Cominolli Safety
Hopefully this won't start a firestorm, as I know many disagree.
However,
IF you want a
sub-compact gun
with a manual safety, I have yet to find anything better than a Glock 26/27 with a Cominolli external safety installed. See
http://www.cominolli.com/ourproducts.html
People often say: there are plenty of guns with manual safeties out there... I looked for a long time, it's not true in the subcompact world! HK USPc is huge by comparison. Best comparable I could find is a CZ 2075 RAMI, which is about the same size, and can be carried hammer back with safety on (cocked and locked), OR DA first shot. It can't be carried hammer down, safety on. The other option is a 1911-style gun, maybe an EMP... Still cocked and locked.
Beretta is coming out with a manual safety subcompact based on the PX4 Storm. Still bigger than a 26/27, but not by too much. For me this one was out because the safety works the opposite of the way I've trained for way too long. Safety "down" de-cocks the gun and puts on the safety, "up" is ready to fire. Most safeties are "down" to fire. If you don't care about this, I'll wager it will be a great gun.
I think as a defensive weapon, a Glock is hard to beat - tough, reliable, shoots well. Whether or not you want an external safety is a purely personal decision, but if you do, I still think Glocks rule the subcompact market with the 26/27 w/Cominolli.
Good luck, and be safe.
FranklyTodd
ps: my other carry gun is a Smith M&P340 .357. No hammer to worry about, and no safety. However the trigger is a LOOOOONNNNGGG (but smooth) 10lb pull, so I feel perfectly safe carrying it. That's another option. My Glock 26/27 I'm carrying w/chamber empty until I get the safety installed (SHOORRRRT 5.5LB pull).