Ahead of SHOT Show 2026, Nighthawk Custom announced it would be releasing three new handguns, all built with the company's "One Gun, One Gunsmith" approach. Each pistol is designed to fulfill a different role, ranging from the practical to the nostalgic, and because of the company's custom approach, each pistol can have a number of custom options and upgrades applied during the build process.
Alpha Hawk
The Alpha Hawk is a purpose-built, compensated, compact carry 1911, engineered from the ground up to deliver reduced recoil and flatter shooting performance in a concealed-carry format. A Commander-length, chunk-ported barrel provides integrated compensation without added length or bulk, while a magazine well machined directly into the frame allows flat floor-plate magazines to sit flush, balancing reload efficiency with concealability. Designed for use with red dots and featuring a smooth, dehorned exterior, the Alpha Hawk reflects Nighthawk Custom's approach to the modern, single-stack carry gun.
GI Plus
The GI Plus is a historically inspired pistol from Nighthawk Custom—a refined expression of the classic American service M1911. The pistol features WWI-era rollmarks, a deep blued finish, vertical slide serrations and a ring hammer for a timeless, classic look. A modernized beavertail and refined ergonomics preserve the pistol’s traditional silhouette while improving shootability. A 14-karat gold bead front sight pairs with a rear sight shaped to echo early fixed-sight 1911 profiles, offering modern precision while preserving the pistol’s historically correct look. Nighthawk says the GI Plus is not a reproduction, but instead, it’s a deliberate distillation of a design that has endured for more than a century, executed to the company's modern standards.
Double Stack Thunder Ranch Combat Special
Built for practical use, the Double Stack Thunder Ranch Combat Special expands on Clint Smith’s original fighting pistol concept with increased capacity and reliability. Available in 4.25-inch Commander and 5-inch Government configurations with modern optics capability and finished in smoked nitride for durability and corrosion resistance, it is designed for hard use and real-world demands. Every detail reflects the Thunder Ranch philosophy—simple, durable, and effective.
The base price of the Nighthawk Custom Alpha Hawk is $5,199, the GI Plus is $4,499 and the Thunder Ranch Combat Special is $3,999. For more information, visit the Nighthawk Custom website here.
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