The LCS Skeet Special was introduced in 1929 at a price of $47.00....It was available in 12,16,20 and .410 bore. It was a new offering designed especially for skeet shooting.
It was essentially an "0" grade (Ideal Grade) with different engraving patterns better wood and when ordered with a single trigger and auto ejectors it was priced at $92.00.
The standard Skeet Special has a skeet symbol engraved on the left lockplate and a partridge in full flight on the right lockplate.
The vast majority of all Skeet Specials were made on the Featherweight frame, although a few were made on the Regular weight frame. The base rib was concave or flat, for $25.00 extra a vent rib was offered as an option. The first Skeet Specials could be ordered with full, half or straight grip at no extra charge.
Hunter Arms quickly learned that the Skeet Special was popular with the Upland Game hunters, especially the quail hunters and began advertising the gun as the "Skeet-Upland Special".......
Contrary to popular belief, Hunter Arms Co. did offer their skeet guns in the more expensive Specialty, Eagle, Crown and Monogram/Delux grades. These options were listed in the price list, but not in the catalogs of the time......
London Steel Barrels of 26,27 and 28 inches were offered. The barrels were carefully and expertly bored Skeet No. 1 (R) and Skeet No. 2 (L), ideal skeet patterns were unconditionally guaranteed. The .410 skeet guns had a stylized 3 inch chamber mark stamped on the barrels. It is not known how many higher grade Skeet Specials were made, production of standard Skeet Specials totalled 1,278 until production ceased in 1950.
A checkered wood butt was standard (no eraser) with a very large flared beaver tail forend.......If the one at your Ohio auction has not been butchered, it would have reasonable collector value, especially if it is a pre-1945 Hunter Arms Co. built LCS, not the Marlin post 1945 built.........condition, of course, would dictate the value.......
Best,
