Argentine double-barrel smoothbore pistols?

Small issue bugging the back of my brain: I once read somewhere that the Argentine gauchos used to favor small, double-barreled smootbore pistols. IIRC, they took modern cased ammo, so it's not a black powder issue.

I just can't recall what the pistols were called. I'm also rather mystified as to their purpose. Were they just that much cheaper than cartridge revolvers? Did Argentine gauchos only need two rounds out on the pampas?

Just one of those odd firearms trivia items I can't quite grasp. Thanks for any tips, -MV

Yep,l those Cobray SxS long-derringers seem the closest thing that we have in the U.S. these days.

I am still curious about the Argentine ones these days. There's a name for the pistols, on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't quite grasp it.

I'm still curious why the pistols would be smoothbored. IIRC, they were in cartridges like .38 Long Colt and such, so firing shot wouldn't have been an issue. Were they smoothbore just to save the trouble of rifling a short-range weapon?

It'll keep bugging me until I find out what those dang things are called...

Kukri: the gun appears to be a Cobray derringer. Not sure if they have a web presence, but they always run ads in Shotgun News.

They sell a variety of such derringers. The most interesting variant is a double-barreled .410 with 18" barrels and a folding stock. Not sure on the quality. They tend to be very, very affordable.