If you're looking for an investment that would gain in value, at least on a collector's level, Colt and Smith & Wesson's wheel guns would be the better way to go. I think the romance of these wheel guns are a draw for many, as they each have a story that goes with them...whether it's a story of a long gone family member that was in law enforcement and carried the Colt Police Positive Special, or the businessman that carried the S&W Chief's Special.

As far as 1911's go, the older war models hold a pretty decent value...they can remain stock as a historic shooter, or easily be updated to today's standards and still be a great shooter.

Most firearms, and I really mean mainly the big names such as Colt and S&W, gain value slowly for awhile. They'll maintain their value, generally, until they are no longer made, and a newer model comes out...at that point, they slowly increase as the gun shops start running out of them, then they start to gain momentum.

With the current politics of gun control, the value has skyrocketed on many former military models. I didn't pay a penny over $80 for my Mosins, yet they are now going for $200-$250, depending on the gun show and movement in DC. The cost (not value) of guns such as the AK, Mosin, AR, and other military rifles have damn near doubled since December of last year. Buying one now as an investment would be insane...because the bubble will burst, and the market will be flooded with these once again, as long as DC backs off of the gun control legislation.

In the end, revolvers seem to hold value the best, at least as far as I can see.

Now, since you've mentioned a 1911, they are one of the most versatile handguns I've ever owned. Kimber is really nice...they make a kit that allows you to shoot .22, so a day at the range won't kill your wallet. I saw where you were concerned about the .45 being possibly too much caliber for you...not to worry, they make muzzles that force the recoil into something very manageable. If my 5', 110 pound 65 year old mother can shoot my Springfield 1911A1 without as much as a flinch, then anyone can do it.

If you're just looking for a self defense handgun that will hold it's value or increase in value, look at the S&W M&P line...price isn't bad, they're accurate, adjustable, customizable, and easy to carry. S&W makes them with high capacity magazines, as well as in a capacity that even New York can live with.

Since around October of last year, I've been picking up the dreaded and hated S&W Sigma handguns in .40 and 9mm. They were loved by those that owned them, and hated by those that like steel instead of plastic. The originals were an exact enough copy of Glock, that S&W lost a lawsuit over them. I generally don't pay a much over $200 for them (I have 2 that were $80 each), replace the springs in the trigger that past owners removed, thinking they were lessening the trigger pull, and selling them for $275-$325, depending on the number of magazines that came with it and the magazine capacity. Those that hate these, have never owned one...those that love them, own multiple versions of them. They are reliable, accurate once you get used to the DAO trigger, and fun to shoot. Their value has gone up because they accept higher capacity magazines, and many states are wanting to regulate those.

I know, I probably rambled a bit here, but I hope that some of the information helps you.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles