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ARTV's Joe Kurtenbach takes a trip down to Nighthawk Custom's Berryville, Ark., manufacturing facility, for an inside look at how they build their premium 1911s. Starting with forged frames and slides, Nighthawk gunsmiths build these handguns from the ground up, with enough pride in their workmanship to stamp their initials into every completed frame—each gun being built by a single gunsmith. For more on all the work and craftsmanship that goes into every Nighthawk Custom 1911 check out this video from American RiflemanTelevision.
Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.
For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs.
For the past 100 years, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) has established the standards that ensure our safety when using modern shotshells, cartridges, firearms and more.