Chuck H brings up a good point. Late 1800 and early 1900 guns made for competition shooters were very modern in dimensions and bulk. Some early Parker guns made for company shooters had very thick combs and high dimensions. In 1887, company shooter W.S. Perry ordered a C Grade Bernard ten, 11 pounds, 14 3/8" with drop of 1 1/4" X 2". C.F. Wheal, another company shooter, ordered an identical but B Grade Damascus gun 14 1/4" with drop of 1 5/8" X 2". Annie Oakley ordered guns from Parker Brothers, usually close to her Lancaster measured dimensions of about 1 1/4" X 1 7/8" to 2" of drop. Gun makers never considered field shooters ordering or buying hunting guns to know much about shooting. Short stocks with three or more inches of drop at the heel were just fine for standard guns. Why? Who knows.
