The company best known for its pervasive shotgun is testing a 1911-type pistol that may be ready to be introduced at the SHOT Show in January, a firearms blogger is reporting.

Remington, which is best known by LEOs for its Model 870 shotgun (often touted as the best-selling 12-guage in law enforcement), is working on the pistol, firearms blogger Jim Shepherd first reported.

The pistol is now in "first-production testing," Shepherd reported on his The Shooting Wire blog.

The 1911 pistol is not as popular with law enforcement agencies as it is with civilians — the single-stack magazine makes it ideal for concealed carry — and few agencies have adopted it as their regular duty pistol.

Yet, the pistol has its acolytes, especially among officers who enthuse about its accuracy even if they can't carry it as a primary weapon.

The Tacoma (Wash.) Police Department made history in 2001 by becoming the first law enforcement agency in more than 50 years to choose a 1911-type pistol — the Kimber Pro Carry II — for patrol duty. And the LAPD SWAT unit picked the Kimber Custom II in 2002 as their pistol of choice.

Of course, Kimber isn't the only producer of 1911s for LE agencies. Springfield Armory produces its custom Model 1911A1 pistol for the FBI regional SWAT teams and the Hostage Rescue Team.

The Remington news may be more than just mere speculation. Giving credence to the report is additional news that the company has hired a former Smith & Wesson executive (Tom Taylor) as its senior vice president of marketing and product for a new handgun division.

If the pistol comes to fruition, Remington would re-enter a handgun market it has been absent from for awhile. From 1918 to the 1930s, the company produced the Model 51 pocket pistol that was available in .32ACP and .380 ACP calibers.

Should this pistol make an appearance, POLICE magazine will hear about it and bring you the news. We'll be attending the SHOT Show (Jan. 19-22), and we'll be sure to keep our eyes peeled for this handgun.