Back in the day the 16 gauge was considered to be the "Queen of the Uplands" in the US because our 12 gauge guns tended to be quite heavy - in the 7-1/2 to 8-1/2lb range. Many considered them to be too heavy for typical Eastern upland work although that was not the opinion of the majority of Midwest pheasant hunters.

In the UK where the 12 bore guns being made in the early 1900's were relatively light a typical double weighed around 6lb 12oz and some were made weighing in at 6lb 4oz. 16 bores in the UK although used by several prominent people such as the Prince of Wales and Lord Walsingham were generally made for youths or ladies. Over there the 12 bore predominated then as it does now.