Over boring seems to have been tried by many different gun makers over time.
Uncle Bob Edwards, Field & Stream, July 1907.jpeg
Most of the Ithaca Guns made before 1934 that I've run a bore mic in were over bored. Seems from my limited observations that about the time Ithaca dropped the cocking indicators, their bores fell into spec.
Every trap shooter knows you can't get that Nth target without a Stan Baker "Big Bore" barrel on your Ljutic!!