Recommendations for 9mm Pocket Pistol DA/SA

What the Hell, Let's Buy Two

After a fruitless search for exactly what I wanted I ended up buying TWO pistols though, to be honest, one was a target of opportunity.

I ended up buying a Kimber Micro 9 Stainless and explicitly gave up the DA first shot capability and accepted the requirement to carry cocked and locked close to my groin. This was a pistol I just kept coming back to time after time. I was actually rather torn between the stainless model and the Raptor (+$200) because the Raptor was an absolute work of art. However I have a suspicion of uncontrolled luminescence after an unfortunate incident at Ranger School 40 years ago and ended up with the stainless. I decided against the two-tone after suspecting and confirming through research that its finish might suffer with long-term holstering/unholstering.

During my search I also found a S&W 3913 for $300 out the door and it was too good a deal to pass up. It was a police department turn-in after a departmental upgrade. I actually don't really know what I will do with this pistol since it isn't all that much smaller than my Kimber 4" Pro Carry but the price was right.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this research.
 
My Kimber Solo comes close, but it's striker fired. If you're into chasing unicorns, you can try to find one of the S&W 39 ASP conversions from the '70s. If you're willing to spend a small fortune, you can even buy one, or have a custom gunsmith make one up for you.

P.S, I had a Detonics Pocket 9, because I couldn't afford/find an ASP. Hard pass on the Pocket 9. The Star M43 was way better, but it's a SA.
 
Glad you found a compromise that suited you. I'm late to the discussion but Sig's P290 or P290RS might have tempted you since you regularly carry a M60 with a 3" tube (me too & with adj. sights as is yours). The P290's are DOA however, but surprise...that long DA pull is very similar to the Smith M60. The drawback is that the Sig is nearly as heavy...better to carry it in an OWB holster. Rod
 
You're doing yourself a great disservice by not even considering the P938. I carry one in my pocket almost every day and it is a great shooter.
 
You're doing yourself a great disservice by not even considering the P938. I carry one in my pocket almost every day and it is a great shooter.
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I actually looked long and hard at the P938. Two factors steered me to the Kimber. First, I own two Kimber .45 1911s and have been very happy with them.

The second reason is that I knew I was going to want a total of five additional magazines*. The Kimber factory mags were less expensive than the Sigs.

* I keep three mags 'active' for my carry semi auto pistols. In this case I now have two sets containing one 6 round flush mag and 2 extended 7 round mags. I unload the active set about every six weeks and swap them.

BTW: The extended mags change the grip on the Kimber significantly.
 
So, based on the quote below, you are looking for something that is pocketable in the same way a J-frame is pocketable. That is a lot of small 9mms, but not many that meet all your criteria, and no current production. The best match, as many have said, is the old S&W CS9 (significantly smaller than the 3913). If you can give up an "essential" without adding a "deal breaker" feature, the DAO but hammer fired SIG P290RS is probably your best bet in current production.

am going to investigate the S&W 3913 for size. I have a 6906 and the exterior appearance is quite similar. Plus the 3913 is the same length as my PPKS but an inch taller which means bigger pockets.

Let me clarify why I am looking for this particular configuration and also address those who suggested modifying my carry method.

I live in Florida where temps can be really hot and humid. I am a university professor and am able to work from home about half the time but when I travel to campus I am in dressier clothes with slacks or a suit. I can have my firearm on campus but only locked in my car. The issue for me is the transition maneuver if I want to make a stop between campus and home. In the absence of a pistol meeting my original requirements my options are, 1) carry my .380 PPKS in my pocket, 2) carry my Kimber 4" 1911 in either of three holsters but that requires putting on a jacket, or 3) going unarmed.

Now, if you are in Florida in most months of the year and somebody is stopping in the parking lot to fumble around their belt and then put on a jacket in 90 degree weather it is screaming "gun". And the dorkiness factor gets pretty high when you're wandering through Home Depot in a suit with jacket. Shirt and tie says this guy's stopping by on the way home from work. Jacket says something else. So this particular and frequent situation would benefit a LOT from something that I can unobtrusively slip into my pocket while getting out of my car.

I am fully equipped for any other kind of carry situation I may be in. When not going to campus I am in shorts and Cabellas has some great ones that take my S&W Model 60 3" barrel with adjustable sights or the PPKS. I have shoulder holsters for everything, IWB holsters, etc. My exercise program anymore is a 2 mile round trip walk to Starbucks (S&W Mod 60 5" barrel in a shoulder holster).

I am a competent shot with any of my handguns and I have been shot at (Iraq) and kept my cool. But I would like more confidence that it won't take three or more hits to put someone on the ground. I like my two S&W revolvers but neither fits in slacks pockets and I would really like more than 5 shots before reloading.

I am 62 now and grew up with 1911s in the Army and transitioned to the current issue 9mm. I want to be able to see the state of my firearm and I really want the light trigger of a semi auto after it is cocked and ready to go.
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It may be because I have only been awake for about 15 minutes, but I'm not sure if I'm reading that you are looking for something you can take off and put on quite unobtrusively or if you are looking for something you can carry against your employer's rules with minimum chances of being seen and risking your job. If the first, how about a tuckable IWB holster (anything Glock 26 size and smaller will pretty much disappear), if the second, why not your regular carry and an easy on/off paddle holster for those days you are heading in to work.

If you want something you can drop in a pocket for temporary and short term need (ie the pocketable 9mms), you don't want a striker fired auto, and you are comfortable with your 3" snub, why not get a 2" snub since that is pretty much what it is best at?
 
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