Ruger Alaskan

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Introduced in 2005, the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan is a short barrelled, big bore revolver. The firearm is distinguished by its 2 1/2" barrel, brushed stainless finish, and oversize Hogue Tamer grip designed to help reduce recoil. The Alaskan is offered in .454 Casull/.45 Colt, .480 Ruger (discontinued in 2007), and most recently the .44 Magnum/.44 Special. The .44 Magnum features a fluted cylinder while the .454 and .480 versions are unfluted.

The revolver is intended for use as a self-defense option against large, potentially dangerous animals such as grizzly bear, cougar, and wild boar. Some critics feel the Alaskan's barrel to be too short for such a large caliber revolver, while others believe its relatively compact size, coupled with big game stopping power, makes it a practical "pack gun" for hiking, fishing, or hunting trips in the wilderness.

The Alaskan is descended from the Super Redhawk line of double action magnum revolvers made by Sturm, Ruger beginning in 1987.