I have a Model 24-6 with a 3" barrel in nickle...it's a 2006 Lew Horton special, #167 of 250.

I know what you mean about nickle looking bigger...I have a 325 Night Guard, same frame size and a 1/2" shorter barrel, and the 24 looks about 5 times as big when I hold them side by side. Something about a black gun looks smaller to me, anyway.