Interesting reading. The Riverton Handicap March 8, 1895
http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportingLife/1895/VOL_24_NO_25/SL2425015.pdf
"All the guns were 12 gauge, and it was noticeable that not a full pistol-grip stock was among the number, and most of them
were the straight-grip "pigeon gun" model nine being of this description, and six of the half-grip style."