The VIP (Very Impressive Pistol) certainly lives up to its name. It features deep hand engraving on the receiver and slide, smooth ivory grips and a classic antique nickel finish. The frontstrap and mainspring housing are serrated. An heirloom piece, the VIP comes with a custom cocobolo/high-grade walnut presentation case and three 8-round mags. This new 1911 variant is an example of the custom 1911 elevated to an art form, and while it is a beautiful pistol, it can still perform.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5 inches
OA Length: 8.65 inches
Weight: 36.9 ounces (empty)
Grips: Ivory
Sights: Gold bead front, Heinie rear
Action: SA
Finish: Antique nickel
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $7,995
Built in collaboration with Griffon Industries, the Nighthawk Griffon is a full-sized 1911 with a 1/2×28-threaded barrel and an integrated frame rail for accessories like lights and lasers. On the top side, the slide is equipped with a Trijicon RMR reflex sight cutout and Trijicon three-dot suppressor sights that co-witness with the RMR. The pistol comes with a Griffon Industries pistol pouch, a right-handed Griffon carbon-fiber holster, a carbon-fiber double magazine carrier and three Chip McCormick magazines laser engraved with the Griffon logo.
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel: 5.5 inches
OA Length: 8.58 inches
Weight: 39.6 ounces (empty)
Grips: VZ G10
Sights: Trijicon three-dot suppressor-ready
Action: SA
Finish: Black nitride Capacity: 10+1 MSRP: $5,995
The Dominator is a two-tone 1911 designed to dominate the competition on the firing line. The fully adjustable sights use tritium inserts for fast targeting. Serrations on the rear of the slide match those of the rear sight to ensure there is no glare, even in bright sunlight. The 5-inch, match-grade barrel has a recessed crown and is hand-fitted to the bushing. The pistol is completely dehorned, and the slide features fine front and rear slide serrations.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5 inches
OA Length: 8.58 inches
Action: SA
Weight: 37.6 ounces (empty)
Grips: Cocobolo Sights: Tritium
Finish: Black nitride, stainless
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $3,450
The Kestrel was designed for concealed carry. The grip frame has been trimmed at the front and back and is fitted with thin grip panels to reduce the grip’s circumference. The Kestrel also uses a Commander-length slide so it is easier to conceal. Features include a match-grade, recessed-crown barrel, a beveled magazine well for faster reloads, an extended magazine release and a Heinie-scalloped frontstrap and mainspring housing.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 4.25 inches
OA Length: 7.82 inches
Weight: 36.7 ounces (empty)
Grips: AlumaGrips Sights: Heinie Slant Pro
Action: SA
Finish: Black nitride, stainless
Capacity: 7+1
MSRP: $3,495
SilencerCo collaborated with Nighthawk to build a 1911, and the result is the Silent Hawk. This limited run of pistols features a tri-cut slide and custom cocking serrations to match the look of SilencerCo’s Osprey suppressor. This pistol comes with a threaded barrel to make full use of a silencer. The Commander Recon frame and slide are used to build the Silent Hawk, and it comes with Heinie tritium suppressor sights.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 4.25 inches
Sights: Heinie tritium suppressor
Weight: 36.7 ounces (empty)
Grips: G10
Action: SA
OA Length: 7.82 inches
Finish: Black nitride
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $4,295
This 5-inch-barreled Nighthawk 1911 is built for use in harm’s way. It features a fully machined, one-piece mainspring housing and magazine well with a lanyard loop cutout to ensure that you’ll never be separated from the gun. More features include a serrated slide top and rear, a ball-cut radius under the cocking serrations and Heinie Ledge Straight Eight night sights. Golf-ball-style G10 grips or Nighthawk’s Mil-Tac G10 grips are available in black and gray or black and green.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5 inches
Grips: G10
Sights: Heinie Ledge Straight Eight night
Capacity: 8+1 Weight: 38.6 ounces (empty)
Action: SA
OA Length: 8.58 inches
Finish: Black nitride
MSRP: $3,395
The T3 Thin is purposed built for concealed carry using a Commander-sized frame and a shorter 4.25-inch barrel. It pairs the Nighthawk/Marvel Everest Recoil System with a match-grade barrel, so this 9mm is soft shooting and accurate. The barrel also sports a recessed crown. The frame is thinned so the pistol is slightly lighter and has less girth when gripped. This pistol offers increased muzzle control and is textured in the right places so follow-up shots are faster and more accurate.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 4.25 inches
OA Length: 7.4 inches
Grips: G10
Weight: 34.1 ounces (empty)
Sights: Heinie Slant Pro
Action: SA
Finish: Black nitride, stainless
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $3,550
Bob Marvel is a master gunsmith with years of experience building 1911 pistols. Over a period of months, Marvel trained Nighthawk’s master gunsmiths to build the finest 1911s, and the Bob Marvel Custom is the result. The Bob Marvel Custom incorporates the Nighthawk/Marvel Everlast Recoil System, adjustable sights and hand stippling on top of the slide, a one-piece mainspring housing, a high-cut frontstrap and more. This pistol is loaded with custom features that not only make it look good and function better, but Nighthawk also claims it produces groups at 50 yards beyond the capability of most shooters.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 4.25 inches
OA Length: 7.9 inches
Weight: 37.6 ounces (empty)
Grips: G10
Sights: Adjustable Action: SA
Finish: Black nitride Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $3,995
The GA Precision (GAP) model is a no-nonsense 1911 made for hard use. It was built in conjunction with GA Precision to complement its rifles. The slide features lightening cuts on the top side and Hi-Power-style cuts on the side. The rear of the slide is serrated to reduce glare. It also features Nighthawk’s Everlast Recoil System, which use a flat wire spring. For faster, fumble-free reloads, this model also features a custom magazine well.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5 inches
OA Length: 8.62 inches
Finish: Black nitride
Weight: 38.8 ounces (empty)
Grips: G10
Sights: Heinie Ledge night
Action: SA
Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $3,695
The Talon II was built to do whatever you need your 1911 to do. Essentially, Nighthawk’s Talon series is designed with all the custom features you need. The Talon II is a Commander-sized pistol that offers better concealability over full-sized 1911s. Features include a match-grade barrel with a hand-fitted bushing, a lightweight match trigger and an extended magazine release button.
Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 4.25 inches
OA Length: 7.85 inches
Weight: 34.7 ounces (empty)
Action: SA
Sights: Heinie Slant Pro
Grips: Cocobolo Finish: Black nitride Capacity: 8+1
MSRP: $3,195
Nighthawk Custom is the type of company that asks the question “Why not?” when developing a new 1911 pistol variant. Instead of keeping to traditional 1911 aesthetics, the company crafts pistols that are the tip of the spear in form and function, with extreme attention to detail and flawless hand-fitting. Yet, as attractive as Nighthawk Custom 1911 is, it really comes into its own when you’re on the firing line.
At Nighthawk’s facility in Berryville, Arkansas, each frame and slide is machined from solid forgings, and the pistol’s remaining components are hand-fitted. Most of the company’s models feature Nighthawk’s National Match carbon barrel, which is expertly fitted to a matching stainless steel bushing. Many models also feature the Nighthawk/Marvel Everlast Recoil System, which dramatically reduces felt recoil and muzzle flip, and will last at least 10,000 rounds before a recoil spring change is necessary. This proprietary barrel system is definitely an accuracy-enhancing upgrade.
Whether it’s for duty, combat or concealed carry, Nighthawk’s pistols perform as good as they look. So, without further ado, scroll through the gallery above to learn about some of the best 1911 variants the company offers.
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About Nighthawk Custom
Nighthawk Custom, located in Berryville, Arkansas, is the manufacturer of superior quality 1911-style pistols. Founded in 2003, the team gunsmiths at Nighthawk Custom have over 50 years of combined experience specializing in the 1911. Nighthawk Custom builds 1911’s using no MIM parts and the finest finish in the industry. All Nighthawk Custom 1911’s come with a lifetime guarantee. For more information, visit http://www.nighthawkcustom.com or call 877-268-4867.
