If this were my sister or a female relative (or even a male for that matter) I'd _strongly_ suggest an NRA or state certified CCW class, first and foremost.
Hell I'd even go so far as to early Christmas gift the cost and/or attend with them them and as in my own case I've done as much twice in a years time already (VA & MA) I'd tell the teacher as much ahead of time and see if he/she'd comp me a half price discount or allow me to sit in with no certificate recieved at the end.
Anyway get the friend in to a CCW class first before buying anything as she must understand the law in addition to common & street sense, all of whihc willbe covered in class in whole or part.
Next I'd take her to the range.
Picking and choosing a firearm for someone is like selecting underwear or a bra for another. One size might fit all but it doesn't always feel same person to person.
Take her to a range with you and rent a wide range of guns in various sizes, calibers and action types. Let her tell you what she likes or dislikes be it a revlover, SA, DA .380, 9MM or .45 Auto.
Along with all of the above I'd suggest they rent or maybe I might even gift them a copy of this book;
The Concealed Handgun Manual : How to Choose, Carry, and Shoot a Gun in Self Defense (Concealed Handgun Manual: How to Choose, Carry, & Shoot a Gun in Self Defense)
By Chris Bird
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/09...f=pd_bbs_1/102-2122270-7860136?_encoding=UTF8
A person needs to understand the dynamics of the concept they might be thinking about stepping into. Operating on just fear alone is not enough and possibly hazzardous to herself. Help her understand that aside from and in addition to any basic fear she might have toward her job or whatever that there are a very many other very valid reasons for an individual to personally and actively take their own well being and by association safety in to their own hands be it offensively or defensively.
Just having a fear of the dark and things that go boo from behind corners is not the end of the road although it is very many folks beginning.
Lastly the idea of her carryign in a purse or handbag is fubar.
A CCW class will review and explain to her why this is.
Wolves will go for her bag first thing thinking there is swag inside. So it's ripped out of her hands, then what? Now she's fucked.
Just like a man she should holsetr up and carry on her immediate person and this can be done by women just as discretely as a man. One just requires some effort and planning in doing so just as a man would. There are a ton of wepaon retention systems out there to address most any man or womans carry needs toward most any ocassion aside from posing in the nude. And even then prisoners have been known to be inventive to that end...
To join in with the rest though I'm going to second the suggestion by MndFusion of the 638.
That IMHO is the cats meow not just for a woman but anyone (the 642 is a medium frame version of same for folks with larger hands). The exposed hammer 'Chiefs Special' version has been around since IIRC the 40's and is famous for ebing what it is, a concealed carry weapon of defense. It gets the job done and as others have described revolvers they are simple as hell and it's nothing but point and shoot no sights required.
Well anyway thats all I've got.
$0.02 MSRP
- Janq