Nighthawk custom
- Thread starter brutus51
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johnmcl
Member
Brutus, I simply think it is that the heart wants what the heart wants.
Nighthawk is one among many 1911 shops that produce state of the art weapons. They sell theirs at that price because people, and a lot of them, are willing to pay it.
I understand your question though.
Nighthawk is one among many 1911 shops that produce state of the art weapons. They sell theirs at that price because people, and a lot of them, are willing to pay it.
I understand your question though.
JTQ
Member
Quality parts with lots of hand labor by trained and talented individuals.What in the world could these 1911's have to make them worth $3500?
It's often tough for folks to appreciate the cost of a custom or semi-custom 1911 these days when most guns are made out of polymer, that can be snapped together by minimum wage workers in 10 - 15 minutes. That doesn't mean you have to own a custom or semi-custom 1911, nor should you, and it certainly may not be worth it to you, but that's why they cost a whole bunch more than a Glock, or Beretta, or SIG, or even a Colt 1911.
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sabbfan
Member
I don’t own any of them, but nighthawk are on par with Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown, custom/semi custom makers with the price to match. I think Nighthawk advertises one gunsmith makes one gun start to finish as opposed to an assembly line. I’ll probably never own one but can’t begrudge someone who can afford and appreciate one.
mrmike7189
Member
If you have to ask then you can't afford them! LOL
Expensive customized really nice guns. It is like buying a Rolls royce as a daily driver ....when a ford taurus is more affordable.
really like looking at their guns in magazines
Expensive customized really nice guns. It is like buying a Rolls royce as a daily driver ....when a ford taurus is more affordable.
really like looking at their guns in magazines
Zerodefect
member
The same reason why custom 2011's are $4500.
Supply and demand. They're on an, at least, 6 month waiting list just to start your build. Somebodies buying them. And every time someone makes a cheaper 2011, it's ugly and lacks cutting edge features. Not much different than 1911's.
Supply and demand. They're on an, at least, 6 month waiting list just to start your build. Somebodies buying them. And every time someone makes a cheaper 2011, it's ugly and lacks cutting edge features. Not much different than 1911's.
I don't know if this prospective will make it better or worst. Remember that when the 1911 was designed to require more handfitting than machine work as labour was cheaperWhat in the world could these 1911's have to make them worth $3500?
Having seen what it take to put together a correctly fitted 1911, a reasonable price for one would be about $2500...or about the price of a Springfield Armory Professional. While there are many 1911s that sell for less than that that are very functional, they've cut some corners somewhere. Many purchasers would never notice and that is their target market. Anything that you want added/changed from that basic gun adds to the cost.
I have a 1911 that would cost over $4k to replicate, but to look at it most folks wouldn't be able to tell the difference between it and a Les Baer...one small example is that the base of the dovetailed front sight has been contoured to the top of the slide. That means that the gun had to be sighted in for the ammo to be shot in it before it was fitted. The rear sight also wasn't an off-the-shelf item. The smith made it from a block of steel to perform as I wanted.
I shoot it in IDPA competition and have carried it as my CCW
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No it's not. The only correlation is that they are both hand build.
Here is of of several NHC's I own. I certainly dont have RR type money..
JTQ nailed it though.. Youre paying for quality parts and a craftsmans time.
FL-NC
Member
I've shot some of the more expensive 1911's from a variety of manufacturers. Yes, they look, feel, and shoot nice, but to me, they aren't $2,000 + nicer than other 1911's off the shelf. I guess people like the guns or the names stamped on them, because if people weren't buying hem, they wouldn't be making them. Just my opinion.
I don't think you're giving enough people credit for being educated in how a 1911 is supposed to function
This reminds me of the story about Heckler & Koch considering getting into the 1911 market. After input on design and features from Vickers and Hackathorn, they looked at the cost to produce one...a fighting gun, not a safe queen. They opted out when they determined how small the market would be for a correctly made 1911 at the price they would have to charge; rumor had it that it was north of $3k...for a production 1911
That is how we ended up with the HK45 at just a hair over $1100
FL-NC
Member
I don't get what you are saying.
It isn't about them being $xxxx nicer, it is about what it cost to make them correctly following the original design.
The 1911 wasn't designed to be produced by modern manufacturing methods. If your intention, or what you are basing value upon, is efficient function and durability, the design is obsolete.
GunnyUSMC
Member
I watched a Smith doing custom work on a 1911. It was a basic 1911 that was getting right at $2000 worth of work dune to it. The time and skill that the work takes is what you pay for in a high dollar 1911. Now I would love to have a nice custom 1911, but just can't see paying that much. To some it's well worth it and I have never had a problem with how someone else spends their money.
FL-NC
Member
I am in agreeance with this. I have several 1911's that I enjoy shooting, mostly for the fact that they are cool guns that work. From a GI issue 1917 model, to a SA TRP operator. But when I carry a handgun I intend to use in a role that doesn't involve a practice range, it is going to be a make and model designed much more recently- and with options to put holes ranging from 9- 11.4 mm in the intended target.
Ok, here's mine...really pretty plain. I've since changed the stocks, these were too thin
Zerodefect
member
If someone wants to mass produce these for under $3000, they'll clean up.
Hand fitted everything.
Hand fitted everything.
But I bet they would have been great.
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