Finally, a post I can actually respond to! Call it "Barrel Envy" or whatever, but I have always loved the 8 3/8" Smiths. I'm a big guy with big hands and they just feel "right" to me. They also look cool. I have the following, all with 8 3/8" tubes:
16-4
617
25-5
27-2 Nickel
29-2 Blue
29-2 Nickel
629
686
57 Blue
57 Nickle

I love these things. Thanks for the thread.
paperboy98