Nighthawk Custom Korth collaboration

[Coal Dragger]

Not sure if this has been posted here, but an interesting if expensive collaboration between Nighthawk Custom and Korth.

http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/korth

I've lusted after a Korth Combat but will likely never buy one since they are crazy $$$.

These Nighthawk Korths are still crazy $$$, just not as crazy. Maybe within reach. Yes I realize that they won't do anything a well tuned Smith won't also do. I still would love to see one in person.

 

[C0untZer0]

I'd like to get that 9mm SkyHawk but not with NightHawk's logo on it - that ruins it.

When someone buys a Korth I don't think that want to see some other logo on it...

 

[bullzeye8]

I'd like to get that 9mm SkyHawk but not with NightHawk's logo on it - that ruins it.

When someone buys a Korth I don't think that want to see some other logo on it...

But at least Nighthawk is another top notch-high end firearm manufacturer. It's not like Ruger's logo on a Korth it fits a little better.

I would love to try one of these though. The Mongoose looks the best but the trigger on the Super Sport sounds incredible.

 

[PabloJ]

Well, unlike Taurus, S&W or Ruger which are .357/.38 guns with 9x19 chambers this is designed from scratch as 9x19 revolver. The Nighthawk logo adds to masculinity of Korth. Unlike Korth which is super rich grandpas type revolver this one would go well with young vibrant, toned body in tailored Italian suit. To me it looks like it is worth nearly 2,000.

 

[PabloJ]

But at least Nighthawk is another top notch-high end firearm manufacturer. It's not like Ruger's logo on a Korth it fits a little better.

I would love to try one of these though. The Mongoose looks the best but the trigger on the Super Sport sounds incredible.

Mongoose don't mind fighting Cobras. Oh wait, if I ever decide to buy DA/SA Colt "Snake Gun" I be sure to look at poisonous serpent destroyer. I would tend to agree the Mongoose is likely best pick of those presented.

 

[C0untZer0]

I'll pay 2,000 if they take off the NightHawk logo and put Korth back on it.

 

[Jim Watson]

Why would they sell you one for half price?

 

[C0untZer0]

No - the MSRP on the SkyHawk 9mm is $1,699.00

 

[Coal Dragger]

The Mongoose would be my pick of the lot, however I'd love to see it with the Super Sport trigger. Probably an option. A very expensive one.

Give me that trigger in the Mongoose, with a 5.25" barrel, and for crying out loud put some decent stocks on the gun. Then maybe it might be almost worth the current asking price. Still crazy $$$. Although given what a Python is currently selling for, and the fact this is probably a superior revolver to even a Python or any S&W maybe the price is fair. Still diminishing returns for actual performance vs cost. I do wonder if the Python were still being made if it would end up costing about what one of these Nighthawk Korths does?

 

[hAkron]

Korth revolvers are really nice, but these Korth/Nighthawk guns don't do a whole lot for me. No way I would pay $2,000-$4,000 for a gun that comes with a hogue mono grip. For that kind of money put some wood on it.

 

[bannockburn]

Mighty expensive for my limited budget. Like the styling of the Mongoose (clean and very streamlined); not so much with the railed look of the Super Sport (or it's price tag).

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Based on the price of Korth and Nighthawk both, I have no, and will likely never have any interest in purchasing a gun from either company. I just don't see how they would be worth it.

Maybe I need to experience them to understand.

 

[Jim Watson]

No - the MSRP on the SkyHawk 9mm is $1,699.00

Oh, OK. I had not looked closely at anything but the $3500 Mongoose.

 

[CraigC]

Unlike Korth which is super rich grandpas type revolver...

I really have to wonder about statements like this. What does one consider "super rich"??? It's a lot to spend on one gun but I know plenty of working stiffs who do so. Why? Because they'd rather have one very fine revolver that is exactly what they wanted than several plain factory guns. Or maybe they serve a special purpose, like .475's and .500's for hunting. How? The old fashioned way, they save their money. The custom revolvers I'm referring to may take two, three or more years to completion and they use that time to save their money and pay for it. The first time I spent $4000 for one gun, it was a 28ga Merkel. I didn't buy it because I had piles of money laying around and was looking for somewhere to throw it. I bought it because I wanted a special bird gun that I would use for the rest of my life. I was making less than $40,000/yr and a bachelor at the time. So I put it on a credit card, scrimped, saved and sacrificed and put every spare nickel I had towards paying it off. Some folks decide what they can afford by whatever is in their bank account at any given time. Some don't. If it's important to you and not just another distraction, you'll find a way.

 

[PabloJ]

I really have to wonder about statements like this. What does one consider "super rich"??? It's a lot to spend on one gun but I know plenty of working stiffs who do so. Why? Because they'd rather have one very fine revolver that is exactly what they wanted than several plain factory guns. Or maybe they serve a special purpose, like .475's and .500's for hunting. How? The old fashioned way, they save their money. The custom revolvers I'm referring to may take two, three or more years to completion and they use that time to save their money and pay for it. The first time I spent $4000 for one gun, it was a 28ga Merkel. I didn't buy it because I had piles of money laying around and was looking for somewhere to throw it. I bought it because I wanted a special bird gun that I would use for the rest of my life. I was making less than $40,000/yr and a bachelor at the time. So I put it on a credit card, scrimped, saved and sacrificed and put every spare nickel I had towards paying it off. Some folks decide what they can afford by whatever is in their bank account at any given time. Some don't. If it's important to you and not just another distraction, you'll find a way.

Korth is to revolver what Purdey or Holland & Holland is to a game gun.

If you were looking for nice small bird gun my top recommendation for working man would be used 20ga Ithaca SKB. Last one I have seen was 25" or 26" IC-Mod Model 280 for mere $750 and would serve just as well as $4000 Merkel.

 

[I6turbo]

....The first time I spent $4000 for one gun, it was a 28ga Merkel. I didn't buy it because I had piles of money laying around and was looking for somewhere to throw it. I bought it because I wanted a special bird gun that I would use for the rest of my life. I was making less than $40,000/yr and a bachelor at the time. So I put it on a credit card, scrimped, saved and sacrificed and put every spare nickel I had towards paying it off. Some folks decide what they can afford by whatever is in their bank account at any given time. Some don't. If it's important to you and not just another distraction, you'll find a way.

If you were looking for nice small bird gun my top recommendation for working man would be used 20ga Ithaca SKB. Last one I have seen was 25" or 26" IC-Mod Model 280 for mere $750 and would serve just as well as $4000 Merkel.

CraigC, next time, try cruising the internet for free advice to save you money. You'd have saved $3250 right there in one stroke, and you'd still had all the gun you needed.

 

[Coal Dragger]

As CraigC points out some of us are willing to spend money on expensive guns even though we're not wealthy. I own only one revolver, a Freedom Arms M83 Premier Grade in .454 Casull with a spare cylinder in .45 ACP. It is without a doubt one of the finest firearms I've ever experienced. I decided a few years ago that with my income as a locomotive engineer I could either own a lot of regular guns, or I could own a few really nice guns.

I decided on the nice guns route aside from a few service grade pistols and carbines. I go long periods of time between new guns, but that means I can then afford nice guns.

I'd love a double action revolver of the same level of quality as my Freedom Arms, and the Korth Combat or a Manhurin MR73 were on my radar but priced out of my reach. This new Nighthawk Korth is still obnoxiously expensive, but not the crazy $5-7K that a traditional Korth would.

 

[CraigC]

CraigC, next time, try cruising the internet for free advice to save you money. You'd have saved $3250 right there in one stroke, and you'd still had all the gun you needed.

Yeah, no kidding!

Korth is to revolver what Purdey or Holland & Holland is to a game gun.

Yeah, um, no. Very difficult to compare a $5000 revolver to a $150,000 new production British double.

If you were looking for nice small bird gun my top recommendation for working man would be used 20ga Ithaca SKB. Last one I have seen was 25" or 26" IC-Mod Model 280 for mere $750 and would serve just as well as $4000 Merkel.

If I had wanted a $750 shotgun, I would've bought one.

 

[tarosean]

CraigC nailed it.

Quality over quantity, has got nothing to do with your income level and all about your desire.

 

[bullzeye8]

Based on the price of Korth and Nighthawk both, I have no, and will likely never have any interest in purchasing a gun from either company. I just don't see how they would be worth it.

Maybe I need to experience them to understand.

Don't have the experience with Korth but I do with Nighthawk 1911's. I was expecting it to be better but I didn't realize how much better it actually would be until I got to shoot one. I definitely felt it was worth it after shooting it.

I also agree with others that quality is better than quantity. One super nice gun that I shoot great with is better than 5 good guns that I shoot good with. A super nice gun is also more fun to shoot.

 

[HankB]

Am I the only one who thinks the Skyhawk looks like a starter pistol or an old (vintage 1960's) cap gun?

It's been a long time since I saw & handled a Korth revolver . . . it just seemed a little bit, well, off to me.

 

[C0untZer0]

Am I the only one who thinks the Skyhawk looks like a starter pistol

1) Very few 9mm revolvers use a "9mm-sized" cylinder. Most use a 38 spl-sized cylinder which leaves a lot of free-bore between the 9mm bullet tip and the forcing cone. The SkyHawk has a cylinder that's basically the length of a 9mm cartridge, probably a smidge over 1.17"

2) No revolver manufacturer that I know of makes a frame custom fit for such a shortened cylinder. The 9mm revolvers that I know of have that have "9mm-sized" cylinders, have a window that is larger than the cylinder - ie a window made for 357 or 38 spl. You can see the gap in the Alfa Proj and the S&W 929:

 

[RedAlert]

Division of labor?

With this pairing, Korth & Nighthawk, I wonder which company does what? Who does the machining, who does the finishing, etc.?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I sometime see things others would not. While looking at the $3400 .357 magnum I couldn't help but notice it comes with a set of Hogue rubber grips. For $3400 you would think they would put a nicer set of grips on it than a $23 set of rubber grips, really...

 

[PabloJ]

I sometime see things others would not. While looking at the $3400 .357 magnum I couldn't help but notice it comes with a set of Hogue rubber grips. For $3400 you would think they would put a nicer set of grips on it than a $23 set of rubber grips, really...

I like Hogue grips on that 9x19 combat revolver, but if you don't like them you can order hand-finished Korth with hand-checkered wooden grips. It should not be a problem.
Given what people pay for discontinued but once mass-produced Colt Python I suspect there is a market out there for this Nighthawk. This is smart collaboration because it benefits both Korth and Nighthawk Armament Corp. Personally I would rather have Skyhawk instead of Colt DA/SA revolver. Two thousand dollars is not a lot of money when one realizes people pay close to $600 for Ruger with plastic frame and components.