Have you ever wanted a top-of-the-line combat pistol, one that was designed and built from the ground up for one purpose and one purpose alone: to keep its bearer alive? Well, I recently was given the opportunity of testing just such a handgun--the Nighthawk Custom 10-8--and I was impressed.

Nighthawk Custom is located in Berryville, Arkansas, and specializes in custom 1911 pistols. The staff includes some of the most noted 1911 master craftsmen in the industry today, with more than 75 years of combined experience. Nighthawk will produce a pistol to the customer’s exact specifications and purpose--military/police service, concealed carry or even competition--but if you examine the catalog it quickly becomes obvious that Nighthawk’s specialty is the no-frills combat pistol.

Now, no frills does not mean that the pistols are not attractive, but most of them display a subdued exterior that, to my way of thinking, emphasizes their intended role as serious, combat handguns. Nighthawk pistols don’t have any features that aren’t absolutely necessary for the task at hand, but they do possess every feature that is.

The Nighthawk 10-8 was designed in collaboration with 10-8 Consulting, which provides consulting services, small arms/tactics training and specialized products for law enforcement, military and private security professionals. At first glance, the 10-8 appears to be sort of a plain Jane pistol, but close examination shows the quality of parts and workmanship that went into it.

The steel slide features front and rear grasping grooves, allowing the shooter to charge the pistol with a variety of grips or when wearing gloves. The ejection port is lowered and radiused to ensure positive ejection of spent cases, and all of the edges--including the sights--have been radiused.

Possibly the most attractive (and practical) feature of the 10-8 are the sights. The super rugged 10-8 Performance rear sight, designed by pistolsmith Hilton Yam, is machined from hardened bar stock and features a generously sized U notch while the front of the slide has been cut to accept a Trijicon night sight. This combination provides a sharp sight picture and allows fast target acquisition and transitioning, even under low-light conditions.

A stainless steel match grade barrel, with a nicely crowned muzzle, is positioned by a stainless steel, match barrel bushing. Unlike many of today’s custom 1911s, the 10-8 uses the standard recoil spring setup.

The forged steel frame boasts an integral plunger tube. The gun has a long, aluminum trigger--with a hidden overtravel stop--and the slide release, thumb safety and magazine catch are all extended, but not so much that they interfere with normal handling or most styles of grip. An extended beavertail grip safety provides enhanced recoil control and comfort.

The 10-8’s VZ Diamondback grips’ textured surface provides a secure purchase and superior recoil control. In fact, I believe that you’d have to tear the skin off the palms of my hand to get this pistol away from me.

To improve overall handling even further, the frontstrap and mainspring housing are checkered, and metal has been removed from under the trigger guard for a high grip. The magazine well opening has been aggressively beveled to ensure smooth reloads while a lanyard attachment point is located on the bottom of the mainspring housing.

As is now standard on most duty-type pistols, the 10-8 comes with a Dawson Light Speed Rail for mounting tactical lights and other equipment. Finally, the entire pistol is finished with a high tech ceramic finish known as PermaKote. Its flat-black appearance is not only eminently practical for a combat handgun but bespeaks ruggedness.

NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM 10-8
Caliber:	.45 ACP
Capacity:	8 + 1
Barrel Length:	5 in. match
Overall Length:	8.7 in.
Weight:	40 oz
Finish:	Perma Kote
Sights:	rear, 10-8 Performance U notch; front, Trijicon serrated blade with tritium insert
Grips:	VZ Diamondback with 10-8 logo
Notes:	front and rear grasping grooves on slide; elongated hammer; Dawson Light Speed rail adapter. Optional ambidextrous thumb safeties, SureFire X200 with Dawson adapter interface
Price:	$2,775
Manufacturer:	Nighthawk Custom, nighthawkcustom.com, 877-423-4230