3” 16 ga shells

[Researcher]

A friend, showed me an old box of paper hull 3-inch 16-gauge shells. The ammunition manufacturer was Peters. Can someone tell me which shot gun manufacturer produced a 3-inch chambered 16 gauge?

From the early days of factory loaded paper shells the 16-gauge was available in the "standard" 2 9/16-inch cases and longer 2 3/4-, 2 7/8- and 3-inch cases with more/better wadding. All of the major double gun manufacturers would chamber a gun for whatever length shell the customer requested. As I recall we have found nine Ansley H. Fox graded 16-gauges ordered chambered for 3-inch shells and one ordered for 2 7/8-inch shells. While the old ammunition company catalogs offer the 2 7/8-inch 16-gauge shell I've yet to see such a box.

ARROW 16-gauge, 3-inch, #4CH.jpg

IDEAL 16-gauge, 3-inch, #7Ch, DuPont Smokeless.jpg

TARGET 16-Gauge, 3-inch, #7Ch, Hercules Infallible 01.jpg

Even into the progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity era the manufacturers still offered the long shells --

HIGH VELOCITY 16-gauge, 3-inch, #7Ch, Blue Wing Teal.jpg