38 Special, and there were numerous variants: the Police Service-Six Speed-Six and variations with a square butt and round butt, respectively. The barrel was four inches long, and it was chambered in. In production in 1971 and generally available by 1972, the revolver was offered in blue steel. Ruger designed this midsize revolver with an investment-cast frame to provide a strong and reliable but relatively lightweight service handgun at 34 ounces. The price was right-about half the cost of a new Colt Trooper and considerably less than a Smith & Wesson Combat Magnum. Ruger’s double-action revolvers were competing squarely against Smith & Wesson and Colt brands. It seems strange to say, but my grandfather was leery of the relatively new Ruger brand. Almost 50 years ago I was ready to obtain my first.