if you are not comfortable with a single stack 1911 pattern pistol, perhaps something with a tip up barrel like a Beretta M86 (.380) would be easier to handle... several older ladies I've worked with at the range can work the slide of my autoloaders to charge the pistols, but have considerable difficulty in carefully unloading a chambered round... the tip up barrel might be helpful... for a thin grip, single stack, but in double action/single action an older SW M39 might work...