Larry;
Burard did not say that 2 3/4" shells did not exist prior to the star crimp.
You are reading something in which was not stated. What he stated was that "In England" the load which had previously been loaded in the nominal 2" roll crimp hull (most often actually 2 9/16" to 2 5/8") was put up in the longer hull when star crimped. This gave the loaded shell the same approximate length.
He makes no mention of the same practise being applied to other lengths of shells. The "Nominaly" 2" 12 gauge game gun was the Standard shotgun in England. All the different lengths of available shells & when they became a standard was not even being discussed other than their relation to a star crimp.
Burrard was certainly fully aware that 2 3/4" shells had been loaded for years in both England & the US. He in fact strongly warned against using "Standard" 2 3/4" American shells in Brit 2" guns, not because of the longer hull, but the heavier load.
