OK, these are my picks for the wheelguns and autos I would pick for my "fighting" handguns, not chosen for "bling" , style, price,ability to hit clay pigeons at 100 yards, or anything else, just no-frills, rugged reliable "chips are down" handguns of today and past eras.

The top pic represent the Model 10-K38-M&P and current types of Smith & Wesson .38 revolvers from 1900 to current production. Just quick handling, reliable wheelguns, trusted by servicemen and police for over 100 years. When I am carrying one of these, or even just handling one, I feel like I have a revolver that will allow me to be the equal of any situation, in any conditions. No target night sights, laser sights, or anything, but I know it will go bang every time I pull the trigger and hit what I'm aiming at no matter how dirty it gets, how cold or hot or dusty the conditions.

Also the Colt Police Positive,my close #2 choice, Colt may be taking a beating in public opinion lately and stopped making regular production wheelguns, but these are from an era when Colt's were one of the top choices in a rugged reliable revolver. This is a light, balanced accurate revolver, I feel it's a little less "beefy" than a Model 10 but I would trust it with my life.

For nostalgia I threw in the old Colt Navy .36, way obsolete by todays standards, but in it's day it was many people's first and only choice for a defensive sidearm. Slow to load, but with a fully charged cylinder, if for some odd reason this is the only gun I had I wouldn't feel underarmed, at least for 6 rounds anyway

The CZ-75, I can't recall the last time I had a jam with this gun, and I have well over 4,000+ rounds on it with some of the cheapest dirtiest 9mm around. Filthy with carbon from cheap Wolf and Blazer ammo, on a dusty pistol range after 500 rounds, it never once got "sluggish". With it's hammer block allowing hammer down carry on a loaded chamber, combined with DA action this is my "go to" auto pistol, even over my Glock.

CZ-82, one of the perfect carry pistols out there, and I would feel well armed with it as a main combat sidearm. 3-dot sights, relatively high capacity in a compact size, and adequately powered by hot 9x18 rounds it's a perfect carry gun. Hammer block safety, it lets you just draw and squeeze, no "cocked and locked" fumbling with a safety, racking a slide or thumb cocking. Straight blowback action, rugged and reliable.

The 1911A1, what else can I say? This gun speaks for itself.

Maybe an odd choice, but I feel the Rast-Gasser is just simple and reliable. The one on the left has been through some serious neglect and punishment by it's former owner(s) and still runs like a Swiss watch. The right one is in far better condition, and at 110 years old still locks up and times as well as anything new you can find today. 8 round cylinder and it can shoot .32 H&R mag perfectly safely........and as a plus at 5 yards the .32's start to tumble! Maybe not a powerhouse, but 8 rounds of tumbling .32 slugs will surely ruin an intruders day.