Here's a 1955 Model 25-2 I sent back to the Factory many moons ago and had the barrel shortened to 4 1/2"--why, I cannot remember! Keith Brown Ropers complete the package!
This is one I pretty much built when I was messing with such things--a Model 28-2 which I had bored to .45 Colt, cylinder reamed, and round-butted. It sports a 3 3/4" barrel.
A Second Model .44 Special which may or may not have been a target model--which I believe was returned to the Factory for a later-model rear sight:
My Centennial Airweight which had a cracked frame--I returned it to the Factory and they installed a steel frame replacement, same serial number, and the barrel still says "Airweight"!