Are Nighthawk custom 1911's worth the money?

[lonewolf1981]

I'm considering buying a Nighthawk custom TALON 5" 45 or GRP model but was wondering if someone could tell me from experience if they're worth the $3, 200. Anybody here have experience with nighthawk 1911's? How do they shoot? Are they durable? Any malfunctions? Etc.

 

[tuj]

I would say sort of. Nighthawk as I understand is 'semi-custom' just like Les Baer. For the price of a Nighthawk, you could get a fully custom gun from a known smith.

That said, I have felt the Nighthawk trigger out of the box and it's very good, almost as good as my worked over Les Baer.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Nighthawk as I understand is 'semi-custom' just like Les Baer. For the price of a Nighthawk, you could get a fully custom gun from a known smith.

I agree, the difference is the wait time...so it will be your balance between the need for immediate gratification or exclusivity.

Nighthawk does have offerings you just can't get anywhere else, like their licensed Heine Custom (since Heine stop taking orders)...or the older discontinued Larry Vickers or Hilton Yam 10-8 pistols

 

[mljdeckard]

We argue about this stuff all the time. Is the diffference in cost between production guns and semi-customs worth it?

Not to me. I have shot Baers, Nighthawks, Wilsons, etc. They are great. They are better than my Kimber in how tight they feel. But for the life of me, I have absolutely no idea what it is you are supposed to get for more than 3x what I paid. I personally think that the law of diminishing returns for 1911s comes in at about $1000. After that, you get more for the money, but it's not proportional.

 

[DW]

I have a few Nighthawk's and would say they are worth it if your into 1911's. The build quality, trigger and configurations they offer are unique.

 

[tarosean]

Personally I picked Wilson and Brown over Nighthawk. Subtle differences sealed the deal for me.

 

[smalls]

Depends on what you want out of your pistols. Tight groups at 50 yards? Hard to beat Nighthawk or Baer.

Is "combat accuracy" good enough for you? Then you're spending too much in a gun buying a Nighthawk. They're really, really nice guns, but you might be paying for stuff you don't need or want.

 

[rtz]

Interesting video and interesting comments about the video:

 

[rswartsell]

That watsed my time, his generalities cannot be argued with as far as they go. Extremely light on specifics. Damn sure maximizing the price point. I'll maybe investigate more when my Kimber Custom II Target fails me. Hasn't yet. Then again maybe not.

 

[2zulu1]

Check with Nighthawk on the cleaning solvents they recommend.

 

[LeonCarr]

If memory serves me right, and sometimes it does, Nighthawk Custom was founded by a former Wilson Combat Shop Foreman who branched out and started his own shop. Notice both of them are located in Berryville, AR.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Ankeny]

I have absolutely no idea what it is you are supposed to get for more than 3x what I paid.

I don't want to come off sounding arrogant or condescending, but I really didn't appreciate the higher end stuff until I started running guns hard, day in and day out, at a fairly decent level of competition. I like a gun that is well executed in craftsmanship with the best parts available, runs flawlessly, is durable for many tens of thousands of rounds, and is accurate well beyond my abilities. I generally don't find a gun like that at the LGS in the beginner's section.

Then there are guys who just appreciate a quality firearm just for the perceived intrinsic value. IMHO, that is the best reason to dump several grand into a pistol. Is a Talon or GRP (or an Executive Elite, PII, CQB, etc.) worth the money? To me the answer is absolutely yes. No question. And that is coming from a guy that doesn't have a lot of disposable income. A new Nighthawk Talon is a month's pay for a lot of us folks.

To the vast majority of shooters is a GRP or a Talon worth the money? Nope, nah, nada, never, no way in hell.