1. I would never leave a gun in my vehicle.
I've had my car/truck broken into numerous times over the years, including in daylight in a well lit public parking garage (city run), in my driveway (very nice neighborhood, never and house break-ins), and in an open parking lot in the middle of downtown San Francisco (actually my friends car, parked next to mine).
Cars are just not very secure.
2. Concealed carry is better than open carry in most situations, unless you live somewhere very very rural.
I open carry when I'm camping, or out in the desert. But in town it's just much better to be concealed. Your tactical choices are better in the event of a robbery or shooting, you are not an instant target for the creep. If you have the choice, I would conceal carry.
3. What do you want the new gun for, exactly? If you are going to open carry, one reason to do that is to carry a larger gun more comfortably. The 226 fits the bill.
These days there isn't a lot of difference in stopping power between the 9mm and 40mm, so I don't think that would be a reason to upgrade.
4. If you are going to conceal and carry either the PPK or Kahr are good for that. I'd try to work on having good rigs for both, and carrying one or the other all the time. If you get comfortable carrying the Kahr then you could sell the PPK, which is a classic bordering on being obsolete, and shoots the less powerful .380 (I assume..it was chambered in even smaller calibers too).
5. If you want to move up to get more power, and want to open carry, then I would go with a full size gun in a full-size caliber, either a .45, 10mm or perhaps even something like a .44 revolver. If I lived in the country or mountains a good wheel gun for critter protection would be my choice, and I'd open carry it.
6. If I had inherited a gun from my Dad (and it worked), I think I would keep it forever. It's nice you got that. I guess if he had a whole collection and you got several you might sell some but keep your favorites. Once it's gone it's gone. Do you have other keepsakes from him? Do you have sons of you own? Would they like grandpa's gun someday. The only downside to this thinking is that it's a plastic gun, not sure they are really 100 year plus heirlooms like a nice steel pistol. I guess we'll find out in about another 60 years or so.
Finally, don't rush. You've got some nice guns, you could always just stick $10 a week in a coffee can. You could buy the Equinox for yourself by Christmas of 2017, and still have the other guns.
That’s a serious pile of good advice. Thank you.
But in town it's just much better to be concealed. Your tactical choices are better in the event of a robbery or shooting, you are not an instant target for the creep.
This is good advice. The pert will see you carrying right off the bat and pick you off first.
For open carry, why not the S&W 586 in .357?
Yes I have. The P226 and the Walther PPK were my dad's as a few other firearms were..........
I appreciate your advice, especially in keeping what my dad left to me.......
That's what this forum is all about.........
Thanks again Jack
As per #3, I think 40mm has CONSIDERABLY more stopping power than 9mm; it is, however, more difficult to carry, unless you have a truck!