Didn't think to mention that. If you (or the seller) just measured from the front of the frame to the end of the barrel, in all likelihood, its a standard 4 inch. Thing is, you mention the front sight has a black insert. This seems to me to be atypical for a 686 no dash with one of the shorter barrel lengths, however, it was a common modification since, on a stainless steel gun, a stainless ramp tends to disappear. Can you manage a picture of this gun?