In a sleepy little town in Arkansas sits one of the premier gun manufacturers in the country. While Berryville would not appear to be the hub of premier 1911s, that is precisely what it is. Since 2004, Nighthawk Custom has been building the gold standard of 1911s without fail. From no-nonsense work guns to sexy custom collaborations, they are simply one of the best shops in the country. So, with a pedigree as storied as theirs, it is an exciting time to get one in for testing. The pistol that would grace my bench and range was the Nighthawk Custom Trooper 45ACP.

Nighthawk Custom Trooper – More than Meets the Eye

After tearing the box open like it was Christmas morning, I got my first look at the Trooper. Nighthawk says, “This offering was conceived with the no-frills, straightforward gun owner in mind. The Trooper represents the core of what Nighthawk is all about American-made, finely-tuned, hand-built craftsmanship.” I halfway chuckled when I saw they described the gun as “no frills.” It’s a bit like saying a Bentley is an around-town grocery-getter. The Trooper, the Nighthawk Custom Trooper, goes way beyond “no frills.”

However, compared to a model like their President, it has a more traditional feel. It is a five-inch full-size machined government slide and frame. It felt perfect in my hands and struck a good balance with the 25 lines per inch checkering on the front strap as well as the main spring housing. The slide has wide rear cocking serrations that allowed a good purchase on the slide during manipulations. Overall, the Nighthawk Custom Trooper impressed me with its craftsmanship.

The Trooper is Quality in Every Inch

The choice of sights fits the gun well, with Heinie Ledge rear sights and an easy-to-acquire fiber optic front sight. The trigger was pure Nighthawk, and it was smooth as a baby’s bottom. The solid curved trigger broke cleanly at a breath over 3.5 pounds and had a very short reset. The gun enjoys a hearty, thick barrel bushing and recoil spring plug and a stainless-crowned barrel. The entire thing is wrapped up with a black nitride finish, making the Nighthawk Custom Trooper an attractive yet durable piece. 

As expected, the fit and finish of the gun were exceptional. Some people may not know that one gunsmith has built each gun that comes out of Nighthawk. Their slogan and philosophy is “One gun, one gunsmith.” Each pistol is built from start to finish by a single gunsmith who eventually test fires it to ensure that it exceeds the Nighthawk standard and his own. They then use a metal stamp to mark their initials under the left grip panel. While this is obviously not the fastest, most efficient, or most cost-effective way to build a firearm, it shows the highest level of ownership. It also signifies the pride and commitment their gunsmiths take in their work. To exemplify, the Nighthawk Custom Trooper stands as a testament to this dedication.

More Than Just a Pretty Face

Performance-wise, it was solid as well. Most noteworthy was the Trooper’s ability to eat just about any ammunition I threw at it. This is an important point to me personally because I know that many high-end precision-built handguns are very particular about what ammo they will cycle. Their tight tolerances can, at times, frustrate the shooter, who gets as finicky about ammo as a 5-year-old does about vegetables. Now, understand that I did not run any steel case ammo through the gun because that would anger the gun gods. The Nighthawk Custom Trooper handled various ammunition types with ease.

Not a Picky Eater

Why not? Well, if you are going to drop almost $4000 on a handgun, you shouldn’t run bargain ammo through it. There is something just patently wrong with that. Ok, off my soap box and back to the gun. The 25 LPI checkering provided solid purchase on the gun, and I found it easy to run. The hi-vis fiber optic front sight made acquiring the front sight an easy task for my not 25-year-old eyes. Impact-wise, the gun shot a ragged hole with every type of ammo I ran. While I ran some lighter loads, I am a fan of running 230 grain ball for training. The Trooper was unfazed by the array of rounds I shoved into the magazines. The trigger did indeed break cleanly and demonstrated no wiggle or play. This comes down to it being properly fitted by the gunsmith. Overall, the gun lived up to every expectation I had of Nighthawk Custom, with the Trooper model standing as a highlight.

You Won’t Be Disappointed

To some, the bling and flash of slide cuts and gold barrels is a bit much for their personality. While I can appreciate the craftsmanship of those designs, I find myself drawn to the likes of the Trooper 1911. Its understated good looks are only outdone by its performance. Nighthawk may say it is a no-frills pistol, but to the trained eye, the Nighthawk Custom Trooper is absolutely more than some of its parts.

For more information visit: https://www.nighthawkcustom.com/

Nighthawk Custom 45ACP Trooper Specs