The only S&W 3" revolvers I have ever seen in person are model 36s and 60s, which are fine guns, but a bit hard to handle with magnums IMO unless you put big rubber grips on them.
I wound up going the GP100 route also (blued one, same as hitman77's) and am very happy with that gun. I'm not a big guy at 5'8" and 185lbs, but I don't find it any more difficult to carry than a 4" K-frame (same weight give or take a couple of ounces, but the shorter barrel makes it a little more comfortable to tote around). I can even carry it crossdraw if I want to, which for some strange reason works well for me when my back is giving me trouble. It is very easy to shoot .357s with, and surprisingly accurate. So if you can't find a 3" S&W you like, the GP100 might be a good alternative, or you could look for a 686 with a 3" barrel. YMMV.

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