Hard chrome--an industrial-strength, long-lasting finish with a natural lubricity--makes a superb firearm finish, which is why Nighthawk Custom chose it for the frame of its new Dominator, a full-size 1911 in .45ACP that is topped off with a black Perma Kote-finished slide and accented with laser-engraved cocobolo grips.

It faithfully follows John Browning's original 1911 design, with the now familiar improvements including a skeletonized hammer, extended magazine release, serrated and oversized slide catch, extended thumb safety, beveled and blended magazine well, match grade barrel, match-grade trigger, beavertail grip safety and the removal of sharp edges.

Nighthawk Custom has been around only a few years but has some old hands with a lot of experience making 1911s, and their craftsmanship is obvious in the Dominator. Started in 2003, the four-year-old company has grown by offering a line of fine 1911s that can be customized to order.

The front sight blade contains a green tritium dot and the rear square notch has two yellow tritium dots, making the sights easy to acquire not only in daylight but also in low light. The rear sight is also fully adjustable.

NIGHTHAWK DOMINATOR
Manufacturer	Nighthawk Custom, www.NightHawkCustom.com, 877-268-4867
Type	1911 semiauto
Caliber	.45 ACP
Capacity	8+1
Barrel Length	5-in. match grade
Overall Length	8 5/8 in.
Weight	40 1/2 oz
Sights	tritium three-dot adjustable
Trigger	single action
Grips	cocobolo laser engraved
Frame	dehorned, front and rear cocking serrations, 25 lpi checkered front strap and mainspring housing, extended beavertail safety. Hard chrome slide optional.
Finish	hard chrome frame, black Perma-Kote slide
Price	$2,775

Those custom alterations can be as simple as substituting a blued finish for the standard Perma-Kote to specifying another manufacturer's hammer or trigger. While Nighthawk Custom uses excellent parts, the staff appreciates that some shooters just like other maker's parts better so will substitute them if specified.

Nighthawk will also chamber your 1911 in 9mm Luger, 9x23mm or .40 S&W instead of .45 ACP if that is what you want. All you have to do is ask. With 20 gunsmiths on staff, some with well over 20 years experience and Master Gunsmith ratings, this company can handle about any 1911-related request. Nighthawk also has some 'smiths that can wield hand tools pretty well, so if you want real hand checkering, French borders, serrations or a special part fitted you can get it at Nighthawk. All this expertise along with attention to detail and closely monitored tolerance standards results in accuracy that runs on the average of one-inch groups at 25 yards. Of course, that assumes the shooter is up to the task or a mechanical rest is used.

Returning to the gun itself, the front and back straps are skillfully checkered at 25 lines per inch and there are no rough edges on the gun to abrade clothing or skin. The barrel and slide are carefully hand fitted so there is little play, and the barrel crown is chamfered at a straight angle so that the end of the barrel is absolutely flush with the barrel bushing.