Mr. Day,
Just like you stated these were not upland game guns. Instead they were made for ducks, geese, maybe a trap gun, etc. Certainly for pass shooting.
I have heard it said many times, and after handleing several of these larger frame guns of varying gauges, frame size does not always equate to overall gun weight.
IMHO: the larger frames allow the breach end of the gun to be of considerable thickness but allow a large amount of barrel taper. (look at a #3 frame 32 or 34" twelve some will have really swamped/ tapered barrels) Thus putting more weight between your hands instead of out at the muzzle ends.
There are certainly exceptions to everything. I for one really like these larger frame 12s and twenties.
I think I have read that there was a large push or interest in long heavy sub gauge guns in California and the west coast states in the twenties or something like that.
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