Nighthawk Custom is a name that’s long been synonymous with excellence in custom firearms. The company’s well-deserved reputation is evident in every gun they design and manufacture. And while their focus is primarily on the 1911 platform, they occasionally lend their artistry to other firearms. Among those are about a dozen excellent revolver models and a few very nice bolt guns.
The company is well-known for their incredible dedication to unmatched quality and fitment, but how much do you know about their background? We’re here to share the story of Nighthawk Custom with you and explain why their guns are well worth the investment.
Nighthawk Custom: About the Company
Nighthawk Custom was founded in 2004 by four men who left another manufacturer in order to pursue a decentralized gun-making philosophy focused on individual artisanship. The current owner, Mark Stone, was a part of the group. He is now the sole proprietor, and has been since 2014.
The company began with just four people and a catalog offering a grand total of two 1911 models. They now employ nearly a hundred people. That’s no insignificant number for a boutique place like this, especially given there are only 7,500 people in their whole town!.
They also now offer more than 50 different models of handgun, rifle, and shotgun. Much of that is possible thanks to a big 2018 expansion of the facility. The growth, for what Gov. Asa Hutchinson called a “homegrown company,” was funded in part by a grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Why “homegrown?” Have you visited Berryville, Arkansas?
The renowned gun maker is located in Berryville, Arkansas. Berryville is one of two county seats in Carroll County and is the largest city in the county. And while it’s not the biggest employer in town (that honor goes to Tyson Foods of chicken fame), it’s definitely one of the biggest names in town. In fact, the company is one of two reasons (the other being Wilson Combat) that Berryville is sometimes referred to as the “…Mecca of 1911s.”
One Gun, One Gunsmith
Nighthawk operates by the guiding principle of “One Gun, One Gunsmith.” Unlike the vast majority of manufacturers, Nighthawk’s firearms are made from start to finish by one gunsmith.
One set of skilled hands takes responsibility for building the firearm of your dreams from the very first component to the last. But it isn’t just the assembly of those 46 parts that one person handles. The same gunsmith who builds the firearm also finishes it, including deburring, any necessary hand bevels, and test firing.
How do you know who made your gun? Gunsmiths at Nighthawk have their own personalized stamps. The stamp is made with the gunsmith’s initials, and upon completion of the firearm, the gunsmith stamps the gun under the left-side grip panel. These handcrafted firearms are works of art that are signed by the artists, making them truly one-of-a-kind.
How many guns does Nighthawk Custom make in a year?
Although the number of pistols produced annually does vary, Nighthawk Custom reports building approximately 3,600 pistols each year. Those thousands of pistols are created for customers with one of their base models as the starting point, each of which is customizable.
Of course, Nighthawk also makes guns based on specific customer requests, so you wouldn’t be entirely wrong to say the sky is the limit.
Are Nighthawk Custom good guns?
Firearms made by Nighthawk Custom are exceptionally well-made. Fitment is of the utmost importance; there won’t be any unwanted wiggling or shifting of components on a Nighthawk gun.
Guns are machined from bar stock billet steel. During those early stages of production, the frames are purposefully made to be oversized. This allows the gunsmith to precisely hand-fit the parts during the building stage.
Building a custom 1911 is about more than making an aesthetically appealing firearm, although Nighthawk’s guns are certainly that as well. These guns are made for reliable cycling, comfort in the shooter’s hand, and amazing precision on target. This means everything must be carefully fitted together, from the bushing to the grip screws.
The result is a beautifully made gun the owner can rely on for years to come. After all, the most important part of any handgun is being confident it will fire when the trigger is pulled — with accuracy.
So what does Nighthawk do if there’s an issue with one of their guns? The Nighthawk Custom lifetime guarantee is how the gun maker promises to keep guns running smoothly. Their website states all the details, including the following:
“Nighthawk Custom stands behind each of our firearms with pride and honor. If you ever feel your Nighthawk Custom 1911 is not functioning to your standards, or ours, please contact us for immediate assistance.
“** A common issue is improper lubrication. The 1911 should be lubed with a good quality gun oil, no grease, before each trip to the range. Make sure the recoil spring is fresh, call if you have any questions. Government-length springs need to be changed every 2000 rounds and commander-length every 1500 rounds. Government and commander-sized pistols with a flat wire spring system can go around 5 times longer between recoil spring changes. Officer length guns (3.5” & 3.8” barrels) with flat wire springs need to be changed every 1200 rounds. Verify the issue with all your magazines and three different brands of ammo; also, have at least two people shoot the weapon to verify the issue.”
Nighthawk Custom SandHawk
The Nighthawk Custom Sand Hawk is a Government-sized 1911 chambered in 9mm. Being a Government 1911 means it’s full-sized and has a 5.0-inch barrel and full-size frame. It’s a double-stack 1911 with a 17 +1 capacity, which makes it a fantastic option for defensive use.
To make the gun more effective for concealed carry, Nighthawk dehorned the Sand Hawk and also hand-blended the grip safety. The gun has an FDE (flat dark earth) Cerakote finish, which is a great color match for many of Safariland’s FDE holsters.
Features of the Nighthawk Custom Sand Hawk include an integrated compensator, polished feed ramp, and hand-fit firing pin stop. The gun has angled serrations at the rear of the slide for smoother manipulation and a serration at the front for cases where the shooter would like to rack the slide using the forward end of the gun.
Grips are textured for a firm grip during live fire. Standard sights are a Heinie Ledge black rear sight and a 14k solid gold bead front sight. It’s designed so the additional weight at the forward end of the slide decreases muzzle rise, which, in turn, increases accuracy.
The Nighthawk Custom TRS Comp
The Nighthawk Custom TRS Comp is the first 1911 the manufacturer created based on a double-stack design. It’s a Government 1911, meaning it’s full-sized and has a 5.0-inch barrel.
Although the TRS Comp was certainly created to offer gun owners greater capacity in a custom 1911, it’s also made to deliver superior performance overall. The TRS Comp has an integrated compensator with a port to reduce muzzle rise and also has a match-grade barrel. This pistol is made to perform, and it does just that.
This double-stack 9mm has a capacity of 17 +1. It has a throated barrel and polished feed ramp. Additional features include dimpled cocking serrations at the back of the slide, an ultra high-cut front strap, and a lightweight aluminum Nighthawk Custom flat-faced trigger.
The TRS Comp has a Heinie Ledge black rear sight and a contrasting 14k gold bead front sight to draw the eye and improve target acquisition. This is a flat-shooting 1911 designed to be both comfortable to fire and precise in its results.
the T3 pistol
For a size that’s more friendly to concealed carry, there’s the Nighthawk Custom T3. This pistol has an Officer-sized frame and a Commander slide, meaning it’s more compact than the full-sized Government. It has a barrel length of 4.25 inches — standard for a Commander—and a height of 5.21 inches thanks to its Officer frame. The pistol weighs 34.6 ounces. Nighthawk makes the T3 pistol available in either 9mm or 45 ACP. Whichever caliber you prefer, the T3 is a fantastic option for daily carry.
Features of the Nighthawk Custom T3 include slim serrations at the rearward portion of the slide, G10 Alien grips, and checkered front and back straps. The slide stop is shortened, and the frame is beveled. And, of course, the T3 is dehorned to make it ideal for carry purposes.
The T3 is easily concealed using an IWB (inside waistband) or AIWB (appendix inside waistband) holster but could also be carried OWB (outside waistband). When fitting a Safariland holster to the Nighthawk T3, go by the slide width of 0.92 inches and the Commander-length barrel.
Did you know? There is an Encyclopedia of Arkansas. It has a page dedicated to Nighthawk, which is how we know about the 2018 expansion. That website tells us, “In 2018, Nighthawk Custom announced an expansion of its manufacturing facility with a new building to house twenty gunsmiths and ten support personnel, a move aided in part by a grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. By 2022, the workforce at Nighthawk Custom had increased to approximately eighty-five.”
Should you get a Nighthawk Custom pistol?
If you’re interested in getting a high-quality, custom-made 1911 from a gun maker with an incredible reputation, you should absolutely be looking at Nighthawk Custom (which you can find online here). These guns can be used for everything from self-defense to hunting, depending on the caliber. Nighthawk offers guns chambered in a variety of calibers, including 9mm, 38 Super, 40 Smith & Wesson, and 10mm.
Visit the Nighthawk website and look at the custom shop list of features. You may find yourself agreeing with me when I say, There’s nothing quite like a Nighthawk Custom.
