Short enough to be handy, I would think. He thought the nickel gave it more "presence" and had more of a "quietening" effect. He said if needed it would bring peace out of confusion.
I shot one in college that was cut down to about 12" and the butt had been cut off leaving only a pistol grip. That thing was dainjuss on both ends. The guy who had it carried in in a homemade leather scabbard he had fashioned and screwed to the inside of the driver door of his '69 Barracuda. He was pretty roughshod for college, even down he'ah. Had kind of a Mad Max persona.
