Is the little one a North American Arms Co. .22?
If so my aunt used to carry one of those in her purse when she had to go out and have a look at her company's jobsights in bad neighborhoods.
Reliable as an oak tree and a great weapon for a woman with small hands. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif
A good all around nightstand handgun is a .357 magnum revolver with a 4"-5" barrel. The Smith and Wesson 686 and Ruger SP-101 are some models to check out.
Along the same thought-train but considerably older is what I keep next to the bed ~ an oldschool Ruger Security Six, 4" barrel, stuffed full of Hydro Shoks. Nice combo IMO. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif
Advantages are reliability and decent power. It can also be loaded with .38 specials for practice and/or reduced recoil.
If you want an auto, Smith and Wesson's new M&P series autos are getting some great reviews and sell new for reasonable prices. Glocks are also good pistols and easy to strip and maintain. I like the 9mm round in autos because it is an effective self defense round which is also very inexpensive allowing for more practice at the range.
My Ruger P97DC has shown thus far to be flawlessly reliable for what it is.
I can go to the range and shoot mag after mag after mag after mag and it hasn't jammed up the first time.
I'm pretty relentless about keeping my firearms clean, though - this is key for
any weapon regardless of make for those who do not know...