So we "know" real howdahs were made with smaller, shorter, and or curved locks. I think we also "know" that some guns were made from cut down rifles and shotguns with larger locks. The larger locks make reaching the triggers and grip shape less than idea; but were they still used as Howdahs? I suspect at least some were pressed into service.

Once the "market" showed a need for purpose built Howdahs, the craft and quality improved. The current examples that remain certainly show less than hard use. One has to wonder if the most used (abused) guns were the shortened rifles and shotguns that have now been lost to history???