Hi. A few years ago, I fired a S&W single shot pistol. As I recall, it was a .38, with a set trigger and about a 7 inch barrel. The owner told me it was in his family since about 1920. The profile of the pistol looked like a revolver, but it was loaded by swinging out the chamber. Can anyone tell me more about this target gun? Thanks for any help.

Are you completely sure it was a S&W?? Their Single Shots were a top break, not a swing out. (And there were interchangeable barrels in .22, .32 & .38)
Now the Colt Camp Perry used a swing out block for loading, but I think it only came in .22LR.

Or possibly, and aftermarket made-up piece.?

__________________
Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Definitely not a factory Smith & Wesson. Smith never made a set trigger, nor did Colt, Stevens or Frank Wesson on any of their handguns. The Colt Camp Perry resembles a revolver, but the combined cylinder/barrel swings out as a unit, and it was only made in 22. Same for the Savage pistol. The Ruger Hawkeye was in .256 caliber and made much later. Set triggers were common on European pistols, rarely in more or less 38 caliber, but they didn't resemble revolvers. You may have had one of the Smith & Wesson revolvers that were later converted to single shot. Any chance of tracking it down and reporting back?

Bob