In my early years as a LEO firearms instructor, I had an older officer approach me with his pre 29 that was as filthy as a dirt road. As I gave him a class on handgun maintenance, I noticed that this revolver had a 5" bbl. I looked very closely and it did not appear to be cut. I asked him where he got the revolver and he told me he ordered it directly from S&W with the 5'" bbl in about 1958 and shipped to him at the PD. I told him he needed to get a letter on it and told me" I don't need no stinkin letter". I tried to talk him into a trade with no luck.