The 1862 Police is my favorite BP revolver. It's small, light and well balanced with a 5-1/2 or 6-1/2 inch barrel. I've not handled a shorter version.
I look at these as
the original j-frame™ and every time I promise myself one, one of those new-fangled cartridge guns catches my eye.
Few things could be as fun as spending an afternoon popping targets with one of these on your own backyard range.