I love our thread drifts! I looked back at what I posted to see if I mentioned concealed carry or pocket guns and I could not find that I did. I mentioned that I found if a handgun was bigger than a K frame Smith, a Colt SAA, or a 1911 I thought they were too big. I find the power level of the above guns to be adequate for what I would want a handgun for. I see where I did mention the 22/32 Kit gun and a 4" barrel Colt Woodsman, but I don't consider either a CCW weapon although my coat or jacket may cover them when I'm out and about.
The .45 acp double action revolver falls into that same power level as those other full caliber guns, and the 1938 Brazilian Smith I have is not onerous to carry, but then there is little or no extra metal involved in that gun other than a lanyard ring. No adjustable sights, no under lug, and a pencil barrel. Pretty practical in a good holster on a stout belt.
The handgun I have my biggest love/hate relationship with is my Glock 36. That is a very small, single stack .45 acp that hold 6 in the mag. Light, unobtrusive, dependable, and accurate enough out to 50 yards. But black plastic, ugly, boxy, and just Glockiferous. But the power level is again right in that useable/controllable/effective ball park.
Now if I were Elmer Keith guiding Elk hunters in the Rockies, or I was a salmon guide in Alaska, well that'd be a whole different story. If you need your hands free right up until the caca hits the fan, there would probably be something heavier in the holster. I have had my original SBH rebuilt by Ruger and a 4 5/8" barrel put on it and if I had to carry it all day I guess I could put up with it if it was needed. I find it accurate and almost pleasant with a Saeco 260 grain rnfp at 1,000 fps and I suppose that could be bumped up for emergency work to 1,200. I tried a friend's FA Premier 7 1/2" .454 and 1 round at full power was all I wanted to try. I wouldn't want to pack that on my hip even if the recoil wasn't ferocious and the muzzle blast deafening.