I can recommend the Kimber Ultra II for light weight, accuracy, and reliability. If not a 1911 style fan, I'd go with the Kahr P45. I go back and forth since both work in the same holsters and weigh less than 30 oz's loaded. The Kimber has the best trigger out there. On the Kahr there is no safety other than the trigger pull itself.

Take a look at the Officer's Model of the 1911.  It's a 3.5" barrel and very concealable.  It is tried and true and goes bang every time (kept in good condition, of course) and the MoA is clear and understandable and has been tested by time.  It's 6+1, but if you can't do it in that, carry a 7 or 9-shot revolver.

I've had good luck carrying both the Para WartHog and/or the Colt Night Defender. Both are easy to conceal, reliable and very accurate; highly recommended.

old codger wrote on Dec 24^th, 2010 at 12:02am:

Hmmm... Lessee...
Well, there's the Colt Single Action and all of its clones, and the basic S&W revolver design. There's the basic Mauser rifle and all of its clones. And how 'bout that Model 94 Winchester?
That's enough to refute the challenge, but I'm sure that there's more.
(Oh—sorry—I'm wrong. Those designs are much older than a mere 100 years.)

old codger wrote on Dec 24^th, 2010 at 12:02am:

Whomever wrote that is ignorant of the design, has never been taught to strip one, and ought to learn before speaking again on the subject.
The M1911 comes completely apart...yes, completely...without any tool but the other parts of the gun.
I'm not writing about mere field stripping. I mean complete disassembly, excepting only the staked-on front sight, ejector, and plunger tube, and the mallet-driven rear sight.

old codger wrote on Dec 24^th, 2010 at 12:02am:

I am still using WW2-vintage magazines in mine that have been in constant use for more than 30 years. I frequently reload damaged cases and, since the cartridge is low-pressure, find that they are both safe and fully functional.
Once again, the author of these comments is speaking or writing from a point of no practical experience.

old codger wrote on Dec 24^th, 2010 at 12:02am:

I need to know the criteria for making those statements. What makes it unsafe? Where does that "95%" figure come from?
I think that the author is inexperienced and foolish, and is speaking from conjecture rather than facts. Is the author somehow prejudiced against SA semi-autos? For what reason?

old codger wrote on Dec 24^th, 2010 at 12:02am:

If you use clean magazines, and keep your M1911 clean, there are no "slide-stop failures."
Further, that internal extractor works pretty well, in my lengthy experience. The modern trend to external extractors is more a matter of making the design easier to manufacture, than it is one of reliability or effectiveness.

The rest of the rant is just about as accurate as its first sections that I've just criticized, so I'll just stop here. It's unnecessary to go on, because it's a waste of time to argue with an ignorant fool.
Of course the M1911 isn't perfect. No mechanism is. But that's not a fit excuse for making silly, inflammatory, conjectural, and baldly untrue statements without the underlying real-life experience to back them up.
Further, it is not a fit excuse for calling people who choose to use a particular mechanism offensive names, for instance "fanboys who drank too much John M. Browning Kool-Aid," just because the author thinks that their choices are wrong. That's called the ad hominem argument, and it is normally used when the writer or speaker means only to "stir the pot," rather than to impart really meaningful, useful information.
Such is obviously the case here.

I've had a Ultra CDP II for about 2 years and like it.  It's easy to carry, reliable and accurate.  I have to get beyond self defense distances to see the difference of a 5" barrel over the 3" of the Ultra.

I have, and carry, different firearms depending on the situation.  I have the Kimber concealed carry unit, the Colt Officers model (both in .45), and a couple of Colt Mustangs.  Practice with both is important.  For daily carry, I find the Colt Officers model to be very comfortable.  Special occasions (warm weather attire) demand a bit more concealability and the .380 comes into play.  I believe that one must be prepared for different situations and that includes clothing and environment.  Along with that, the responsiblity to manage your weaponry - i.e. practice in draw with various clothing types and marksmanship.

Being a newbie to this forum but a 72 year old, well traveled individual and licensed CWP carrier in So. Carolina, I alternate between a S&W stainless 38 special snubbie and a Bersa Thunder 380 with a No. American Arms 22 mag in my pocket. I especially like the Bersa for it's reliability and accuracy. I find it's recoil very easy to handle and double-tap accuracy is exceptional.
As witnessed by my age, I've got thousands of rounds under the old belt and can put 'em where they count.  I subscribe to the 3-3-3 rule and hope it never comes to the test.
Good luck in your quest....take your time in decision making.

trlhrv wrote on Dec 4^th, 2010 at 8:06pm:

I have an Ultra Carry II which has been an excellent pistol.  The size and weight are similar to my EMP 40, both using the same holster.