Ken Hackathorn's Personal Novak Custom Colt 1911
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- There are some guns with history based on who built them. Some have a history because of who owned them... then there are some with both. This is one of those guns. My newest acquisition and probably the coolest gun I own: Ken Hackathorn's Personal Novak Custom 1911. The story of this gun spans decades, so please bear with the length of this video. An "onion of cool", as one of my friends put it.
This is a long video, so here are some time markers to help you navigate:
0:00 Introduction
1:48 How I Got This Gun
9:22 Wayne Novak & Novak Custom History
15:23 "The Answer"
19:40 Ken Hackathorn's Personal Novak Custom 1911
29:46 Milt Sparks Holsters
31:34 Closing
If you'd like to see this gun in the hands of Ken on RUclips, check out this video below:
• The Bren Ten, Luger, T...
Of course, a HUGE thank you to the channel's sponsor, Guns.com! I peruse their certified used often and you never know what 1911 gems may be waiting for you there!
Instagram: @1776_duck
Thanks for sharing the gun and history, and for doing your bit to keep the 1911 community alive and kicking. We need more guys your age interested in them I can't wait to see the one for the 1908!
Thank you! I am trying my hardest to make the connections and tell the stories of these old-school guns and guys!
Absolutely incredible to receive a handgun like this from shooting royalty. Beautiful handgun.
Thank you! I am STILL in awe.
Beautiful classic handgun. When I put my Colt in Milt sparks leather it feels like heaven. Ken Hackathorn is a legend. Congrats on a once in a lifetime gun. You will not top that. Great video.
Mil Sparks is the truth! Thank you!
I love your enthusiasm for 1911s, fire arm history, paying homage to those that came before you, and traditions. It’s truly a joy to watch your videos. Thank you.
Great video! The history of multiple legends and great stories. This is definitely a favorite for me. Thank you and Look forward to more videos.
A Swenson video is coming...
I'm happy to see Hack pass it on to a young guy. Eli can get another thirty or forty years out of it before it's passed to another worthy heir. Keep running that Pony!
I certainly will!
Thanks for the back story and info. Like I said before, this is the cream rising to the top. It doesn’t get much better. Straight gangster. OG asf, sir.
And thanks for the update on Novak Customs. Gives a fella hope!
Yep, I felt like they needed a little bit of a shout!
Thanks for sharing this amazing 1911 from Ken. I have watched Ken and Bill videos for years and learned a lot from them about the 1911 and they are why I daily carry a 5" government sized 1911 in .45 acp and will never carry anything else. Fantastic history of Ken's Novak Custom.
The 1911 is the way, the truth, and the light of handguns.
I think it’s so cool that ken talks to you regularly like that and would sell you his prized gun, I think we need more of us younger guys to take an interest in the older guys, they have so much knowledge and clearly want to pass it down. So glad I discovered your channel man, I saw your video on 1911 syndicate and thought you were awesome
Best video yet. Congratulations, man!
Thank you!
Way cool. I've trained with Mr Hackathorn 4 times and learned a great deal about running a 1911.
He's an awesome guy, with a lot of knowledge to share!
Thanks for a great video and paying homage to Ken!
I've been a huge Hackathorn fan for many years now, and watching the Wilson Combat RUclips Channel has always been fun stuff, right from the get-go. I've also found a lot of the old 1990s VHS stuff with Bill and Ken on how to use the 1911 in anger 😅
You sir, are one of the few people that can actually carry the heritage from people like Ken and Larry Vickers... And I can't imagine a better person to get Kens old Colt Novak.
I'm a huge 1911 fan ( And I'm a Dane from Denmark 🇩🇰, so I should love Glocks and CZ) and I really like your passion and the way you present your style and passion.
I really hope your channel will take off like a rocket, and will look forward to following your channel.
I wish you all the best ☺️😊
Thank you so much! That means the world to me!
I'm happy to meet you. You seem like an awesome guy to pass down 1911 heritage and old gun stuff to the tide pod eaters. Keep the dream alive! To be honest, I'm 43 and I hadn't heard of Novak's The Answer until today. It's truly intriguing, thanks for sharing. ACW FTW! (I speak acronym just like the tide pod eaters.) The retro version of your Prime Carry with the ring hammer is at the top of my bucket list, so purdy.
It's good to meet you too, sir!!
Beautiful pistol. You are so lucky to own it.
Also, you are fast becoming my favourite guntuber.
Oh man, thank you so much! I'm just a normal guy trying to share my collection.
Awesome video. Awesome pistol. Novak has awesome customer service. I bought a Colt Combat Unit Rail Gun in 45acp bc Ken Hackathorn helped develop it. The white around the front night sight was coming off and Novak replaced my sight free of charge. Turn around was less than a week! Huge Novak fan.
Excellent video...brought back a lot of memories. Met Ken back in the early 1980s when he put on a class at Ashland Lake Gun Club in Ohio.
Eventually took about six classes or so with Ken on a variety of firearms.
Outstanding instructor...very professional. Great story teller. A real gentleman as far as I'm concerned. Very personable.
Met Miller and Novak at Ft. Harmar. My wife's maiden name was Novak. Met Larry Vickers many years ago when he stopped in to see Kenny during a class. I believe he was either getting ready to start US Army sniper school or had just completed it.
We shot IPSC at Ashland Lake and Steve. Nastoff was the go to guy for a lot of us. He did awesome work as well. If memory serves i think he was out of Youngstown, Ohio.
Beautiful gun and awesome story to go with it! Ken is a living legend in the industry.
100% he is!
Thank you for the video. Very cool story, thanks for sharing…
Great video. I learned a good bit watching it. That is a cool Colt and part of 1911 history for sure.
Thank you for watching!
Thanks for sharing all the great history. What a masterpiece
It is like modern art.
That's a pretty awesome deal you have a prize of a lifetime for sure ! I didn't know about you guy's before I got my Sbardella 1911 maybe my next one will be with you guy's !!
Very cool 1911. Thanks for sharing the content!
Thank you for watching!
Most excellent acquisition, congrats!
Thank you!
I love the old history myself. I also understand how difficult it is to find information on a custom gunsmith. I have been trying to do some research on Al Dinan but coming up with very little it's great to see that you have got some information on latest and fantastic purchase congratulations
Yep, these old guys need to start recording the knowledge they have- or it will get lost!
I could watch 1911 content all day. Great Video and Thanks for sharing info on the Novak website
Very cool piece. Great history lesson as well.
Thank you!
Been reading his articles since the 80s and my dad served with him.
I owned a Swenson pistol from the 80s. It had a giant Bianchi top sight rail and an early magwell that was welded to the frame.
I am super jealous! That is amazing not only do you now have a novak answer you now have the hacks gun.
Right? It's cool on many levels.
Love the long videos. Perfect to put on at work. Looking to get my first 1911 this year. Always been a CZ fanboy.
First 1911? Check out Alchemy Custom Weaponry! ;)
@1776_duck oh i checked lolol. I might be more in the colt price range
nothing wrong with that! @@yellow9616
Really dig your channel concept. Very entertaining. Subed.
Thank you!
Milt Sparks is my favorite holster maker. Ordered an old school summer special with one loop like the original Nelson design. Can’t wait to get it.
Fantastic video and info!
Thank you for watching!
Keep up the good work and amazing videos. I love the format and story telling of the guns. The legacy and story of the guns, the men who made them and shot them needs to be preserved. As a millennial the older I get the more I am into the classic "older" things. I am envious you get to talk to and meet some the giants of gun culture. I would rather meet Hackathorn, Vickers, Wilson, than any celebrity or athlete.
I share that sentiment for sure. I am really blessed to call Ken a friend!
Excellent! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
Have known Wayne of and on for several years.When I first got into shooting back in the 80,s he purchased a model 70 gold cup for me.I used to shoot in some of the local matches with Hackathorn most of which he won.My close friend got a high power from Wayne he loves it.The last time I was in Wayne’s shop most of his work I believe were with colt defenders which took about 4 months.His work is some of the best available.
I'm a big 1911 fan. I had no idea. NOVAK even sold 1911s.
They sell them or you can send a gun in!
This was a fantastic video! loved all the history, Hopefully, I will be able to help you with your desire to document the historiography behind custom 1911s.
Thank you so much!
That was an awesome story Eli! Congrats on getting it
Thank you! This might be one of my favorite guns I own!
@@1776_duck I have my eye on a square trigger guard Alchemy right now, I just need a little nudge to pull the trigger on buying it.
@@vincentp9038 Oh, I can give you a nudge. LOL.
2011/staccato has brought me here. Seems like alot of guys knew to the design are appreciating the 1911. Instead of furthering my interest in 2011 I'd rather back up to the single stacks. Appreciate the heck out of your channel!
Single stacks just hit differently.
Great video man.
Thank you!
My first custom 1911 was an Armand Swinson Square trigger guard Colt Commander with S&W sights and barrel positioner.
DUDE! Now THAT is a gun!
The fake accuracy device, is what they used to be called.
Congratulations, great video
Thanks!
Great story and real nice 1911 👍
Wayne Novak is awesome. I have spoken to him on the phone when I wanted to send my Smith 645 in to get customized, and he did it for me. I also have a 1911 that has had Novak work on it as well. My next 1911 will be a Novak Custom Colt. Just a cool dude making cool guns in WV.
I agree! There is a lot of cool history in that shop!
I took classes with Mr. Hackathorn in the early 80's.
Oh man, what a time to be alive.
As usual, very informative. Congratulations on becoming the custodian of this incredible pistol. BTW, isn't this a fun hobby?
This is an expensive hobby...
Nice!! 👍👍
Fantastic history !! Joe Bonar tragically passed away due to a car wreck in 2003.
A great loss to the Novak custom shop and to the 1911 community.
I agree. He's the one who pioneered the push-button magazine release on the Novak's Colt 1903 Hammerless pistols.
That’s what he gets for being a Bonar, inside joke.
Nice Brother!
Thank you!
Since i moved to oklahoma from NC im always missin cheerwine
It's the best drink. Period.
That’s a fantastic pistol with a fantastic pedigree.
It really is. Normally I say, don't buy the story... but...
You are blessed! Love my Government model!
How awesome is that .That1911 would be priceless to me . Wow what a deal !
It really is a priceless pistol.
Excellent video. Do you mind sharing what camera you use?
Sony A7iii!
18:53 they make me very iiirritated too.
I have a Staccato- it's a great gun... but MAN do the people who are hard-core Staccato guys rub me the wrong way.
@@1776_duckthey remind me of BMW drivers. Lol
Actually I was just at Novak’s shop today,06/03/24, picked up one of my 45s that had new sights mounted.
Still appendix with the Milt Sparks or are you transitioning to 4 o'clock? I made the move last year and I don't think I can go back!
Also, I handled a buddy's Alchemy last week for the first time, the hype is real. Absolutely beautiful!
Really happy to hear that you enjoyed your friend's Alchemy!
I love the staccato people Stereotype😂
Hell, I own a Staccato. But man, they're a different breed.
1911 One of the best 💯👌
Beautiful hand gun men, I will I can bought one gun from Ken’s or Bill, you so lucky 🍀 men
Man, that thing is... dreamy. And not just in an ostentatious kinda way--there's something quintessential about it. I've eyed Novak's "Advanced Defensive Pistol" package on occasion. Feature set seems similar to what you've got. Was Hackathorn's spec the inspiration for what became the ADP?
I am not 100% sure what led to the ADP, but this gun certainly looks like it had a hand in that!
@@1776_duck Either way, I could see an ADP in my life at sone point. Anyway… Keep up the dope vids! I’ll keep an eye on the Alchemy channel, too.
Look at the SME from 5Shot Gunleather for a great leather AIWB holster.
I will look into them! I got all of my SSII from Sparks in a vertical drop for AIWB!
I feel that having a grip safety is better when carrying in condition one.
I first saw pics of that 1903\ 08 Colt online a few years ago and made a loose clone of it. I took a pitted, rusted, beat to hell 1917 made 1903 in .32, stripped it down, sandblasted it, smoothed out the flats by hand and removed 99% of the pitting, matted the top of the slide and front strap, extended the thumb safety, installed tritium night sights, melted the front of the slide, hand fit the rear of the side to the frame so it's almost seamless, beveled the mag well, then phosphated the whole gun. One of these days when I'm bored I'll probably serrate the front of the slide like Wayne did and rephosphate it. I have a 1907 Husqvarna that I'm thinking of doing the same things to it. Would be kinda cool to have a modernized upscaled 1903 in 9mm.
Neat! Yeah, if you were to ever make a 1903 in 9mm, you'd have to change the operating system pretty dramatically being that it's a direct blowback.
Ah the good old days. Buy a brand new colt government for about 400.00, send it out to pacmeyer and have the combat special package done on it.
Pretty much!
Anyone know if colts custom shop 1911s are worth buying today?
Or in my opinion.
A 1911 needs a grip safety as much as a Hi-Power needs a magazine safety - not at all. Which is the reason why Bill Wilson, who knows a thing or two about 1911's, designed the EDC / SFX series without one.
Fun fact, the EDC X9 was actually planned to have a grip safety. Hackathorn convinced Bill otherwise with this gun.
@@1776_duck Interesting!
Joe Bonar built my Novak Colt. He was taken from us way to soon.
Agree.
It aint a de-cocker is it?
Am I the only one that hears Marty Huggins?
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH. YES.
@@1776_duck just got done watching the rest of the video! Great watch!! Never say anything bad about the “juce” and tell a story
I couldnt care less about a 1911 ss 45. But I i enjoyed the video.
Thanks...
@@1776_duck and for the record, it made me want to swing by cookout for a giant cheerwine. So you have that going for you, outside of you incredible presentation skills.
Cheerwine + Cookout is a SOLID combination. @@dylanholbrook6239
Why only on Colt’s?
I don't know... That's a question for Novak.
You should'nt have heros at some point they will disappoint. you should believe in yourself. you'll be the only one that wont let you down.
I mean, I am an adult. I have people that I look up to, loosely using the term "hero".
At first I thought you clipped the mic to your chest hair then after closer investigation I realized you were wearing a sweater.
Said his first gun was in 1911 when he was 21
10:23 just get a infinity that looks like one .
I, for personal reasons that I won't share, will never own an Infinity.
Isn't Ken the one who had his student's stand downrange while he shot past them? I could be wrong.
That purple is called “plum”. Extremely desirable. Check some old Colt revolvers, you might get lucky. Another addiction for you….
I've got a '68 Python... but with revolvers, I lean a bit toward the S&W side of things!
I was going to like this video, but it already had 69 likes.
Your service, although valiant, seems to be in vain.
Big woop.
...and you are?
Just another liberal troll that enjoys making divisive comments on gun videos. We call them zeros for short….
I love the grip safety. I guess if you don’t like them you can carry a Glock.
My Brother in Christ, you do realize that none of Browning's initial designs, up until the Colt's Model 1907, had grip safeties. The grip safety was requested from the cavalry board- not by JMB's design.
Ok, I have to admit that when I saw you had gotten this, I hated you ... pure jealousy and envy. I admit it. But after watching this, that 1911 has found a good home. Now, it is on you to keep in mind who you will pass this on to in 30 or 40 years.
I am glad you don't hate me anymore! LOL!
Is this the same Hackathron that said lights and red dots on pistols are useless gadgets................
I'll pass on my admiration. but 1911's and 2011's rule!!!!!!!!!!
If you watch the video in its entirety OR ever talked to the guy, you'd know that really isn't what he thinks. He thinks they're not necessary. People have absolutely blown that comment out of the water because that's the culture we live in and people don't know how to have a discussion. Hack is the man and has done more for shooting than most anyone else I can think of.
@@1776_duck Isn't this comments section a discussion????????
I did watch the whole video....it does not appear you did.......also, just because he has done a lot for shooting doesn't mean he is relevant today. You are conflating two different things. Yes, he has done a lot for shooting.....No, he is not relevant today. He is totally out of touch with shooting today.....
if you watched the whole video you would know this, based on the terrible example he used for not using a light on a pistol etc....I respect him, but it doesn't mean he is an expert in all things......if you think he is right on pistol lights being "useless gadgets" then.......Travis Haley, John Lovell, GBRS, AHT, SOCOM etc...........................are all wrong.......he (Hachathorn) is out of date... much respect....but out of date and not relevant today.
P.S. I "thumbed up" and subscribed, the video and love your channel regardless.😀. 1911's and 2011's rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People get into their egos. Ken simply stated Red Dots most folks don’t put in the time to teuley master them. As a trainer I see that bare out all the time. As far as lights most folks will never be in a total dark environment and people don’t like this fact WML causes cops to shoot people that shouldn’t get shot. You want a WML do you and become highly proficient with it. Most won’t though. All Ken stated but people that have their ego invested I. Their fear of something they are not took offense
@practicepractice5719 😂😂😂 quit getting your panties In a twist over another man's opinion. Either you agree with it or not but stop being like the rest of the sheep and agreeing just to. Also give credit where credit is due the man shot irons better than most of us without the fancy red dots.....that means you too. So respect the fact he does and did as a man
@@driftitlikeyouownit Interesting....I appear to be the only one on this thread who disagrees with Hackathorn....and I am the sheep?????? I don't get it..
🔴I like how the reply that is name-calling becomes a "Highlighted Reply".....nice....🔴
No one said he hasn't' contributed to shooting a great deal, but that doesn't mean he is NOT getting out of touch with today's training...
Man, folks just don't seem to have the ability to think critically anymore. (and I don't mean critically in the negative sense, but in the sense of: "the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own".
Watch....now someone is going to say I am being biased......proving they really don't understand what is being said..........
Guzzle and smacked, thumbs down
No kidding
Do you also have a copy of Elmers shotgun? Would love to see that video too….