Guidance Please

Question
QUESTION: I am a 60 yr old male, in Phoenix, AZ USA area.  I am on disability due to back problems and MS (multiple Sclerosis). Thank God I am not in wheel chair yet. I just completed a CCW class a couple of weeks ago. I used a friend of mine's Glock 19.
I currently own a Colt 38 cal Police Special. This gun is in very good condition. It was given to me by my father before he passed away. It had been the gun of the chief of police in the small town in Kansas where we grew up. I have some arthritis in my wrists and feel a semi-auto would be better for me than a revolver.
I am giving you all this information in hopes that you could give me some guidance. I want to get a gun that I can carry,  with my disability I would feel better with some protection. I need to find a buyer for the Colt prior to buying a new gun as I am retired and on a fixed income and don't have a ton of money to blow... Ha Ha I like the Glock.. I used a Glock 19 for the CCW from a friend. I have been looking at the Glock 26 as it looks to be a better concealment gun. I read an on line blog which was very complimentary of the 26 but did comment on the recoil.
Using the probably worthless information I gave you, can you give me some guidance on what gun to carry, where to get the best price, and possibly a suggestion on how to sell my Colt.... Thank You  God Bless You

ANSWER: Sir,

The Glock 19 is an excellent choice, for a number of reasons.  Not only is it easy to use as is, but if your disability makes the trigger difficult to manipulate, you can have a 3.5# trigger installed (but I would only do this if you could somehow document that the stock 5# trigger was too heavy - otherwise, the 3.5# trigger is a civil liability).  If recoil became too much to manage, you could have a company like BarSto make you a barrel chambered for .380, get a lighter recoil spring (and striker spring - have gunsmith or certified armorer do this for you), and use the same gun and magazines.

The 26 is also an excellent gun.  It is a bit more concealable, but only a bit.  The trade-off is that because of the small grip it is harder to hold on to.  If you "fix" this by putting a magazine extension on the gun, is is barely more concealable than the G19.

I carry those comparable guns in .40 (G23 and G27 respectively).  My first choice is always the larger gun, the G27 usually only being carried in an ankle holster when I can't wear something that would conceal the G23 on my hip.

The information you provided is not worthless, but I would need to know a great deal more about your habits to make a better recommendation.  All things being equal, you will be able to hit better with the larger G19 than the G26.  On the other hand, Phoenix is hot, and it might be hard to conceal.  A G26 that you have with you always is better than the G19 that you left at home because it was too hot to wear anything to conceal it.

Why don't you go to a gun shop that rents guns for the range, and try a G26, and see how it works for you?

Re: buying and selling - that is really a local issue.  You could sell the Colt in a private sale, but I would only do it to a friend, or a friend of a friend (mostly because I don't like to invite people into my house to buy guns whom I don't know).

Selling it privately will always make you more money than selling it to a shop.  If the gun is worth say, $300, you can sell it privately for that.  But that's all the gun shop can sell it for too, which means they can give you about half that for it.

Re: purchasing.  This, of course, has to to be done through an FFL.  You can look on line at GunBroker, or pick up a copy of the Shotgun News.  These sources often have excellent prices, but two things to consider when comparing it to gunshop prices: 1) There will be shipping costs added to whatever the price is, and 2) the FFL will charge you a fee to use his license to do the transfer.  Depending on the shop, this transfer fee ranges from $20-50.  You want to factor all that into consideration before buying from a distant source.

E.g. A G19 may look to be $50 cheaper.  But the $50 transfer fee and $25 for overnight shipping (required in some places) actually makes it $25 more expensive.  Sometimes it is cheaper to get it at the shop.  And the benefit of a shop is that you don't buy a pig in a poke.  You get to see and handle the gun you are going to buy before you commit money to it.

That said, there's really very little anyone can do to mess up a Glock.  It either works or it doesn't.  If it works it works well.

I hope this is some help.

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QUESTION: I am not sure this is how to reply but here goes.. I would like to thank the expert who answered my question.  He or she was right on target.
Regarding addl info.. I am totally able to walk and be mobile.  I do have some artiritis in my wrists.  You are right it gets hot here in Phoenix.  About 10 months of the year I wear cargo jean shorts.  I am wondering if a inside the waistband or pocket holster might be an answer.  I will take your advise and go to a gun shop that rents guns and try the G26.  Thank You for your help.  I will let u know how it works out
Bob
ANSWER: Bob,

If you wear a shirt on the outside (T shirt or untucked Hawaiian shirt), and IWB holster would be perfect.  You'll find the gun is a bit fat for a pocket holster - I'd look at the mini Kahrs if you want to carry this way (more expensive than the Glock - the Glock is a better gun).

Your quickest holster will be something you wear on the hip - everything else is a compromise to not carrying a gun at all.

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QUESTION: It says this expert is currently not accepting ratings.

But... I must take this opportunity to say you have been very helpful and I appreciate your help.  As a disabled new shooter, I am looking for guidance in an area that I have no knowledge and didnt know who to ask.  
I not only want to buy the right equipment but I want to learn how to be a safe gunhandler as well as a good shooter.
I hope, wherever I buy my gun, that they will spend time teaching me how to disasemble the gun and properly maintain it.
Any suggestions you can give or resources that I can get, I would greatly appreciate it... Again Thank You
Bob

Answer
Bob,

Thank you for your kind words.

Any good gun shop will spend as much time as you need teaching you how to field strip and clean your gun.

The Glock is simplicity itself to disassemble and reassemble. Regarding maintenance (cleaning and lubrication), I would recommend the following:

1) I like the Tipton brand of cleaning products at MidwayUSA.com about the best.  These would include cleaning rod, jag, bronze brush, and patches.

2) For a bore solvent, I would recommend the new M-Pro 7 or Hoppes Elite.  These are both biodegradable and non-toxic, but work very well on handguns.

3) For a lubricant, I would recommend (in order) Militec 1, Wilson Ultimalube, or BreakFree CLP.

Tip:  There is no reason to use solvent on a Glock (or any other handgun) anywhere but in the bore. Firing residue that collects elsewhere can be easily scrubbed of with a stiff-bristled cheap toothbrush, Q-tips, and paper towels.

The Glock manual will show you proper lubrication points (and what point NOT to lubricate).  Lubricate VERY sparingly.  It is hard to lube the Glock too little - it is easy to lube it too much.