How much is it worth?

How much is the right tool for the right job worth?
That depends greatly on the tool and on the intended purpose.
Flathead screwdriver, 79 cents, high end faceting machine several thousand; it really depends on the job at hand.

For CCW the sky is really the limit. You are only limited by your budget and your willingness to spend. Do I think you should spend $1500.00 on the newest whizz-bang 1911 commander model with all the bells and whistles, sure, if that's what gets you to carry. Do I think you can get by with a lot less (like a third of that) and still be able to effectively defend yourself? Oh my yes.

There are, of course, many considerations that I've covered in earlier posts about size of weapon, caliber, etc but at the end of the day carrying anything is better than nothing if things go south in a hurry.

You can get a very nice Bersa .380 for less than $300.00. They are lightweight, easy to handle, easy to use, have good external safeties (if that's important to you), so on and so forth.

Then again, you can get a Kimber 1911 compact for $1,300. Well made, good heft, super strong caliber, great machines, just pricey in my opinion.

You can also get a used weapon too. Some people don't like to buy used guns and I can kind of see their point, you don't know what the previous owner did to it or how they maintained it. However, if you shop at a reputable store, they will have checked and double checked all the used firearms they bring in, so you should be good.

My personal choice is a Glock 19. New its 539.00 plus tax. Now that sounds like a high investment, but properly maintained it will outlast me in my lifetime. If I had kids I could, with no exageration, pass this machine down to them and so on and so forth, they are that well made. If I could find one used, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat. The problem is, you can't find them used...anywhere.

So do your homework, research, pick them up and handle them, really get the feel for what you're going to carry and then find the best price. Remember, its a tool, but its a tool that could save your life.