In 1990, S&W also shipped the Model 17 featuring a 4", 6" or 8 3/8" full under lug barrel. The "under lug" was a solid, blued steel, circular rod, cast as part of the barrel, and running under the barrel from the front of the cylinder yoke to the muzzle's end.. The under lug not only enclosed the ejector rod, it also added considerable weight to the gun itself. The under lug model shipped with a special round butt wood grip that featured inletted finger grooves. The 4" Model 17 Under Lug is infrequently seen and quite possibly manufactured as an afterthought using factory shortened 6" or 8 3/8" under lug barrels.