Nighthawk’s Interchangeable Optics System is now available for existing 1911 or 2011 slides with a Novak-style sight cut. The plate slides onto a dovetail in the rear of the slide and is held in place with a set screw and pin. Changing plates takes only seconds.
April 27, 2020
By J. Scott Rupp
Nighthawk Custom has an innovative system that allows pistol shooters to switch back and forth between iron sights and red dot sights seamlessly and quickly. Called the Interchangeable Optics System or IOS, it’s a longitudinally dovetailed plate installed on the rear of a 1911 slide.
Formerly the IOS was available only on new Nighthawk builds, but the company recently announced it would now install the IOS on existing 1911 and 2011 slides from Nighthawk, Kimber, Springfield, Colt and other slides that use a Novak-style sight cut.
The IOS allows shooters to switch back and forth between iron sights and red dot sights quickly—and with no loss of zero in either sight system. Plates are available for red dots with Trijicon RMR, Shield RMSc and Vortex Viper footprints. It’s an ingenious design. Simply loosen the set screw on the top of the IOS, drive out a pin and withdraw the IOS plate to the rear. Because the dovetail is tapered, when you switch back and forth between iron and red dot, your zero is maintained.
These fully machined IOS plates are currently offered for Trijicon RMR, Shield RMSc and Vortex Viper red-dot footprints. Email CustomShop@NighthawkCustom.com for more information.
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