promod1385 Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Long story short, I am picking up a .40 limited gun that was built by Derek at Millenium Customs. Its an ION bonded full length dust cover gun built with all top shelf components (Schuneman, Koenig, Aftec, etc....) I tried calling this morning and like most smiths I am sure he is busy behind a mill or drill press and he doesn't have an answering machine. Has anyone had experience with him (good and or bad)? I searched here on the forum and see a few of the FL guys recommend him. I am in MN so if I have problems with my gun it will have to be shipped etc... This gun is an engagement gift and I plan on retaining this one in my collection for the remainder of my days here on planet earth.I would like to have a 9mm top half built for the gun as well as add some more magazines, I want to make sure I am getting involved with a reputable builder who is going to be in business for a number of years and will be able to service this gun in the future. I sent him an e-mail this morning after I called. I hope he gets back to me in a timely manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capizzo Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Millenium Custom is really as good as it gets. There are a handful of top flight/well known smiths in this game, Derek is one of them. You'll love the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
promod1385 Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 Millenium Custom is really as good as it gets. There are a handful of top flight/well known smiths in this game, Derek is one of them. You'll love the gun. Any idea how old he is? I am 27 and would like to get involved with a smith who I know is going to be around for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ong45 Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I'm guessing derek is in his early 40's , you can have full confidence in any of your dealings with him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattYvip Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 While I do not have a Millenium custom firearm, I've never heard anything bad about the company. I've met Derek at vendors tents several years ago at a nationals and he was a straight shooter and seemd to be a great guy. From everything I've ever heard about MC I'd say you have absolutely nothing to worry about. As far as their guns go, I've gotten to see quite a few and boy they are NICE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjb45 Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Derek is one of the top three or four gunsmiths in the country. I have met him several times, had dinner with him a couple of times. He is pretty well respected in the industry. He is a very nice guy and treats his customers well. He will be around for a while so I would not stress about that issue. Regardless, if he is not, there are a few others that do good work also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attila Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I called him a few weeks ago to inquire about having a gun built. He is not taking new work at this time. He said he may resume once he get things resolved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
promod1385 Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 I hope he gets back to me in a timely manner. I would like my questions asked before I plop down my cash on this gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38supPat Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I have an Open gun built by Millenium, it was actually built by John DeAngelo, it is 14 years old and still groups into an inch at 25m. I've shot with Derek on a number of occasions and his stuff always runs! I cannot think of a better guy to build or maintain your guns! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Millenium Custom is really as good as it gets. There are a handful of top flight/well known smiths in this game, Derek is one of them. You'll love the gun. Any idea how old he is? I am 27 and would like to get involved with a smith who I know is going to be around for a while. C'mon, how many old guys are named "Derek"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I hope he gets back to me in a timely manner. I would like my questions asked before I plop down my cash on this gun. Don't take this the wrong way, but why would you assume that your phone call should be such a high priority? You're not looking to do a penny's worth of business with him, you're not checking on a pending order--you're just calling to talk about a gun he already built and sold to somebody else. Any amount of time he might take to talk with you would be done purely as a courtesy--you've heard the expression "time is money," right?--and yet you're acting annoyed that he's not instantly jumping up to return your call in the middle of his work day? I know you're excited, and nervous, and all that stuff.....but unless you want to make Derek's crank list, you might want to back off a notch or two here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbosik Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I have one that Shay built before they split, it is excellent. If you are talking about the two that are currently listed in classifieds, they look great. I wouldn't sweat it. Mine has ran flawless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remoandiris Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Derek's business has expanded into a shooting range as well as the US Steel Nationals. He's got a lot of irons in the fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EduardoM Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 saw Derek 2 weeks ago , healthy active person so no need to worry there , he is like they mention before a top three gunbuilder and gunsmith , he's very busy as you might know he owns AFTEC ( a top notch element of any serious handgun used by many gunsmiths ) , he also runs his gun store ( which is quite nice and big ) and he still services and maintains his products as well as make repairs and tries to fix handguns put together by some gunsmiths riding the wave of the hype nowdays , his guns are top notch and are like the energizer battery ; go and go and go and go ( in shooting sports terms run and run and run ), you will have more luck calling him early in the morning ( florida morning 9ish ) , i dont know if you know that at the nationals in limited division last year was won by Shannon Smith using a Millenium custom pistol , do some online research and you will see that some of the best shooters out there use and have his guns i dont know if i should post this but Sevigny in his facebook page has pictures using Milleniums customs among other shooters , you have picked one of the best to maintain and add elements to you gun , he is a class act is just that right now hes very busy , his phone rings literally non-stop its hard to have a complete conversation with the phone around , hope this helps to insure you that you should have no doubts at all and that you have like many know and say one of the top guys in the business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
promod1385 Posted June 2, 2012 Author Share Posted June 2, 2012 I hope he gets back to me in a timely manner. I would like my questions asked before I plop down my cash on this gun. Don't take this the wrong way, but why would you assume that your phone call should be such a high priority? You're not looking to do a penny's worth of business with him, you're not checking on a pending order--you're just calling to talk about a gun he already built and sold to somebody else. Any amount of time he might take to talk with you would be done purely as a courtesy--you've heard the expression "time is money," right?--and yet you're acting annoyed that he's not instantly jumping up to return your call in the middle of his work day? I know you're excited, and nervous, and all that stuff.....but unless you want to make Derek's crank list, you might want to back off a notch or two here. Sounds like your reading a lot in to my post... If I was annoyed I would have stated it, dont take me as some "pay attention to me, I am entitled to special treatment" internet fan boy. I don't assume my call is any priority. I merely stated he didnt answer and doesnt have an answering machine. No sweat or stress from me, the best gunsmith I know does not have an answering machine (he's too busy perfecting his craft to talk on the phone much). I dont actually want to BS or ask about the pistol at all. The components and the builder do all the speaking I need. I just want to know how much and how long it will take to get a 9mm top half built for the gun, some more tuned .40 magazines and mags for the 9mm top as well. I am a general contractor, I understand time is money... Considering I was inquiring about spending money I don't think that will get me on anyone's "crank list" as you called it. Unless of course your the one with the bat phone linked straight to Derek, in which case I am likely already on his list judging by the tone of your last post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Sounds like I was reading too much into your post! (It's probably because I've done a bit of gunsmithing work myself in the past. Although most of my customers were wonderful to deal with, I remember sometimes becoming frustrated with the amount of time I was spending talking to people instead of working.) Anyway, I like your idea of having a 9mm top-end made for your gun. That would be just the ticket for steel matches, 3-gun, etc., etc. Just to add my thoughts regarding the original question, I would never hesitate for a second on a Millenium Custom pistol--I've handled some of their work and know several people who own Millenium guns, and I think you can be assured you are dealing with high-quality stuff. Good luck--bet you'll really enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Geez, I know at least one top gunsmith that will talk to anyone, anytime about one of his guns. To the OP. This is the time of year many gunsmiths, parts makers etc go off to some big matches just like some of us normal folks. I'm sure he will get back to you soon. If he doesn't just find another good smith to make what you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EduardoM Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 forgot to mention Derek is a M class active shooter and has been doing guns since the mid 90's , other smiths either have a team working altogether for the same product or have somebody else and then take the credit hence the time to talk to anybody who makes a call at anytime to the OP , be a little bit pacient and it will pay off , talk to Derek about your needs and wants you will not regret it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leas327 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 Is there some sort of gunsmithing contest I am unaware of? When people say top three or four in the world. That would mean that at some point you get ranked. If there is a link to results for that contest it would clear a lot of things up for a lot of folks. This is not meant as a slight toward Millenium Custom. It is just that people state "gunsmith xyz is one of the top builders in the country" and offer no basis towards how they determined that. To the op, it sounds like there are enough people commenting in this thread about Millenium that you have figured out they build good guns. I have seen many other posts of people praising Derek/Millenium's work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EduardoM Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 competitive is an essential part of the 21st century , with competitivy comes clasification ( there has to be a #1 and so on ) , and for some reason people feel entitled to clasify based on many things like customer service , quality of the product , history of the brand , involvement with a particular group or activity , etc never heard the expression ; this girl is my " best friend " ?? or this family member is the " closest one to me " ? ( terms with which i dont agree but hey peolple usem them ) in this particular case every shooter has a particular two or three gunbuilders they like based on like i said before many things , same as their favorite pistol or pistols , their favorite star shooter , etc , in my case i've seen Derek's work and quality since 1998 when you do the math and see how many shooters consider Millenium a top three product and Derek a top three gunbuilder and you see how fearless and intense his supporters are you ought to give him some consideration add to all that the fact that his pistols WIN competitions others are also great gunbuilders but Derek is among the greatest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootin-blanks Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 I have one of his sight tracker limited guns, and it runs flawless. I shoot every week, with a pile of people that shoot his open and limited guns... I say no worries what so ever. S/B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leas327 Posted June 2, 2012 Share Posted June 2, 2012 shootin-blanks review is the type of review I prefer. First hand stuff no broad strokes. When you spend custom gun money on a new blaster it is pretty easy to fall into a fanboy mindset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmoney Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 Eduardo, in several posts you have referred to Derek as a "top three" gunsmith....I'm curious....who do you consider the other two members of the "top three gunsmith" club? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Merriam Posted June 6, 2012 Share Posted June 6, 2012 Had him convert an edge into a sighttracker and chrome it. He did a fab job. Like any good gunsmith...he is not in a hurry... therefor your gun will be right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjb45 Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Don Golembieski - Kodiak Precision Bob Londrigan - Brazos Custom Gunworks Are two top gunsmiths that come to mind. Dan Bedell and Derek are another two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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