doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com LC Smith 20 ga on gunbroker

I was just browsing a while ago and stopped to look at this one:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=93174689
He says it is a 1920 model, but also says the ser # starts with an S. I thought the S denoted a Marlin era gun. Am I wrong, or has he made a mistake?
Thanks, Curtis

If the serial number's prefix begins with an "S" than it is a Smith made from 1945-1950, when Marlin owned the company, and it was then called the L.C. Smith Gun Company.

They started over with their serial numbers and thus many people make the mistake of listing the gun as an earlier gun than it is. The "S" prefix totally changes things as it pertains to the year of manufacture.

and---- it changes things as far as value is concerned !

Jason is right, except that the Marlin Firearms Co was still producing unfinished Hunter Arms guns in 1945. They started putting the prefix S on in 1946 and the first was was for the president of the company Frank Kenna serial no FW S1 a Crown Grade. Also begining in 1946 no more Regular frame only Feather weights.
It was still a quality made gun, but nothing is or was as nice as the Syracuse made guns, not any maker.
Gun in question is from 1948.

Thanks all. I thought I was right, but it wouldn't have been the first time if I would have been wrong.