Ruger SP-101, 357 magnum, 2.5" barrel. Total weight as is, loaded: 27 oz.
Weapon price, new in the mid-1990's: $333
Hogue grip: $35
Custom gunsmithing:
Hammer bobbed: $50
Smooth & Tune double action trigger job: $75 (and I do mean
damned smooth..............)
Tritium Night Front Sight (glows in the dark): $100
Total price: $593
The "tab" you see sticking out of the grip was a sheet of stainless steel cut, bent, and filed smooth by Your's Truly. It costed nothing (I got a piece of scrap sheet from a mechanical contractor). I cut and filed it to fit the side of the grip frame with the tab to stick out so it grabs the waistband of my pants. No holster needed. It can be tucked equally in crossdraw or strong side fashion. It is "mostly" concealed, even with no jacket. I can run, jump, crawl around in the woods, and she stays right there.
I have a S&W 629 in 44 magnum with a 4" barrel. I've had it for decades, primarily as an outdoors sidearm while fishing. I got real tired of it holstered up, tugging my pants down all the time, and weighing in (loaded) at over 50 oz.
I finally realized (actually, taught at Gunsite and Thunder Ranch) that a sidearm is what you carry on your person in order to fight your way back to your rifle, which is the proper tool to kill opponents with (especially if one is discussing bears). So, since I always have a rifle nearby (especially when hunting, fishing, camping, etc), I realized I didn't need that heavy hogleg catching brush, grabbing camp chairs, etc.
That's when I built "Baby"..........................
She's been my favorite carry gun ever since.....................until lately...............................(she still goes everywhere with me when in the outdoors)