You didn't say anything about double/single action preferences. A Smith & Wesson 908 fills the bill for me, single stack, slim, a great carry piece. The 908S is stainless. I bought my 908 almost new in the box for $375 OTD. The Smith 3913 is the 908 with ambi safeties and other detail changes. There's also the slightly smaller Chiefs Special that can be found for more money.
In the service/surplus category are SIG P-6s: good solid guns. They're getting hard to find at reasonable prices and mags are expensive. Walther P-1s might fill the bill, but they're awfully fat across the slide. It's a fun gun to shoot although some don't like the skinny barrel sticking out in the breeze. I love mine and magazines are plentiful. If you can find one, a Beretta 951 Brigadier is a sterling example of the breed. I like the crossbolt safety. The Helwan is a clone of the Beretta that has problems; they may shear locking lugs. I'd steer clear of the Egyptian copy unless the owner let me wring it out.
There are various discontinued models that may make good choices. Stars can be bargains. Don't let tales of older guns worry you. Modern Stars are well built and have plenty of life left in them. The BK, BKS, and BM are suitable for concealed carry. The BKS is very flat.
Another Spanish make is Astra. The A-75 looks like a small 1911, but comes in 9mm or .40 and is double action with cocked and locked option. These are all steel and shoot well. I've shot a loaner gun in electroless nickel that is handsome and it handles well. If I didn't have the 908 and if the Astra were a bit lighter, I'd own it. Right now, the stable is full of 9mms. Llamas can be soft and don't turn up often in my neck of the woods. Personally, I'd stay away from Llamas.
I oughta get a 17L or a 34 and have my 17 grip cut down to a 19 but that's a whole 'nother post.
