Well, I picked up a Nighthawk Enforcer today at Big Bore, one of our local gunshops and a Nighthawk dealer. I didn't get a chance to take it to the range today but will do a review and a range report this weekend. Awesome fit, finish and workmanship. I can't wait toget it on the range. :smile:
Nighthawk Enforcer
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The other gun in the pictures is my Kimber TLE II. I can hear my wife now. They look just alike. They are both big, heavy, black and that thing cost how much? :wink:
They are really very different in look and feel. She won't buy it, lol.
They are really very different in look and feel. She won't buy it, lol.
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Bumper it's like buying a 1911 with a damascus slide. People will ask "Why?" and when they do, you have to respond, "If you have to ask why then you just don't understand".
I have 3 very custom guns as you know. The Rock River and the 2 Thunder Ranch Specials. My Kimber CDP is a custom gun but it's just not in the same class as the others.
When I "play" with my Rock River I am still soooo impressed with the fit, feel, finish, etc. A remarkable piece of machinery.
One gun I would still like to see and own is a 1911 with a damascus slide and a color case hardened frame. I think that it would look so cool, with Ivory grips.
Just the thought of such a gun gets me soooo excited!!!
I have 3 very custom guns as you know. The Rock River and the 2 Thunder Ranch Specials. My Kimber CDP is a custom gun but it's just not in the same class as the others.
When I "play" with my Rock River I am still soooo impressed with the fit, feel, finish, etc. A remarkable piece of machinery.
One gun I would still like to see and own is a 1911 with a damascus slide and a color case hardened frame. I think that it would look so cool, with Ivory grips.
Just the thought of such a gun gets me soooo excited!!!
That would be an awesome looking gun. BigBore makes a Dascus steel slide 1911 (picture attached). They are awesome looking. Nighthawk said that Gordon had made one Damascus Mercury model (the one with the holes in the slide) and would never make another one. THAT would be an awesome combination as well with the high polished, fluted bull barrel. I would sure hate to pay for one.
The only Nighthawk I have ever shot was nighthawk's Talon (4") and it was so different than shooting my Kimber. Recoil was much lighter, accuracy was insane and it just "felt" different as the slide moved. Don't get me wrong, I like my Kimber's "out of the box" accuracy and I believe them to be damn good guns. But when it comes to the lives of my family, knowing that a custom costs more for a good reason, the cost is an aside. I can't see it as a gun that I will ever sell. I told my son tonight that I would be leaving it to him in my will. He said he would need a display case to put it in; I told him I would leave himn a good holster to go with it. :wink:
The only Nighthawk I have ever shot was nighthawk's Talon (4") and it was so different than shooting my Kimber. Recoil was much lighter, accuracy was insane and it just "felt" different as the slide moved. Don't get me wrong, I like my Kimber's "out of the box" accuracy and I believe them to be damn good guns. But when it comes to the lives of my family, knowing that a custom costs more for a good reason, the cost is an aside. I can't see it as a gun that I will ever sell. I told my son tonight that I would be leaving it to him in my will. He said he would need a display case to put it in; I told him I would leave himn a good holster to go with it. :wink:
I don't understand why he needs two guns, only one can be used at a time. But they are such nice looking and of course handle differently, yea, thats it they handle differently and will require hours of shooting and practice. Good luck on your new play toy Bumper, its nice.
Some feedback on NightHawk guns
I just got this from a member of my IDPA Club (match was yesterday):
MESSAGE:
My friend said I should drive him up to a gun shop in Delray to look at some 1911s that were on the shelf for sale. Jason, Watfa and Steve piled in my truck for the trip.
It is a nice shop and it does have some nice 1911s for sale. I wanted to see the new Nighthawk line which is being made by three of Wilson's top 'smiths who struck out on their own. Of all their guns the only one that interested me was their cheapest one, the Enforcer.
The pistol is well excuted, nicely finished off and tight without being to tight. Steve twisted my arm and I bought it. Since it was his idea he got to shoot it first at the range. That's what friends are for (shoot your guns and help you spend your money). I should tell you that I had no intention of buying a gun that day.
I go back and tear it apart to replace the trigger with a short one that night. Upon trying to remove the side I found it was stuck on pretty tight and I didn't want to mess it up so I waited until morning to get permission from Nighthawk to use a rubber mallet to remove the slide. The recoil rod (a short one as they should be) was left very wide and would not fit down on the top of the barrel and thereofre binded in the slide. A file and foredom tool took care of that problem.
Next was the trigger. I found that whoever put the gun together never cleaned out the slots for the trigger to ride. A stone took care of that problem.
Next was the mag release was left with some burrs inside the frame. It did not operate with any smoothness. Craytex took care of that.
Then the sear needed a little polish on the wheel. Then the hammer.
The point is it looked great on the outside but needed some work on the inside, just like the Wilson's. I'm sure that some would be happy with it as it was but I wanted better. Figure in my time and it wasn't the bargain it appeared to be at first. Still for the money it is a worthwhile investment, certainly not a custom pistol but not the price either.
I just got this from a member of my IDPA Club (match was yesterday):
MESSAGE:
My friend said I should drive him up to a gun shop in Delray to look at some 1911s that were on the shelf for sale. Jason, Watfa and Steve piled in my truck for the trip.
It is a nice shop and it does have some nice 1911s for sale. I wanted to see the new Nighthawk line which is being made by three of Wilson's top 'smiths who struck out on their own. Of all their guns the only one that interested me was their cheapest one, the Enforcer.
The pistol is well excuted, nicely finished off and tight without being to tight. Steve twisted my arm and I bought it. Since it was his idea he got to shoot it first at the range. That's what friends are for (shoot your guns and help you spend your money). I should tell you that I had no intention of buying a gun that day.
I go back and tear it apart to replace the trigger with a short one that night. Upon trying to remove the side I found it was stuck on pretty tight and I didn't want to mess it up so I waited until morning to get permission from Nighthawk to use a rubber mallet to remove the slide. The recoil rod (a short one as they should be) was left very wide and would not fit down on the top of the barrel and thereofre binded in the slide. A file and foredom tool took care of that problem.
Next was the trigger. I found that whoever put the gun together never cleaned out the slots for the trigger to ride. A stone took care of that problem.
Next was the mag release was left with some burrs inside the frame. It did not operate with any smoothness. Craytex took care of that.
Then the sear needed a little polish on the wheel. Then the hammer.
The point is it looked great on the outside but needed some work on the inside, just like the Wilson's. I'm sure that some would be happy with it as it was but I wanted better. Figure in my time and it wasn't the bargain it appeared to be at first. Still for the money it is a worthwhile investment, certainly not a custom pistol but not the price either.
I have a hard time taking this message very seriously. I have never heard anyone, either in person or in a post (and I have read a lot of them) have a problem with any of the flaws that this guy is writing about. Since I worked in the yard all day today I didn't get a chance to take mine to the range yet, but I did strip it and examined just about every part with a magnifying glass and saw nothing that I would I consider less than perfect. Mine stripped easily and went back together with no problems. I agree with the short guide rod being "as they should be" but it was not "too wide", nor did it bind with anything. And, I doubt that it was some early problem that they ironed out later since mine has a 2 digit serial number. Possibly this guy is one of those buyers that are never satisfied with anything no matter how good it is or simply thinks he can do better than the proven master gunsmiths at Wilson/Nighthawk. I would also wonder what his definition of custom is?ExSoldier762 said:
Same experience here, Andy. I can certainly believe anyone can make a mistake (we're human after all) but doubt very seriously that they would let a gun with multiple problems go out their door. The guy lost all credibility with me when he stated that Nighthawk was "certainly not a custom pistol".APachon said:
Hey fellas,
I happen to know the guy that bought the pistola in question. He's legit. He has no 'beef' with anyone, 'specially Nighthawk. He may have simply found some stuff on the gun that could use a littel touch up. He likes to smith a little. No biggie. There is also a chance that he just ended up with 'one of those' guns. May have slipped through. It could be anything, maybe Irv was having a day. Either way, he didnt bash 'em. And I dont think it hurt the manufacturer's credibility at all.
I'm gonna drop the ol boy a line and see if he will contribute here in the future. Like I said, he's a good guy. I hope he dicides to join us.
Dan
I happen to know the guy that bought the pistola in question. He's legit. He has no 'beef' with anyone, 'specially Nighthawk. He may have simply found some stuff on the gun that could use a littel touch up. He likes to smith a little. No biggie. There is also a chance that he just ended up with 'one of those' guns. May have slipped through. It could be anything, maybe Irv was having a day. Either way, he didnt bash 'em. And I dont think it hurt the manufacturer's credibility at all.
I'm gonna drop the ol boy a line and see if he will contribute here in the future. Like I said, he's a good guy. I hope he dicides to join us.
Dan
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