Some firearms are built to be carried. A rare few are built to be remembered. “The Founding” is a one-of-one Nighthawk Custom 1911 in .45 ACP, created as America’s 250th Tribute. It is a fully functional pistol whose steel tells the story of the first days of the American Revolution. Every engraved surface and inlaid figure was done entirely by hand by Master Engraver Dieter Stübler, working in steel, silver, and gold to turn the classic 1911 into a historical record of the people, places, and choices that set a nation on the path to independence.

The story moves around the pistol the way the events unfolded in the spring of 1775. It begins with the two lanterns of the Old North Church and Paul Revere’s midnight ride. It builds through the clash at Lexington and the stand at the Old North Bridge, where colonists shifted from confrontation to organized resistance, and it continues into the Siege of Boston. British power is shown too, from General Thomas Gage to the warship HMS Somerset anchored offshore. A silver-inlaid Minuteman stands guard on the grip as the centerpiece of the composition, and across the dust cover, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Concord Hymn is inscribed in solid gold:

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood, / Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled, / Here once the embattled farmers stood / And fired the shot heard round the world.”

The Founding is presented in a hand-built hardwood case modeled after a Revolutionary War-era powder keg, complete with fitted staves, iron bands, and the Nighthawk Custom mark on each end. There is only one, and there will never be another. For the collector who wants to own a true piece of American heritage, this is a once-in-a-lifetime pistol worthy of the 250th anniversary of the nation it honors.

Key Features:

• Manufacturer: Nighthawk Custom
• Model: “The Founding” – America’s 250th Tribute
• Edition: 1 of 1
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Platform: 1911, Fully Functional
• Action: Single Action Only
• Barrel Length: 5.00"
• Capacity: 8 Rounds
• Engraver: Master Engraver Dieter Stübler
• Engraving: 100% Hand Engraved Steel with Silver and Gold Inlay
• Inscription: Emerson’s Concord Hymn in Solid Gold
• Grip: Wood with Silver-Inlaid Minuteman and Paul Revere
• Presentation: Hand-Built Hardwood Powder Keg Display Case
• Year: 2026

The Story in Steel:

• Ejection Port Side: Lexington and the Old North Bridge, where colonists moved from confrontation to organized resistance.
• Top of Slide: The Old North Church steeple and its two lanterns of April 18, 1775, followed by scenes from the Siege of Boston.
• Non-Ejection Port Side: Paul Revere’s ride, shown in full motion, alongside General Thomas Gage, the central British figure of the conflict.
• Mainspring Housing: HMS Somerset, a symbol of British naval power off Boston.
• Front Strap: Margaret Kemble Gage, whose alleged warning to Patriot leaders is tied to the intelligence that came before Lexington and Concord.
• Dust Cover: A verse from Emerson’s Concord Hymn in solid gold.
• Grip: A silver-inlaid Minuteman on the ejection port side, with Paul Revere repeated in silver inlay.