Pre-cat Predator
- Thread starter m79a
- Start date
you should be able to see the splices and you should be able to see the 314 at the joint of the shaft
Thanks for the help. Mine doesn't have the 314 on it, but I can tell from the ferrule and comparing the way the splices look compared to my OB1 that this is more than likely what it is. I'm going to Nashville tonight, I'll get Alex Brick to look at it, I was gonna get him to put it on the lathe and clean it up a little anyway.
But do you know about what these sell for?
But do you know about what these sell for?
Honestly, It all depends on the condition, the diameter, the weight, and
the straightness. A full 12.8mm over 4 oz. mint shaft could bring in $150
and up. A 12mm shaft with a taper roll and a ding or two would probably
be lucky to bring $ 80.00. For the most part anywhere from $100 to $140
shipped. Some pics, and some specs would help alot.
The 314 is easily removed on a lathe and there was an era of predator where the cat stood for a premium grade from what I was told by an old cuemaker repair guy. So a precat could be before the cat or a lesser grade during the intro of the cat. Still play great just depends on the grains on the pieces in your shaft and probably unnoticeable. Just what I was told from a good source. May or may not be true.
Just curious why you would suggest removing the decal?
No decal = no warranty. Not to mention the now, 'absence of finish' ie, bare wood.
FWIW, there is no difference btwn a pre-cat & cat shaft other than the decal.
"Premium grade"??? Where do you people get this stuff?
I know, an old cue-maker repair guy. Please inform your old cue-maker repair guy that he is mis-informed. I don't care who he is, bad info is bad info.
When Predator shafts were first introduced about 13-14 yrs. ago, they did market what was known as a factory second shaft. These were identified by a very thin black ring on the shaft approx. 1" up from the joint. I never could find a flaw in those shafts and always wondered why they were considered to be factory seconds. Maybe it was one too many sugar marks on the shaft wood but they still played the same.
They also made a 12 splice. Now those are rare. The pre-cat....not so much.
Some of the very early history of the predator shaft is not common knowledge. I don't know all of it, but below are my recollections based on magazine reading, internet reading, but anything I have as fact, is based on my personal cues that I have owned. I also do cue work and have cut about 5 of my predator shafts over the years to see the insides. From the 314 in block letters, to the 314-2, they are all the same, except what I wrote about the dimensions of the 314-2 ferrule below.
Something I read somewhere: The very first predator shaft had their hollow shaft design, proprietary ferrule material, but was non-laminated. They then experimented with several lamination designs, I believe 12, 10, and 6. They later settled on 10.
Fact: 1 of the first versions of the shaft had no collar markings (314 marking), and had a 1" long ferrule. A spliced shaft. I own one of these. This version lasted a short period of time in the market.
Fact: Another early version had 314 in block letters, 3/4" long ferrule, and 10 piece spliced shaft. This is the one in the picture above in this thread. This version was on the market for several years. I owned about 10 of these. This was the time period that the "factory seconds" were available, that had a small ring/groove by the joint. These shafts were made in Florida.
Fact: The logo then changed to a cat on the shaft. According to Predator, nothing on the design of the shaft changed here. I owned about 5 or 10 of these. This was also about the same time the Z shaft came out. I don't think they offered factory seconds anymore (speculation). These shafts were made in Florida.
Fact: The 314-2 and z-2 were introduced. They each had a shorter ferrule then their respective prior versions. The ferrule material changed. The way the joint insert was attached to the shaft changed. The manufacturing of the shafts moved from Florida to China. I owned about 10 of these over the years as well. This is the current design still sold.
From a value standpoint, any predator shaft in good shape will bring 80 to 100 easily. When the 314-2 hit the market, many players believed when the manufacturing moved to China, the shaft played differently. So some people were looking for the pre-China shafts. This would include any of the above versions. Some people were paying 150 for a used 314-1. But there are THOUSANDS of them out there. And, I think now most predator users are onto the 314-2, and are happy with them (I know I never felt a difference with the 314-1 and 314-2).
From a collector value standpoint, none of the predator shafts that have 314, a cat, or 314-2 logo on them are worth anything. THere are tons of them on the market, and each version probably had 5 years of production.
From a collector standpoint, I would imagine perhaps the very first versions, with the 1" long ferrule, and the different splice numbers, might be of value. But probably not much.
Something I read somewhere: The very first predator shaft had their hollow shaft design, proprietary ferrule material, but was non-laminated. They then experimented with several lamination designs, I believe 12, 10, and 6. They later settled on 10.
Fact: 1 of the first versions of the shaft had no collar markings (314 marking), and had a 1" long ferrule. A spliced shaft. I own one of these. This version lasted a short period of time in the market.
Fact: Another early version had 314 in block letters, 3/4" long ferrule, and 10 piece spliced shaft. This is the one in the picture above in this thread. This version was on the market for several years. I owned about 10 of these. This was the time period that the "factory seconds" were available, that had a small ring/groove by the joint. These shafts were made in Florida.
Fact: The logo then changed to a cat on the shaft. According to Predator, nothing on the design of the shaft changed here. I owned about 5 or 10 of these. This was also about the same time the Z shaft came out. I don't think they offered factory seconds anymore (speculation). These shafts were made in Florida.
Fact: The 314-2 and z-2 were introduced. They each had a shorter ferrule then their respective prior versions. The ferrule material changed. The way the joint insert was attached to the shaft changed. The manufacturing of the shafts moved from Florida to China. I owned about 10 of these over the years as well. This is the current design still sold.
From a value standpoint, any predator shaft in good shape will bring 80 to 100 easily. When the 314-2 hit the market, many players believed when the manufacturing moved to China, the shaft played differently. So some people were looking for the pre-China shafts. This would include any of the above versions. Some people were paying 150 for a used 314-1. But there are THOUSANDS of them out there. And, I think now most predator users are onto the 314-2, and are happy with them (I know I never felt a difference with the 314-1 and 314-2).
From a collector value standpoint, none of the predator shafts that have 314, a cat, or 314-2 logo on them are worth anything. THere are tons of them on the market, and each version probably had 5 years of production.
From a collector standpoint, I would imagine perhaps the very first versions, with the 1" long ferrule, and the different splice numbers, might be of value. But probably not much.
Listen to KJ on all things "Predator shaft".
One thing I'll say...The pre-cats were the most consistently high quality shafts Predator ever made, and they were made when Alan McCarty still ran Predator in the US. Actually, I was first introduced to them, and they were recommended to me, by Grady Mathews - who was a good friend of Alan's & was using them at the time. I played with them for years - still have mine. Aside from the small 314 decal w/ no cat, one of the most distinguishing & well known features of pre-cats was the ferrule. KJ could comment on the length (I'm not at home), but they are very much prone to scratching/staining from chalk. I'm not one to use chalk like a drill press, I chalk only the tip, I made an effort, and mine have stayed very clean. But they are known for being prone to "chalk abuse".
One thing I'll say...The pre-cats were the most consistently high quality shafts Predator ever made, and they were made when Alan McCarty still ran Predator in the US. Actually, I was first introduced to them, and they were recommended to me, by Grady Mathews - who was a good friend of Alan's & was using them at the time. I played with them for years - still have mine. Aside from the small 314 decal w/ no cat, one of the most distinguishing & well known features of pre-cats was the ferrule. KJ could comment on the length (I'm not at home), but they are very much prone to scratching/staining from chalk. I'm not one to use chalk like a drill press, I chalk only the tip, I made an effort, and mine have stayed very clean. But they are known for being prone to "chalk abuse".
Last edited:
Many people think there is a difference between the 314 with block letter, and the later markings with the cat in it.
This is just a logo difference. The shafts were the same. There was no design difference when the logo changed. But people can readily see the logo changed and assume the shafts were different.
(I think there might have been some slight differences with the tiny amount of foam inside the shaft right behind the ferrule. But this didn't have to coincide with the logo change. All the shafts I personally took apart only had about 1/4 inch of foam. I suspect it was either to change the sound, or to keep glue from falling in the hole. I recall the foam being blue 10 years ago, and then a later one I took apart I think was tan in color)
The design difference came with the 314-2 and Z-2 shafts.
This is just a logo difference. The shafts were the same. There was no design difference when the logo changed. But people can readily see the logo changed and assume the shafts were different.
(I think there might have been some slight differences with the tiny amount of foam inside the shaft right behind the ferrule. But this didn't have to coincide with the logo change. All the shafts I personally took apart only had about 1/4 inch of foam. I suspect it was either to change the sound, or to keep glue from falling in the hole. I recall the foam being blue 10 years ago, and then a later one I took apart I think was tan in color)
The design difference came with the 314-2 and Z-2 shafts.