with a shotgun assigned to the number) is 56796. It is a Field Grade .410.