Thought a few of you might be interested in this...
There's a new .50 caliber handgun cartridge out there, designed for a slightly modified custom 1911. It's called the .50 GI and it fires a 300 grain JHP @ 725 fps for 410 fpe. Well within the bounds of a practical defensive pistol cartridge. The manufacturer (Guncrafter Industries) says that recoil is on par with .45 ACP hardball (230 FMJ @ 855 fps). Seven rounds fit in the full-size 1911 magazine. Might not get far, but it's kind of interesting.
Speaking of 1911 pistols, SIG has just released one with a light attachment rail called the GSR (Granite Series Rail). A Swiss 1911. Never thought I'd see it. Then again, I never thought I'd see Smith & Wesson make one either. Believe it or not, Heckler & Koch and CZ are also reported to have a 1911 on the drawing board. According to American Handgunner, the M9 is not getting high marks (again) and the 1911 is a much-coveted item over there. The very few 1911s that have been found in inventory (300 unissued, WWII-era pistols plus 25 mothballed rebuilds, according to AH) have been issued overseas, and the Marine Corps recently ordered parts commercially for some 789 1911s. Apparently after this and a DOD request for a major-caliber handgun, even European companies are jumping on the 1911 bus, hoping for big contracts. 93 years and kicking more ass than ever...
The new issue of American Handgunner has a totally custom pistol called the M11 Merc, developed by Craig Ltd. (pistolsmith Fred Craig) of Inman, Kansas and manufactured by IC Technologies. It is a gas delayed blowback pistol, operating with a system similar to the HK P7/Steyr GB. It's striker-fired, uses the CZ75 slide/frame rail arrangement, has an extremely low barrel axis, has a grip safety similar to the 1911 and an integral 6-port compensator. It also has a light mount. It is available in 9x19mm, .357 SIG and .40 S&W. Again, it's totally custom, so if you don't want the compensator or the grip safety, they'll make it without them for you. Prices start a $3,800 and go up from there. It's an extremely cool-looking pistol that appears to be very well-designed. I think some of you will probably shit when you see it.
Something I've posted before but thought maybe I should post again is a link to Heckler & Koch's XM8 page. This is the rifle that will most likely replace the M16/M4 series rifles in the US military. It is based on HK's G36 and is the "kinetic energy weapon" part of the XM29 OICW weapon system. It is modular, allowing for several different barrel/stock/forearm/sight configurations to fit mission requirements. It is also designed with cartridge conversion in mind, particularly for the 6.8x43mm Remington Special Purpose Cartridge currently being put to use by Special Operations elements. The guys testing the XM8 appear to love it.
I'd post more, but unfortunately, I've run out of time. Hope this has been informative.