I am probably going to regret wading in here, but I will take a chance at being told by naysayers that I am full of Crap.
That said I will only print here what I have PERSONAL first hand knowledge of.
Smallbore "Pigeon Guns" did exist, and were seen in limited use in Europe by a small number of competitors , usually women and children.
I have handled several , but will describe two that I am familiar with offhand, one I shot a good bit at game , and one I handled in the presence of its then current owner.
The first was one of only 2 O/U guns in the large collection of fine guns owned by a now deceased American flyer shooter with extensive experience on both sides of the Atlantic. He bought it much for its novelty.
A 20 bore HAMMER O/U (not a misprint) A solid rib 28" tightly choked 6 3/4 to 7 lb. gun with Belgian proofs. Half pistol grip and fairly high dimensions. It bore the name of J.Bartel a franco-belge maker of the period.
I shot the gun a dozen times or so in the field. It was commissioned by the original owner as a gun for his children.
The second was owned and shot for years by one of the Italian women luminaries of the sport. The then owner of the gun showed it to me in the armory at the old club in Bologna in the early 1980's It was a Holland Royal Pigeon gun in 16 gauge and had pigeon gun characteristics that one would find common on a SxS gun used in the European rings of the time, but was a 16 bore.
I am working from an old memory but I believe it was the weapon of choice of Contessa Lea della Gheradesca. If I am mistaken about the shooter , then I believe it may have been Mimma Schreiber, an equally famous women's competitor of the period.
I am going to look at some old pictures if time permits to confirm.
Since Cyril's name came up in this thread, I believe he will recall seeing the Bartel O/U in my possession many years ago.
Delighted in your recovery , Stan.
