Fair question- I was looking for an Alaskan, but this happened to be in stock at the gun shop near my house, it ended up being a little bit of an impulse buy. It has a slightly longer barrel than the Alaskan, rounded butt instead of square and it's based on the Redhawk, rather than the super redhawk platform. I think it's a very similar revolver? They weigh about the same as well.