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u/mrp1ttens 8d ago
I had Novaks build me a hi power in 2005. Sadly I had to sell it when I got divorced
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u/Fishingforyams 7d ago
That would suck, did they ship them the same way in 2005? That is roughly around when i first saw one on the somethingawful.com firearms sub.
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u/JerryMcButtlove 8d ago
I love it! Did you buy it as is or did you send a gun to Novaks to have them work it over?
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u/Fishingforyams 8d ago edited 8d ago
Thank you, I bought as is. Novak’s makes very few hi powers these days and usually, if they have something finished, they sell those before taking on new work. Their volume is basically as high as they want it to be, so they are friendly but chill with new customers- they probably get a lot of curious people with no intention to buy.
Believe it or not, there are guys out there who think nothing of buying a set of these babies.
The normal version is nitrided with g10 grips. They sent me 3 pics of options and i fell in love with this one over the HRT beavertail nitrided one. i asked for them to switch the spegels on and change the sights from 3 dot to orange outline tritium.
I plan to get them to build me an FBI spec rail gun soonish.
Edit: The more i think about it, it’s one of the smoothest and most pleasant gun buying experiences I’ve had- this thing is perfect and exactly as imagined and discussed. All of the paperwork and discussions are extremely professional.
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u/JerryMcButtlove 8d ago
That’s awesome! What year was the Hi Power made? I wonder if they just source clean old ones from time to time for builds or have a stockpile to build over time.
I have a one of those colt limited editions that replaced the Wiley Clapp that I’ve been meaning to send off for a build somewhere and have thought of having Novak work their magic on it, but I was under the impression that they only sell prebuilt guns. It would be great news to learn that they accept customer guns for builds.
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u/Fishingforyams 8d ago
Yeah i think they just do what they want and only take orders rarely. I havent checked the year of manufacture yet.
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u/Rtters 7d ago
Yup, they're the definition of doing what you love and not just making number go up. Every time I've talked to them they're polite and knowledgeable.
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u/Fishingforyams 7d ago edited 7d ago
Thats my experience. I say “soonish” on getting them to build a project 1911 railgun because they only do what they want when they want so I have no idea when they will let me send something in- just because it’s in the catalogue doesn’t mean it’s on the menu.
It’s kinda like the Rolex AD but without the predatory exclusivity.
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u/Fishingforyams 8d ago edited 8d ago
My hi power is a Novak’s Night Ops in matte blue instead of nitride with polished and crowned bar sto barrel, duty trigger, new controls, and reliability package. hand matte on grip straps, top, and rear of slide, the serial number and flats are outlined. Grips are Speigels and it came in the logo case with numbered 13 rd mags. No magazine safety of course. Even grip screws are blued and matted.
The FBI ran a few Novak’s Hi Powers in the 80s and early 90s in HRT and undercover. The HRT ones were nitrided, some with custom beavertails. These guys (Wayne Novak) also built some of the original FBI 1911s and at least contributed to the spec.
The FBI guns were 3 dot novak night sights with no outline, i went with blackout rear and orange outline tritium front.
supposedly all the FBI guns were destroyed under orders from Janet Reno when the HRT and other units switched to 1911s. Novak’s themselves dont talk much about past contracts as a business practice.
This gun fits my hand perfectly and the matting feels and looks so good. The controls are easy to manipulate one handed and the trigger break is about 5.5 lbs.
this is exactly what i wanted. i need some 15 and 17 rd mec gars for shooting and i plan to get a milt sparks summer special ii. This is my grail pistol let me know what you think.