The Best Nighthawk Custom Guns – July 2023

We have fallen in love with Nighthawk Custom of late.

They are crazy expensive and sometimes so ridiculously, cartoonishly over the top.

But sometimes a mere glimpse of one of these customer firearms can turn into a whole night of internet surfing and seriously contemplating whether one of the double-stack 9mm 1911s especially are worth the money.

Some nights, especially if I have been drinking, they absolutely are…

Why are Nighthawk Firearms So Expensive?

The company isn’t based in a New York loft or Paris fashion house. Nighthawk Custom is based in Berryville, Arkansas.

So they probably don’t have the most expensive property to pay for. But they do have an obsessive attention to detail that started with custom 1911s back in 2004.

A pair of master gunsmiths and two models, the GRP and Talon, has now expanded to a company with 65 employees.

But the philosophy behind these custom VIP handguns hasn’t. Every part is machined from barstock steel, or even higher grade materials. Every gun is also put together by the same hand. One gun, one gunsmith. That’s a really big part of the sales pitch for these custom firearms.

This is like owning a fine Swiss watch. To extend the analogy, if a Cabot Guns 1911 is a Rolex, and it is, a Nighthawk Custom is more like a Breitling or Tag Heuer. They’re often bigger, brasher and aimed at a more ostentatious, younger crowd.

So they have their own USP.

And the wait time can be several months if you go to the factory direct. Or you can buy them out on the open market, today.

What are the best Nighthawk Custom pistols for sale? Well that’s always going to be contentious, but here are a few of our favorites.

1. Nighthawk Custom Boardroom President

• Price: $5,814.99
• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Total: 8.5 inch
• Capacity: 10+1

The Boardroom Series needs a President, and this is it.

A ported slide joins a selection of slide lightening cuts to create a faster cycling slide that also gives you a sneak peak of the Gold Titanium Nitride Match barrel.

That aside this is peak engineering, no expense spared. Obviously you get the one gun, one gunsmith guarantee. But it’s more than that.

This is the flagship, the best that Nighthawk can make, right down to the signature gold bead front sight.

So it has to be perfect, and is…

2. Nighthawk Custom Korth NXR

• Price: $5,611.99
• Caliber: 44 Magnum
• Length: 9 inch
• Barrel: 4 inch
• Weight: 2.6lb
• Capacity: 6 Rounds

This is a cartoon revolver, totally over the top and fantastic in every way. It’s a target shooter’s dream, but also the ultimate home defense 44 Magnum revolver.

The frame and the wheel are machined from the finest billet steel, but not by Nighthawk. Oh no, this is a partnership deal to bring the equally brilliant Korth revolvers from Germany.

They opted for ASI 4140 steel for the fully machined frame, and ASI 4340 steel for the barrel. As well as the classic design, with that massive Picatinny rail up top.

The original long barrel target shooter, the Nighthawk Custom Korth Super Sport, was even more insane…

Movie Gun in the Making

I mean look at that front sight. It’s like something Deadpool could blow your head off with. If Judge Dredd had carried Nighthawk Custom Korth revolvers, you wouldn’t have thought it was overdone.

As it turns out, all that tactical gear is really handy for competitive shooters and handgun hunters too. You can use the strictly manual iron sights that are a big part of competition, or you can fit a reflex site or pistol scope and really go to town with this Nighthawk Custom handgun for sale.

You would have so much fun with this gun at the range, and I’d be tempted to use it for home security too, just to see their face.

But let’s not kid ourselves. This is a designer handgun with a seriously big price tag and there’s a very good chance it’s going to end up on a plinth as pure gun-porn and firearms art. The Turkish walnut grips aren’t performance features, they’re a thing of beauty that just happen to perform.

It will get fired and appreciated, and a good competitive shooter will win with it. But this is going to be a center-piece as much as a functional handgun.

I wish I could afford to do stuff like that.

3. Nighthawk Custom Global Response Pistol

• Price: $3,570.99
• Caliber: 9mm pistol
• Capacity: 17+1

This double stack mag comes with a total capacity of 17+1 in the Nighthawk Custom GRP Recon. That’s good.

The battle worn finish belies the precision engineering and this is another one of Nighthawk’s more understated guns for sale. I like it for that reason alone. With the double stack mag and deep cocking serrations at the rear of the slide, it’s also one of the most useful.

This Nighthawk Custom GRP Recon Custom Global Response is a model line in its own right and it’s based on a forged steel Government frame and 5 inch slide.

This 9mm 1911 is a growing trend among the custom gunsmiths and that’s a fairly solid confirmation that the smaller caliber has closed the gap in terms of ballistics.

More rounds of 9mm is a better set-up than 8+1 of .45 ACP, according to one of the finest gun makers in the world. If you’re looking for a new personal defense gun then that is a useful takeaway.

4. Nighthawk Custom Ambassador Counselor

• Price: $5,288.99
• Caliber: 9mm pistol
• Total: 7 inch
• Barrel: 3.5 inch
• Capacity: 8+1

Price tag aside, this might be the best 1911 for concealed carry pistol we have seen, without getting into the thick handled big capacity handguns.

An aluminum frame, slimline grips and a detail light approach, on the outside at least, boost its concealed carry pistol credentials.

Despite the weight saving, there is engineering here too. This is an officer sized 1911 with a proper magwell that holds the sear spring in place.

Big hands should be able to cope with this gun, too, thanks to the high set, undercut trigger guard. The heel and hammer are bobbed too, for a smoother draw when you need your firearm.

Those front serrations aren’t just slide cuts either, they are positive serrations. That means they protrude from the side of the slide, and you don’t just get cuts for tractions.

It’s an interesting idea that may prove to be a justification to buy Nighthawk Custom in the long term. But we like the idea.

5. Nighthawk VIP Government Size

• Price: $10,200.99
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Total Length: 8.5 inch
• Capacity: 8+1

I had no idea the one thing missing from my life was a $10,000, custom engraved 1911 with a giraffe bone grip. But here we are…

Inevitably there’s a lot of handfinishing gone into this gun, from the antiqued Nickel finish to the engraving work. It took hours, this was not some idiot with a Dremel.

Some of the best Nighthawk custom pistols have gold bead on them, real gold bead, so this is actually pretty chill and toned down if you think about it.

6. Nighthawk Custom Fire Hawk

• Price: $5,611.99
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Total Length: 8.5 inch
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Capacity: 8+1

The single port compensator on the 5″ barrel gives another level of recoil reduction and a super flat shooting 1911.

It’s a single stack magazine and the capacity reall isn’t the big news here.

The bull nosed compensator allows for a clean draw and the lightened slide gets a French border with the muzzle device for a relatively seamless finish.

So it’s a battle pistol, although inevitably people are using it for shooting sports and range day.

7. Nighthawk T4

• Price: $3,250
• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Barrel Length: 3.8 inch
• Weight: 2.15lb
• Capacity: 8+1

This is a slimline concealed carry gun that is an absolute work of art, which will conceal if you’re used to dealing with more cumbersome 1911s.

It’s a seriously understated and elegant handgun that gets all the typical Nighthawk Custom high end touches with a smoothed off design that is truly targeted at concealed carry. It isn’t light and that slide is 3.8 inches long, so it isn’t a pocket pistol.

Nighthawk went for reliability over ultimate portability with the 3.8″ barrel instead of a smaller model, but then thinned the frame obsessively to shave weight. Even the stylish tapered and beveled slide is done for weight reduction, even though it is quite a cool front cocking serration.

It is beautifully engineered, it should never fail if you treat it right and it will be an absolute vibration-free pleasure to shoot at the range.

The gains have come in tiny increments, from the beveled steel frame that is machined from billet through to the drilled trigger and slimline G10 grips.

It’s clever, and the Nighthawk T4 is a concealed carry 1911 with a Single Action Only operation that you could carry for the rest of your life. If only .45 ACP will do, there aren’t many more stylish ways of sending it down range.

8. Nighthawk Custom Predator II

• Price: $3,750
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Capacity: 8+1 Rounds
• Weight: 2.9lb

The Nighthawk Custom Predator is an offshoot of the legendary Nighthawk Talon, using the same frame and a different barrel.

The 4.25 inch match grade barrel is bull contoured and the stainless steel is wafered to create a slight cone. The rear sights are Heinie Slant Pro Straight Eight Tritium and the front sights get the radioactive fiber optic treatment too.

Definitely, this gun is like a night light when you’re looking through the sights and that could be the competitive advantage you need in a defensive situation.

The Nighthawk Predator II is a top class competition 1911, on a par with anything Cabot Guns can provide in terms of accuracy and repeatability. This is a slick, well-balanced handgun that plenty of people choose as their main range gun.

It is also an absolute beast of a gun that packs that .45 ACP punch. So it’s a perfectly engineered nightstand pistol, too. If you want to buy Nighthawk Custom pistols for the real world, this is a contender.

9. Nighthawk Custom Shadow Hawk

• Price: $4,344.99
• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Length: 8.58
• Capacity: 8+1 Rounds

A battle pistol with just a few race gun style touches from the competition shooting world is a pretty damned fine recipe for a handgun. Ask John Wick, and numerous others who have felt the benefit of a target shooter’s influence on their old school 1911.

The Shadow Hawk is exactly that, a traditional 1911 with a few cutting edge tweaks like the flat face trigger, target sights and a little material science to save weight.

Underneath the custom gun parts, this is a forged Government size 1911 frame with a lightened Recon rail. The 5 inch, semi crowned and flush cut bushing barrel is match grade all the way and that slide is a Cerakote finished and machined from billet steel.

The heavy cocking serrations on the slide are joined by front and back serrations on the grip and complementary G10 grips.

Perfect Design

The manual safety lever, extended mag release and even that custom trigger at just perfect. Not just perfectly manufactured, they’re perfectly integrated into the design.

They should be, at this price, of course, but this is what custom firearms are all about.

At the end of the day it’s a full-size 1911 with some competition touches and they are available for way less money.

But then this is different.

Someone will pay this price for the finest work from Berryville, Arkansas. And if it’s you, you probably won’t regret it for a second.

It would be an awesome competitive shooter, or law enforcement officer service pistol, but it’s more likely to be a wealthy guy’s favorite gun.

And that is fine too.

You can order a Long Slide version, too, or a Commander frame. The Shadowhawk is also California compliant, as you can see here.

Rivals for these Nighthawk Pistols

Wilson Combat is the Natural Rival

If you’re looking for a natural rival, it has to be a Wilson Combat 1911. They are similarly priced, similar specs and are equally obsessive about excellence.

They’re also based just down the road in the same town. Seriously…

A bunch of Wilson Combat engineers left to form Nighthawk Custom, and they are both exceptional manufacturers of limited edition firearms.

Cheap Alternatives to Nighthawk Pistols

This is going to be an easy job. Almost any handgun is cheap next to a Nighthawk Custom for sale. But I’m going to try and show you perfection, for much less money…

1. Colt Gold Cup Trophy

• Price: $1,822.99
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Total Length: 8.5 inch
• Weight: 2.46lb

This is a pure 1911 taken to competition spec. Bear that in mind, this is a competition spec Colt that competitors absolutely love.

It is 45 ACP, everything is match grade and plenty of people win handgun shooting competitions with them. So that should assuage any fears over the accuracy and predictability of a Colt Gold Cup Trophy 1911 for sale.

Gun parts & accessories are everywhere, you can tailor your 1911 to your unique style with a new magazine release and front and rear sights to a spur hammer.

This is just a great starter pistol if you’re stepping into custom 1911s and serious handgun shooting. Check the best Colts here.

2 Springfield Armory Range Officer Elite Operator

• Price: $1,145
• Caliber: 45 ACP
• Barrel Length: 5 inch
• Total Length: 8.5 inch
• Weight: 2.5lb

Another competition spec 1911 that is probably as good as you are. The Range Officer is officially discontinued these days, but there were so many that they do still pop up sometimes. The Springfield Loaded is the new generation.

One of these and $2,000 of firearms training is probably a far better option for 99% of people than a Nighthawk 1911.

It’s your money and your life. And Nighthawk pistols are amazing things to look at and own. So if you want to appreciate the engineering, go for it. If you want to shoot it, the Springfield Armory is a much cheaper alternative that shoots as straight and true as any of us are likely to any time soon.

This is the most expensive one we could find, too. You can spend less than $1,000 for a Springfield Armory Range Officer and get a great gun, although that adjustable rear sight is kind of cool here and it turns this compact handgun into a competition spec firearm.

• Top 8 Springfield Armory handguns on sale.

3. Dan Wesson V-Bob

• Price: $1,699
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Capacity: 8+1
• Barrel: 4.25 inch
• Total: 8 inch
• Weight: 2.2lb

I thought it would be a cold day in Hell before I named a Dan Wesson handgun for sale as a good budget option. in this company, though, it is…

This concealed carry pistol will be 95% of the Nighthawk, maybe more, for about half the money. But that’s the point with expensive guns. You pay a lot more for the nth degree of engineering. If that’s worth it to you,more power to you.

But the Dan Wesson V-Bob is elite personal defense with a match grade barrel, checkered mainspring housing and a top tier finish at every stage. This is great home/self defense in one package.

4. S&W Performance Center 629

• Price: $1,431.00
• Caliber: 44 Magnum
• Barrel: 7.5 inch
• Total: 12.8 inch
• Weight: 3.4lb

If you genuinely wanted the Nighthawk Custom Korth Super Sport pistol for its competitive shooting potential, then more power to you.

If, however, you just want a real big and badass revolver, then you might want to consider this offering from Smith & Wesson instead.

This is a 44 Magnum hunting revolver and it has been torture tested to death in the field. It’s a Performance Center handgun, which means the tolerances are tight and this is a top grade firearm that is ready for a Trijicon RMR or even scopes to replace the front and rear sight.

Now the company also does a mean line in fixed blade knives and folding knives too, for the complete home/self defense kit. And it’s way easier to source gun parts & accessories for an S&W.

• Top 10 Smith & Wesson handguns for sale.

5. Ruger SR1911 Target

• Price: $893.99
• Capacity: 9+1

If you want a 9mm 1911 with about 10 rounds, you can save a ton of money and buy the Ruger SR1911 Target instead.

It’s a reliable tack driver of a semi auto pistol with a fully adjustable rear sight that plenty of people have relied on in competition. It’s 2.61lb, but it’s about 15% of the price of the Nighthawk and parts like a magazine release are easy to buy online…

So this is the cheap alternative to the Nighthawk 1911 pistols, revolvers etc and it’s very, very good. But it’s not quite the same to look at. We do really like the Limited Edition Koenig Special though.

Get Ruger rifles, shotguns, some other stuff, on our main pages. Gun parts & accessories too.

What Else Can We Sell You?

We’re working on hunting gear and a bow hunting section, but we’re not there yet. We do love bow hunting, though, and hunting gear is a great market for us. So look out for that soon.

We’re focused on handguns, rifles, accessories, ammo, holsters and things like the best Nighthawk pistols and the VIP Very Impressive Pistol.

We got folding knives/fixed blade knives done recently, and we’re too proud of it honestly.

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