The grinding of mental gears required a second cup of coffee in seeking an answer to this question.:}
I think it is a Southern or rural thing. It is true that the bird gun of choice was a 16 gauge. Twelves were there as well but for mostly utilitarian shooting.
If we admit that not many years had past since America was settled, and settled mostly by Europeans, certain Old World thinking was the thinking of the day. At least in many nuances and actions of daily life. The choice of a shotgun was influenced by these factors. The sixteen was almost the gauge if choice in the continental countries and the light twelve gauge game gun was king in England. LIGHT is the key word here.
American makers did not produce many guns that were on a par (as to lightness) with the English.
A second factor is that "all" boys were turned out to shoot at a very early age. I was shooting well before I was ten years old and I know that my grandfather (born in 1874) did earlier. Most youth of these tender years did not have the physical stature to handle a full weight 12 gauge. If a father could not afford any but a single shot twelve gauge, then it had to do for all in the family. But, if the funds were there, a small gauge, therefore lighter gun, could be provided to the boys in the family. We sort of graduated up to a man's gun as were grew in height and weight. I don't remember ever seeing a youth stock or a cut down one in my early days.
Some practices such as ground swatting, shooting out of trees and baiting were acceptable and expected, for it was meat that the boys went out for. Like Lowell, only a couple of shell went with that 410. If shot, it was expected that they would be "traded" for birds or small animals. I know that these practices are, today, not acceptable by sportsmen, but those were different times and philosophies.
Seems to me that the prevailing thinking was that a boy should learn with a small gauge. This was even held by me, as I taught my son to shoot with a 410. A Grade B Stevens SxS we still own.
He learned well but, alas, shoots Winny 101 Pigeons today.
So, to sum up. I think it was a cultural thing.
Just thoughts from me to you as I finish that second cup and smile at the memories. Good ones !!:}
Best,
John
