[AGE]

Roadkill,

I agree with you, the Luger is neeeat and finely engineered, but far from the best combat weapon. One problem is the AWKWARD safety and the hard to grab toggle. If the Luger is carried with a loaded chamber, cocked and locked, you have to rely on a 100 year old safety to keep it from firing and you have to disengage the AWKWARD safety to fire it. If it is carried with chamber empty you have to work the toggle (maybe in a hurry) to fire it. An 1873 Colt single action is faster than a Luger for the first shot.

The 1911 has a much more effective cartridge and can be carried with chamber empty (the slide is pretty easy to rack) or loaded (cocked and locked). The safety is easy to release. Actually, for exposed military carry, I would prefer a 14 shot Para Ord. P-14. (It's a big big gun, but what a weapon.)

The double action 40s are great defense guns, but a little big for carry. Many small single stack double action 9mms (that are reliable with hollow points) probably make the best concealed weapons.