Opinions of Nighthawk Custom pistols

I just stripped the cruddy thing (man I really need to clean that thing) and I was wrong, there isn't any frame peening (imagine my relief at my mis-recollection). What I was thinking of was some peening of the recoil guide on my Stinger. It is a bit deformed, but nothing really bad. I am sure that the TRS is over due for a spring change, it is the original. I am not sure what the poundage is, probably 18 or 18.5, whatever Baer uses to build them. I am going to check with them to see if they will fit a Heinie type mag well to it and maybe hard chrome the lower. I have worn the bluing pretty good, especially in the grip area. I have thought about sending it to Robar for their NP3 finish as it sounds like pretty good stuff, but I have heard that Baer is picky about warranty service if they don't do the work on the gun (I can see that with major mods like welding a mag well, but refinishing doesn't make all that much sense).

I am getting the itch to hit the range. I have a bunch of brass that needs reloading, so that sounds like a good project for this winter.

M1M you've been a big help man, thanks.
 
NP3 is ok, it's rather soft. Aggressive cleaners can cause problems with it due to the nickle content. I would really suggest Tripp Research to do the HC. Blue slide over a matte HC frame = SEXY!
 
Originally Quoted by...FireInvestigator
Ted Yosts are great, but come on Tolly..I got you figured for the kind a guy that has an Armand Swenson somewhere tucked in his safe. A Purist. Fess Up.
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Oh you mean like this one http://www.coolgunsite.com/comm_pistols/custom/swenson/2.JPG

If you are thinking about having anything harchromed, there is only ONE true master and that is Virgil Tripp of Tripp Research, ask Les Baer. Coincidentally Virgil is also an amaing 1911 and 2011 pistolsmith(he invented the 2011), but he isn't taking in new work. Seriously though, if you need to have something hardchromed Virgil is "The Man" http://www.trippresearch.com/chrome/chrome.htm.

If you are not in a hurry, a couple of other smiths that are right there at the VERY top of the game on package type guns and full house customs are Chuck Rogers @ http://www.rogersprecision.com/ check out his work, this man is amazing, and Bob Rodgers @ http://www.rodgerspistolsmithing.com/ is also a master. I have 1911s that both of them have done and they also rub elbows with the elite 1911 smiths. As far as magwells go, there is no doubt that Stan Chen does the meanest, slickest, coolest, baddest assed magwell on the planet! If you really want to see pictures of work done by the best of the best, go over to this website http://www.louderthanwords.us/ and enter the forums. All of the best 1911 smiths are there and you can even chat with them as well as see examples of their work on a regular basis. Guys like Ted Yost, Ned Christiansen, Stan Chen, John Harrison, Chuck Rogers, C.T. Brian, Lew Bonitz, Jason Burton and more. Oh ya, there are also some of the world's finest holster makers hanging out over there. Do yourself a favor and check it out. If you ever travel much or get to North Central Texas and want to come by and personally check out all of these different 1911s and see what they shoot like, you are welcome to stop by.
 
Well I have been in contact with Baer and they said they don't use Tripp for hard chroming and Les won't fit anyone else's products on his guns, so getting him to put a Heinie type mag well is out. Looks like I may send my TRS in to him to get his magwell on it and hard chrome the lower and re-blue the upper. Add to that getting an extra extractor fitted and tuned and a couple other things and it ought to run me about $800 or a little less. I'll have to wait for the wife to hit the lotto before I go hunting out genuine Heinie's or other top smiths. :D
 
Les sends everything out to hard chrome, I don't know why he keeps telling people he does it. I would highly recommend having Virgil Tripp do the Hard Chrome, he used to do all of Les Baer's stuff. You should do the extrator yourself. That is something that every 1911 shooter should learn to do, and it isn't hard to do at all, nor does it require any black magic. I think you should send the gun out and get the magwell YOU want, then send it to Tripp and get a first rate hard chrome job done that you will be happy with for a very long time. Really progunner, please check out some of the smiths over on Louder Than Words website I provided a link to earlier, you will be glad you did. Send it to one of them(Stan Chen) and get the magwell YOU want, as well as the extractor done and a good once over, then shoot it over to Tripp and I can promise you, yes promise you that your TRS will run better than ever. At least go check out some of their work http://www.louderthanwords.us/
 
Tolly, you make strong arguments. I suppose what I really worry about is voiding a warranty, but if the gun is as good as I think it is, I am better off sending it out to who I want and piss on the warranty. I have been over at LTW and I am looking about.

Edited to add, it looks like Chen or CT Brian aren't taking on anymore work right now except for full house customs. I sent an email to confirm and am waiting for a response. I will look around LTW and see if anyone else is doing work right now. Tolly, if you know how to do the extractor, kindly point me in the direction of a how to. I assuming it is more than a matter of just putting the part in, there is tensioning and the like to be done yes?
 
Progunner said:
Tolly, if you know how to do the extractor, kindly point me in the direction of a how to. I assuming it is more than a matter of just putting the part in, there is tensioning and the like to be done yes?
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Not Tolly obviously, but I can walk you thru it tomorrow when I get home. Fairly simple. Matter of fact, most 1911 work is fairly simple. Some things are best left to the pros unless you are extremely comfortable with the work you do (trigger jobs come to mind)
Aaron

Like I said earlier- I still say Tripp.
 
I understand your concern about the warranty, but there really isn't anything to break on a 1911. If you have put 500 plus rounds down range already without any major issues, you have already established that the pistol is pretty much in spec at least as far as it would take a gunsmith to fix, ie. breechface being machined wrong, barrel lugs not cut properly and so forrth. Also, if you send it to any of the smith over on the Louder Than Words site to have a magwell put on, tell them you want them to give it a complete detail strip and measurement check just to make sure everything is kosher since you are voiding your warranty. In almost all cases after those guys work on something they themselves become your new warranty center and repair man. They will understand the position you are in and be more than willing to set your mind at ease. Remember, these guys take tremendous pride in what they do, and they DO NOT want you standing there at the range, or worse yet in a self defense situation and have your pistol malfunction.

As far as Stan not taking work goes, that may be true right now, but I assure you that one of them can fit you in. However, if you will let me know after you hear back from Stan and if he says he isn't accepting anything, I will make a call on your behalf and see if I can get you in. I should be able to, and I don't mind a bit.

As far as the extractor fitting and tuning thing goes, yes, there is a good step by step tutorial over on the 1911forum by a guy who goes by 1911Tuner, I will see if I can find it for you. If in the mean time you need any help diagnosing a problem, fitting a part, or anything else 1911 related, feel free to ask and I'll be glad to share what I know.
 
Tolly, I have to say I am glad I started this thread. :) I have emails out to Stan Chen and CT Brian. I will let you know when I hear back from either one of them.

If you happen across that tutorial I appreciate a link.
 
Tolly said:
I If in the mean time you need any help diagnosing a problem, fitting a part, or anything else 1911 related, feel free to ask and I'll be glad to share what I know.
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Hey, no fair! I offered to help first!:D
That's what I love about this place. Everything from flashlights to crew served weapons......someone has the answer you are looking for.:thumbup::D
 
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