If you read some of the sporting writers from the 1800s, you'll find advocates for shooting with one eye closed. This more or less "aiming" method was quite popular, and it along with the more erect head position of early shooters resulted in the significant drops on those old shotguns.
But, back to the original question: Chuck, my CHE 20 gauge from 1918 has twin ivory beads that are just a smidge over 15 inches.
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"Doubtless the good Lord could have made a better game bird than bobwhite, and better country to hunt him in...but equally doubtless, he never did." -- Guy de la Valdene (from A Handful of Feathers )
"'I promise you,' he said, 'on my word of honor, I won't die on the opening of the bird season.'" -- Robert Ruark (from The Old Man and the Boy)
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