My Dad's primary duty gun for 39 years was a 6" Colt New Service in .357 magnum he bought new in 1939..... and shipped off to California for King adjustable sights and action job.

All told the finished Colt was still $5-10 less than a Reg Magnum ($62).

It was also his centerfire target pistol all the years he was on the Departments Pistol Team shooting "Master" (>640 out of 700)