I think I know that there was some confusion about the Mod 101 skeets, with a designated "Skeet Grade" as well as field grades that were choked skeet/skeet and sometimes confused with the "Skeet Grade" guns (usually by sellers).
As to Model 101 Skeet Guns. From the time the 20 gauge Skeet guns were first introduced in 1967, they were offered in 26 1/2", 3" and 28", 2 3/4" guns. The 20 gauge Field guns were offered with the same barrel lengths and chambers, but not with Skeet Chokes. However, both Skeet and Field Guns looked the same(blued engraved frames and no special wood for Skeet). The catalogs listed Field, Skeet, and Trap models. They were not called Grades.
The 20 gauge 28" gun was dropped in 1971 and was available only in the three gauge Skeet Set after that time through 1977. The 26 1/2, 3" gun was dropped after 1977. They still all looked the same.
Now, in 1976, the 20 Gauge Pigeon Grade Skeet with 27" barrels was added. So in 1976 and 1977 there were two grades, if you will, the Standard(Field) Skeet Gun with 3", 26 1/2 " barrels and the Pigeon Grade Skeet Gun with 2 3/4", 27" barrels. The Standard Skeet Set was dropped in 1977 and the Pigeon Grade Skeet Set with 2 3/4", 28"was added in 1978.
It stayed like that until 1982 when the Pigeon Grade Skeet was dropped and the Grand European (20 gauge, 2 3/4", 27" barrels) and the Diamond Grade(20 gauge, 2 3/4", 27 1/2" barrels) were introduced. The Grand European Skeet was dropped in 1986 and the Diamond Grade remained until the end of production in 1988.
