'Old' model revolvers, like the snub nose Colt Detective Special (which I still have) don't have a safety and can fire if the hammer falls on a round from a strong 'jar' - like falling to a hard surface. So her gun firing in her purse during a struggle makes perfect sense. IIRC the old S&W snub nose .38s were the same - no safety.
As such, the 'carry rule' was load five and keep the chamber under the hammer empty. And since I carried it in my front pant waistband, this is what I did (had to protect 'the boys' from possible harm).
you had boys in your pants?