NightHawk Custom refinish project
I got into firearms rather late in life thanks to my first pleasure trip to Texas. I was a 65 year old Canadian who had never fired a handgun. In fact, I had never even held a handgun.
After a couple of SIG’s and a S&W PC revolver, I became convinced that I needed to own a Night Hawk Custom pistol in order to become a whole person. I joined all the popular gun forums but got most of my encouragement from http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay....ghthawk-Custom and some of the great guys that used to hang there every night.
Eventually I ordered a Predator ll with a bunch of options and in a colour scheme that was pretty unique for the time.
I still think that this gun was among the most stunning ever built by NHC. When it was delivered to me in Canada, there was a minor flaw because part of the slide hadn’t been dehorned the way I wanted. Larry Lyles was the customer service guy at the time and I think he was as good as they get at that job. He told me not to worry and that the gun would be corrected when I decided to return it for refreshing.
This year, I decided to do just that and got into contact with Bob Reeves who took on the job with such enthusiasm that I thought he was Larry reincarnated. Believe me, Bob takes second place to no one at the CS job. I had some special needs and can’t thank Bob enough for the effort he put in on my behalf.
My Predator ll was showing wear and there were a number of small features I wanted to change:
Originally, I had an ambi safety installed as I was shooting IPSC with it. I’m super fussy about some things and didn’t like the design of the right side control as it wasn’t symmetrical with the strong side. So I scrapped it and had NHC install their best single.
There was part of the slide that should have been beveled better. I pointed it out to NHC at the time and we agreed that would be addressed when I ever decided to get the whole gun refinished.
The shortened and countersunk slide stop has become popular on full customs so of course I had to have that done. :-)
Another popular design feature on the high-end guns, are French Borders so they were done as well as the muzzle ball cuts which make the front end of the predator look even more “burley”. I would not enjoy the "bad guy's" view of this pistol.
Here are a view rushed shots of the pistol as refinished in "Black Nitride". The only features that aren't really apparent in the pictures are the improved dehorning/beveling all round and the French borders which are thinly cut.
I like everyone of the features I asked for and the execution is flawless. There’s no way you might be able to say that it’s not a brand new gun. There are other options available but not many. I’ll bet she is one of a kinds now. I really like the Dirty Olive contrast of the grips.
NHC is supposed to be a "semi-custom" shop but you would never know it from the way Bob and the team handled my project. From beginning to end they made me feel as if I was there only and best customer.
It was a great experience and I know I have a "super star" pistol made by the best in the business.
Night Hawk Custom Predator II 45, SIG P-210 Target Legend, Stag Arms AR15, CMMG M4-LEP .22 Upper and a Tactical Solutions .22 upper for the 1911.
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