12 ga. Parker Chamber Length ?

[Austin W Hogan]

Prior to 1900, the buyer specified length to both gunmaker and shell provider, according to the Winchester and Parker catalogs of the time. What we would now call the "default" length was 2 5/8 inches for twelve gauge. Winchester also made 2 3/4 inch loads for the M1897, which they labeled "repeater" prior to 1900.
We have been able to find some 10 ga unfired shells of the era and they measure 2 7/8 inch; we have found only a few 12 ga unfired shells, they measure 2 9 /16 inch. We would like to obtain unfired 12 ga shells from several makers from the era to determine the original length.

Best, Austin