What Year Did Shotgun Manufacturers Introduce The 3" Chamber?

[beestpassion2]

Hello! I have been trying to find this out for HOURS now, scouring the internet for SOME reference to when the manufacture of shotguns began to feature 3" chambers. Article after article refers to the "model so-and-so being originally chambered for 2 3/4 inch shells and LATER FOR THE 3 INCH SHELLS". Well....WHEN is "LATER"?....I cannot believe for the life of me just how ELUSIVE this information IS. Not even the American Arms Makers have this information available. I've tried Europe as well, to no avail. Does ANYONE have ANY idea?
Thank you very much for help in this informational scavenger hunt!
Donna
When I was a child, there was no such thing to be found as a 3" chambered shotgun. But now there IS.
The oldest shotguns I'd ever seen were ALL chambered for 2 3/4" ammunition. Suddenly ALL the magazine adverts were blasting the new "WE ARE NOW MAKING 3" CHAMBERED SHOTGUNS!"....
It was THE biggest feature of a shotgun in ANY advertisement you could find anywhere, regardless of who made the shotgun. In the beginning there were NONE, but then suddenly EVERYONE was advertising their new 3" chambered 12 gauges. WHEN??

 

[SidtheMohel]

It would have been in the 1870s, when the 12 gauge rimmed shotgun shell was intended for use with black powder.

As black powder fell out of favor, the shortened 2 3/4" shell became the standard. It wasn't until environmental regulations banning the use of lead shot over water became commonplace that the 3" shell firing steel or bismuth shot regained in popularity.