Colt Detective Special, with a $75 3" bbl.
I put a 3 inch barrel on a 1978 Detective Special, with a trigger job, and it is probably my favorite D frame Colt. The barrel was $75. The extra 1/2" actually does make a little difference over the 2 5/8" barrel, with a little better velocity from .38 Special rounds. The trigger is fabulous, but most Colt D and I frames had really nice triggers, anyway. I did some work on all my D Frame triggers, but it's doesn't take a lot of work with a Colt. I'd love to find a Boa with a 3 inch bbl someday, but the prices are getting out of my meager budget's ability to buy one, and does that tiny bit of vented rib make than much difference? Probably not. I'd still love to have one! Ruger makes some darn nice 3" SP101s too, and Rugers may not have the finish or prestige a Colt does, but they are tough, rugged, reliable guns. Smith & Wesson also makes some super nice wheel guns in 3" size, and again the vintage Smith is probably a bit more robust than the Colt. The more modern S&W stuff with the Hillary holes, meh! I have bought a few J & K frames at auctions, where the locks became engaged, and that was the only reason those guns were "jammed". Take that garbage out, and the guns work again. Imagine that.