As always there is no free lunch in weapons design. The last piece of the puzzle was replacing the HK proprietary frame rail with a 1913 rail, something that HK should have done across the board years ago. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." Form follows function, so front grasping grooves were added to the slide. The result was very close to the HK 45 as we know it today.

Although the 1911A1 is a good design, by the 1980s those in military inventory were simply worn out. Today only special units still field them. Photo courtesy of the USMC

My intent from the start was to make this pistol the natural successor to the USP series. The USP has been a great success for H&K, but the design has stagnated for more than a decade. It is time to update the design, and the HK 45 represents what I feel the next logical step should look like. So in all honesty, the HK 45 is definitely more evolutionary that revolutionary.

That being said, I seriously doubt it would exist at all today if I would not have approached then-HK CEO Ernst Mauch with the idea some three years ago. Let me also be the first to say that I just got the ball rolling; countless others who bring products to life at HK turned it into hardware. The same goes for the HK416; I started the project from the end-user side, and many very talented and skilled individuals made it a reality. I was a part of both projects, but frankly, my role was a relatively minor one once I initiated each one. My main contribution was understanding the need and getting things going in the right direction.

The HK 45 project was born long before any of the current service-pistol programs were started. Frankly, I regret the timing of these, as the HK 45 would probably already have been on the market for some time now if it weren't for the various ill-fated "joint pistol" projects muddying the waters.

Practical accuracy of both the full-size and compact model is quite acceptable. Photo courtesy of Heckler & Koch

Other gunmakers have not been sleeping, so other serious contenders to the HK 45 are on the horizon. Most notable of these is the S&W M&P 45. I have shot the M&P 45 prototype pistol, and it has a lot of potential. In addition, HK continued to tweak the HK 45 design with what I feel are mixed results. The new magazine-release paddle design is a welcome change, as it makes the USP mag-release concept even more user-friendly. The safety-selector levers are more ergonomic than the first USP types.

Accuracy was quite good, with 25-yard off-hand groups averaging 2.65 inches using Winchester 230-grain FMJ.

In service with U.S. forces for two decades now, the M9 Beretta has never been as popular as the M1911A1 due largely to its smaller caliber. Photo courtesy of the 3-7th Cav., U.S. Army

The new Ergo grip (the so-called Spider Man grip) has been a controversial change. I have tried it, and even though it looks goofy it is still very functional. That being said, I would have preferred the original P2000-style grip on the full-size pistol. The HK 45 Compact retains this design and does not have the Ergo grip.

Without a doubt, plastic-frame pistols are becoming the rule rather than the exception as each year goes by. The cost of making a pistol entirely out of any kind of metal and being able to sell it on the market to compete with other pistols made of plastic is becoming extremely difficult.

(Left) Larry Vickers is not only a master pistolsmith but also a retired special operations combat veteran. (Left center) The HK 45's grip was designed to lower the bore line and to make the pistol point naturally. (Right center) Vickers does a quick reload. The author considers the HK 45 to be a well-thought-out design that is both accurate and reliable. (Right) One critical component to any autoloader is the magazine. Unfortunately, the military issues lower-quality magazines, which often give problems. Photo courtesy of the USMC

In the service-pistol market plastic-frame handguns are the name of the game. In this area HK has a distinct advantage as it has a wider variety of handguns, carbines and sub guns using polymer than any other manufacturer. It has made some mistakes and learned some painful lessons, but as of today it has to be considered the world leader in firearms with key polymer components. This advantage will serve the company well into the future.

Hopefully, by the time you read this, the HK 45 and HK 45 Compact will be available at your local gun store. I honestly hoped the pistol would have already been on the market. HK can be slow when it comes to bringing new products to the marketplace, but no one can argue that when they do get them there, they are almost always well-made, durable, accurate and extremely reliable pieces of weaponry. I have no reason to believe the HK 45 and HK 45 Compact will be any different.

CONTACT: Heckler & Koch; (703) 450-1900; www.hj-defense.us