I'm in the same boat.
I have a 2000 production 657 that shoots great (Better than great!).
The problem, you ask?
It's a freakin' monster.
7+ inches of front-heavy N-frame.
I'd buy a 657 snubby, but they're waaaay out of my price range.
I haven't even found a 4 incher that I wanted (Well, I did last week, but SaxonPig beat me to it!).
There are a couple of great looking frankN-frames out there, esp. in .41 magnum.
Less than 4" stainless N-frame .41 magnum with a gold dot- v notch adjustable sight.
Better than defacing my 'model of 1989' 5 1/2" 627, I guess.
You can blame M58, Robert in Oregon, Phil in Seattle, and Tamara for doing this to me.
They have some reaaaaalllly nice pics of snubby or chopped 657s.
By the way, don't ever look at the pics in the thread that follows, they will make you cry.
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15957
I'm sorry I have to keep linking to it, but Robert's PC657 snubby is the prettiest thing I have
ever seen.