There seems to be a lot of love out there for three inch revolvers by Smith and Wesson. I have the love too. So why isn't Smith and Wesson making them? If you want a three incher, normally you have to scour shows and the internet to find one, and forget about a new one. Looking through the online catalog very few models come in 3 inch. I have a model 36 that's 3 inch and it's a fantastic J Frame. Why isn't S and W making these as there seems to be a demand?

S&W like other companies can sell more tupperware type autos so of course their concentrating on them.

IMHO it seems like for the most part only the purist/older types are buying revolvers in general. Also with S&W to get a new revolver without a lock you have to get a shrouded hammer type.

With the gun/ammo buying hysteria now going on most all small guns are selling well. That of course brings up the price.

Just keep looking at LGS or for sale sections of this and other gun forums.

Good Luck

__________________
14 S&W Revs none with locks!

The 3" 686 Plus was the first handgun I wanted to buy, but it took more than a year to find a new one for sale. When I finally found one, then all the local gun stores got them, almost simultaneously.
I'd guess that the factory runs intermittent batches of them, instead of continuous production. If you miss a production run, it seems to take more than a year before they appear again.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

__________________
Slava Ukraini!

Am I lucky or what? I just inherited this 624 Lew Horton yesterday.

Attached Images

	image (4).jpg (102.8 KB, 249 views)
	image (3).jpg (110.6 KB, 236 views)

I did the same and finally gave up and bought a 2.5". About two months later, three inches were in every gun shop in my area, but I already spent the money. Now I don't see them at all.

I seem to prefer approximately the same "aspect ratio" (ratio of the barrel length to the linear size of the frame) in all my guns. That ends up meaning that I like 3" barrels in a J-Frame (like my Model 60 .357), and 4" barrels in my L-Frames (Model 686 .357 and Model 69 .44mag), and 5" barrels in my N-Frame (Model 629 Classic .44mag). If I were going to get an X500, I'd want a barrel of around 6" (but they no longer make that). If any of those guns were shown by itself in a photo without any scale reference, they would all look very similar.

An exception is the Model 360sc snubby that I carry for my BUG, in my right front pocket ... no longer barrel will fit.

LOL, that sounds very familiar. While searching, I first got the next closest thing I could find, a 4" 686 Plus, but still wanted the 3". Then hubby got me the 2 1/2" 686 Plus for Christmas, but still wanted the 3".
Finally found the 3", and it really was Goldilocks "Just Right" for me.

What model were you looking for in a 3"? They still make 3" in the 60, 60 Pro, 617 Kit gun, 19 Carry Comp, 686, 686 Plus, 629, 586 L-Comp, 63. And though the 69 and 66 are only 2.75" they have full length ejector rods now which was always one of the main reasons to go to a 3".

I have a 3" 64 arriving, hopefully, on Tuesday. Can't wait, to me it's the perfect length barrel for a K frame.

There is a current 2.75" model 66 and model 69, and a 3" ported model 19 Performance Center. All have the full length extractor rod and stronger barrels of the newer guns. Now all you have to do is find one.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Explain the "stronger barrels" of the new ones??????

__________________
S&W Accumulator

It's a fad. I have 2.5", 3", 4" and 6". Depends on what you want to do with it. There is no magic in a 3" barrel. If S&W stopped making 6" revolvers everyone would want one tomorrow and what were they thinking to deprive us of 6" barrels. The first new revolver I purchased was a 6" model 19 30 years ago and every time I shoot at 50 yds it puts a smile on my face. DRT.

__________________
That's just somebody talkin.

The barrels and yoke locking system of the current model 19/66 eliminated the flat bottom of the forcing cone, the area most often seen cracked in older guns, often after heavy use of light bullet .357s. I doubt anyone has puts thousands of full 125 gr rounds through a newer gun but I have not yet heard of or read of a barrel failure.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Specifically it's the forcing cone that's thicker & more robust.

On the L-frame 296/396/696s the breech extension/forcing cone didn't have a flatten bottom, like on the K-frames, but was pretty thin nonetheless.

The new 69s have a different crane lock & a noticeably thicker breech extension/forcing cone.

The end result is it's more robust & doesn't have a flat bottom.

.



.
.



.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

I imagine a world where S&W made revolvers in 3 and 5 inch barrels and folks wish for more 4 and 6 inch barrels.
personally I like the balance of a 3 inch full lugged barrel on J,K, and L framed guns. I have a 60-4 and 696.

You’re gonna like that 624.
Mine with its younger cousin, a 66-2.

Attached Images

18C4BD28-B3B4-4F6E-94C9-17D99F7F34EC.jpg (89.8 KB, 100 views)

I was lucky and got my 3" last September

Attached Images

16. S&W 686 Deluxe 3 inch.jpg (175.7 KB, 133 views)

I'd like to see another J frame besides the 60. I picked up the 640 and 640-1 when they first came out in 2 inch. They had 3 inch models back then, so I'd like to get one or both of those, but haven't seen one since the '90s.

Sometimes you just have to make what you want with a 3" barrel. 686-3 round butt, 7 shot.

Stu

Attached Images

686-3 3%22 RB.jpg (80.8 KB, 1172 views)

Of course if you just have to have adjustable sights then this one isn't for you...........but.........the Model 36-1, blue, 3" pinned, with PC grips..........well.....an all around very nice gun for carry and for me...balance.

Mine is a 1976...still puts em where they belong as long as I do my part!

Still around too, saw one advertised for $450 the other day (private sale), called to set up a meet...gone by the time I called. Listed one day and gone!

Attached Images

	S&W Mod 36-1 a.jpg (29.0 KB, 66 views)
	S&W Mod 36-1 b.jpg (32.5 KB, 51 views)

__________________
Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

Oh wow, that’s

__________________
Sure you did

That’s the ticket, love that cylinder on it.

__________________
Sure you did

It’s poor shoeless cousins.

__________________
Sure you did

Perfect size and balance.

Attached Images

20210125_091357_resized.jpg (144.3 KB, 101 views)

4" barrels are the perfect sweet spot in my book. That said, with S&W discontinuing the current Model 64, I'd love to see them bring it back into production as a RB 3" barrel concealed-carry piece.

Not everybody is in love with 3” barrels.
Maybe I am a contrarian. I have a 60-10 and the 3” tube works well with it.
Had a 3” 66-3 for a very short time. I did not shoot it any better than my 2.5” -1 and I have never had any issue ejecting 357 cases out of the -1. You just have to apply a judicious energy to the ejector. You cannot go tentative with it. The sweet spot is more a product of our imaginations than actual function.
I have a 696 no dash and the 3” barrel is OK on it. I wish Smith would have offered the 696 with a 4” barrel. I would own one instead of the 3” version.
No the 69 is not the same thing if you prefer pre-lock no MIM guns.
Some guys like red heads some like blondes.

I'd recommend a 2.5" Ruger Alaskan, in .454.

Somewhere, somebody in America carries one of these for EDC.

I have no idea, I wonder the same thing all the time. A 3" K frame is the best carry revolver ever made. Not too short that you might have problems extracting, not too long so that you can comfortably carry AIWB.

A 3" model 65, 64, or 13 has always and will always be sought after for very good reason.

3" Lew Horton Special "N" frames, (1) 3" full Lugged Mountain Back Packer (all in .44maggie/specials, and (3) "J" framed, 1 7/8th inch barreled .38Specials are the only Revolvers I own now and I'm super happy. They are the best of the best for what we do. They clear the holster so well and carry even better. All are all true combat revolvers that suit my purposes to a 10. For any needs longer than 100 yards I have an 18.5" barreled Ruger M44 semi-auto .44Maggie that hits extremely hard and is my dedicated deer rig. I love having M29-3's for their ammo commonality for the back-up to the M44 in the woods.YMMV...

I know S&W could sell a 3" RB K easily! But I'm sure polymer is much more profitable.
This thread needs another pic! This K is at my gunsmith getting a trigger/action job. Excited for its return!

Love the weight and feel of my 3" 60-15. Not too big not too small...

Attached Images

image.jpg (133.0 KB, 42 views)

S&W can only satisfy up to a point
all the crazies in the world such as
those who love 3-inch barreled
revolvers.

The company tries but it still must
satisfy the majority who are sane.

__________________
Ubi Est Mea

Pictures Uncle Ed. We want pictures!

What's wrong with "just" 2-3/4" ?

.



.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

Sound advice!!

__________________
Let's be careful out there

Bring back back 3 inch 10’s of old.

__________________
Sure you did

No such model as the 617 kit gun.

I just recently bought a model 63 3" barrel at my LGS(new)

I have absolutely no interest in 3" revolvers.

I either compete or carry.

For competing, 3" is often outlawed. Even if it wasn't there's a lot to like about a longer barrel.

For carry, I want as short a barrel as possible. I pocket carry a J-frame. Last thing I want is more length and weight.

To me 3" is no man's land - no value provided.

It's very similar to 7-round revolvers for my uses, and there's plenty who live their 7 rounders.

Yep! Couldn't agree more.

I tend to agree.

Though I'd frame it more about S&W forum culture. It's taken on a bit of a life of its own here. So much so that folks rave about a 3" and how much better it is than a 2.5", really? - yeah I know, full length ejection, meh.

I've shot tens of thousands of rounds in competition. I shoot rather well. I don't even notice a single difference in recoil, after the trigger is pulled, between a 4" and a 6".

I doubt folks really see a significant difference between a 3" and other similar options in just about any functional aspect.

Folks love them to love them. Which is fine.

My goal this year is to get a prescription for "shooting glasses" and practice with my 2 inchers until I can shoot them as well as my 3s and 4s. My current prescription just doesn't seem to pick up the front sight well enough on the short barrels. Maybe my lower scores are just from lack of practice but I'm really hoping a new prescription helps.

I think, at least for me, some of it is perception. I think they look cool but I don’t find them as useful as I thought I would. Honestly, I shoot 4 inchers considerably better and I shoot my 2.5 as well as I do the 3 inch barrels. Still, if I found a 3 inch Model 13 in my price range I wouldn’t hesitate.

__________________
Useless political propaganda

I'm not much of a shooter and I'm trying to get to where I can shoot a snub nose accurately from 15 yards. I'm pretty good with 4" barrels at 15 yds and my 3 inchers are helping me get better with a shorter site radius. Maybe once I master 15 yards with a snubbie I'll want longer barrels to get me out to the 25 yard line but for now my 3" revolvers have their place and are serving me well.

The only reason I may prefer a 3” over 2 or 2.5” is the three will have a full length ejector in the k and l frame. This nonger an issue with the new 19/66 2.75” and thus 2.75 is good enough for me.

S&W sells to other nations as well as the US. Many nations have a minimum length. Our northern neighbor proscribes a 4.2 length thus S&W makes a lot of 4.2 length revolvers. Building firearms is a business.

__________________
SWCA 3417 HF 642 NRA-TC

I like the 3” barrels pretty much. Really wish I had a 547 in that length (I have two 4” 547s).
Pictured left is my 13 and 65 and then the group of Js has two 36s (one round, one square butt) and a Jovino 60.

Attached Images

	78EB4A50-1F20-448A-BF57-FDF8FB6615E7.jpg (107.5 KB, 14 views)
	82474678-314E-481D-861E-44564E9CC407.jpg (75.5 KB, 12 views)

__________________
Si vis pacem, para bellum

Pls PM me if you ever want to sell one of your 547s!

I love 3" Smiths as well...here are two of my Model 657's with 3" barrels. Now I still need to get a 3" Model 13.

__________________
No good deed goes unpunished.

I would only ever part with one for an EVEN trade for the less rare 3” model.

__________________
Si vis pacem, para bellum