Goliath-Tier Round Up & Hotwash: The 2011 Project

Round 4—Tackling Goliaths—is complete, bringing the 2011 Project closer to its conclusion. Six guns endured the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer, and every one is a certified banger worthy of anchoring any collection.

But not all deliver equal value—a difficult concept to justify, and value is hard to judge when prices range from the mid-$4,000s to more than $7,000. That puts them beyond the reach of many following this series, myself included. Still, like sports cars and luxury watches, we can admire them from afar.

For buyers with the cash, a few offer genuine value through exceptional performance and customization—the hallmarks of this tier. Some simply deliver better than others.

First, I’ll go pistol by pistol and share my thoughts on who each pistol is for and what to watch for when buying. Honestly, each of these pistols is a good choice, but is it the best for you? That’s what I’m here to help you decide.

Goliath-Tier 2011s at a Glance 

NIGHTHAWK COMBAT SPECIAL

Starting with Nighthawk was the only way to go in this tier. They are a legendary company and among the most well-known custom manufacturers. The Thunder Ranch Combat Special is a true testament to their work.

This was my first experience with a Nighthawk, and after putting it through the same testing as the others, I understand the reputation. The Combat Special is fast, accurate, and exceptionally well-built. Its 4.25” Commander-length configuration strikes a nice balance between shootability and size, while the hand-fitted components and excellent trigger make it easy to run hard.

It wasn’t perfect (nearly, though). I’d like a textured or slightly larger magazine release, an oversized slide release, and a double-undercut trigger guard. Those are minor complaints, though, and none kept me from shooting the gun well.

The Combat Special really came alive during the Humbler, delivering a clean 9.71-second run (my best of the series).

Then there’s the craftsmanship. Having a single gunsmith hand-fit the pistol is something you simply don’t get with most production 2011s.

Is it expensive? Sure. But after shooting it, I understand much better what you’re paying for.

Nighthawk has made a very compelling argument for custom 2011s. For a truly custom experience, I can’t recommend Nighthawk enough. It’s for the person who wants to elevate their collection with American craftsmanship.

STP S.W.A.T.

The STP S.W.A.T. is a good example of why I enjoyed this project. It’s a pistol most American shooters probably aren’t familiar with, but it brings a lot to the table.

The German-built STP S.W.A.T. has excellent fit and finish, an outstanding trigger, and accuracy that lived up to its reputation. The weight also kept the gun remarkably flat during testing.

However, it wasn’t perfect for me. The grip is thicker and heavier than I prefer, and I didn’t like the hexagonal texture. I would also like to see a DPP optic plate and an extended magazine release.

Those are relatively easy fixes, though. The bigger issue is availability. STP is a German manufacturer focused largely on the European market, with a growing U.S. dealer list, but for now finding one in the U.S. could be a challenge.

My 1-and-1 times weren’t particularly impressive, but the S.W.A.T. performed well everywhere else. With a ¾” group at 10 yards and just over 1.5” at 25, it’s an accurate pistol.

Overall, the S.W.A.T. is an impressive 2011 that deserves more attention on this side of the Atlantic.

ALCHEMY CUSTOM WEAPONRY QUANTICO HICAP

The Alchemy Custom Weaponry Quantico HiCap is a genuinely impressive pistol. It performed well across the board, from a 1.02-second average Bill Drill to a 2.86-second 1-and-1 average and a sweet 25-yard group that stayed within ACW’s 1.5-inch accuracy guarantee.

More importantly, it was simply a lot of fun to shoot. The combination of the 5-inch barrel, recoil springs, and balance made the Quantico HiCap surprisingly flat and controllable.

The custom-gun approach is another major selling point. You start with a base gun and configure it to your preferences, whether that means an optic cut, front cocking serrations, or other options. The trigger is excellent, the texture is aggressive without being excessive, and the optic mounting system is robust.

There are a few compromises. The traditional 1911 styling won’t appeal to everyone, and I’d prefer front cocking serrations to be standard.

But the biggest drawback is the wait time. With lead times around 12 months, you’ll need patience to get one built.

For me, though, the Quantico HiCap checks a lot of boxes. It shoots exceptionally well, feels great in the hand, and delivers the kind of craftsmanship I expect from a true custom pistol. ACW might have found a new customer.

The same person looking at a Nighthawk might want to take a gander at ACW—they are at the same level of quality and craftsmanship.

MILLER PRECISION RANGER 9X

The Miller Precision Ranger 9x impressed me as soon as I started shooting it. It’s unapologetically a race gun, but Miller Precision built in several features that set it apart, including a linkless barrel and a threadless, barrel-mounted compensator.

The ergonomics are excellent, the controls are among the best in the test, and the combination of the compensator and low bore axis makes this one of the flattest-shooting pistols I’ve tested. It’s also fast. Really fast.

The teardrop magazine release, oversized slide release, double undercut, and excellent trigger all worked together and helped me perform well in drills. Houston Miller and his team really thought this one out.

The biggest caveat was ammunition. The Ranger 9X clearly didn’t love the 115-grain loads I used, and accuracy opened up at 25 yards. I’d like to revisit it with a heavier bullet before making a final judgment.

Still, there’s a lot to like here. Miller Precision took the traditional 2011 concept and added some genuinely thoughtful innovation. That’s something I really appreciate.

For a serious competitor, the Ranger 9X is hard to beat. Because of its swappable muzzle devices, you can run the same gun in multiple divisions. It’s a pistol made to run fast.

ATLAS ATHENA V3

The Atlas Athena V3 is a very good pistol. The build quality is excellent, the trigger is among the best in the series, and the optic mounting system is one of my favorites. It’s also a relatively slim 2011, which helped me.

The oversized slide release and threaded magazine release are welcome touches, too. On the range, the Athena performed well enough, with a 10.05-second Humbler and a 3.23-second average on the 1-and-1 drill.

But here’s the problem: I expected more. The Athena didn’t really have a glaring flaw, but it didn’t stand out on the range, either.

The recoil felt a little snappier than I expected, the grip texture was not as aggressive as I’d like, and the safety created a hotspot on my thumb. The magazine release and magwell also left something to be desired.

For more than $6,500, those little things start to matter. Atlas has earned its reputation, and the Athena is clearly a well-built firearm. I just expected a little more from a pistol at this price.

With companies like Miller Precision and Race City Defense at their heels, the competition is getting tougher. The Athena is good. I simply wanted great.

If you’re deep into collecting 2011-style pistols, you need an Atlas in your collection. Like Staccato, Atlas is one of the major forces driving the 2011 market.

DARK FORGE REAPER

The Dark Forge Reaper is impressive in both design and performance. From the machining to the range results, Dark Forge clearly set out to do something different, and I think they succeeded.

The monolithic compensated barrel works extremely well; the gun tracks beautifully, and the overall balance makes it one of the flattest-shooting pistols in the test. An average Bill Drill time of 1.03 seconds and a 1.13-inch group at 25 yards back that up. The oversized magazine and slide releases are also exactly what I want on a 2011.

The Reaper passed my small-hand test, too. The grip is slimmer and more contoured than on many other pistols in this series, and the aggressive texturing keeps everything planted.

I also appreciate the attention to detail in the machining. The way the front cocking serrations transition across the slide, frame, and compensator is an impressive feat of craftsmanship.

There are a few things I’d change. The oversized magazine release is almost too oversized, and the direct-mount optic system offers few options.

Then there’s the elephant in the room: nearly $7,000 for a pistol with no custom options. That’s a lot of money, even for a pistol this capable.

The Reaper is fast, accurate, and innovative, but the price puts it in rarefied air. Dark Forge built something genuinely different. Whether that difference is worth the price is another question. But different is who this is for. When you already have everything else, the Reaper is calling.

Zooming Out: Which Goliath-Tier 2011 Fits You?

All these pistols are good. It’s up to the individual to decide what’s best for them.

That’s what makes this tier difficult to judge—what are you getting that justifies the price? We all ask that question when making a purchase. Sometimes that answer is having something objectively cooler and more sought-after than your buddies’. 

What’s Next for the 2011 Project?

For the pièce de résistance of the 2011 Project, I’ll pick a gun from each category that I’d be willing to spend my hard-earned money on. Maybe the picks will surprise you, maybe they won’t, but in the end, it’ll be the culmination of the entire test.

But first, I have one last bonus article—Can striker-fired pistols become 2011s? Let’s find out.