David, as mentioned by another poster, often the serial number will include more than just a number, often including letters in a prefix or suffix as in this case. You are not the only one confused, the Cody museum researchers also victims of this confusion. I am of the opinion that many Premier Skeets were assembled from parts long after Marlin stopped marketing the Smith guns. When I was an early teenager, my Dad and I answered an advertisement in our local newspaper placed by a gentleman who was offering Premier Skeet 12 gauge guns for sale. We visited the person who showed us a whole flock of identical Premier Skeets, equipped with ejectors, Hunter one trigger, and beavertail forend and checkered butts. The guns appeared to be assembled from unfitted parts by semi skilled mechanics. The wood to metal fit was especially bad. They were not similar to other late Marlin guns that I had seen and have seen since. The guns were offered at a reasonable $225 each with a discount for multiple purchase. Unfortunately, my Dad and I declined the generous offer. With some adjustment of wood fit, the guns probably wouldn't look as bad to me today. Oh well.