Dirt Cheap Cue.....Five Bucks? LOL!

Chopdoc

Chopdoc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
So I'm on the interwebs a couple weeks ago (hard to believe right?) when I come across this pool table for sale. Not so interested at the moment, don't have the room or the money for one. That will change, but for the moment looking and learning is fun. Anyway, I saw this picture, and in the lower right hand corner of the picture there was a cue. I could only make out part of it. Here it is:

%252524%252528KGrHqR%25252C%252521lIE6GRqJW9pBOvJIHWCw%252521%25257E%25257E60_12.jpg


So I email the person selling the table and ask what it might be and if it's for sale. I get a response that it's "just an old Viking" and I can have it for five bucks if I want. The catch? No shaft. Well....anybody can see it is a pointed BEM or curly maple cue with veneered points and what looks like a linen wrap so......HELL YES!

I paid for the cue and then waited.....and waited.....behold today what shows up on my doorstep? A disaster! OMG! Some people have shipped cues pretty poorly but this has to be a new low. Here it is:

IMG_0462.JPG


So......I get out my trusty surgical scissors and start in on it....wondering what might lay inside all that newspaper. Of course, I am imagining all sorts of things from prized cues to broken junk. But it was only five bucks....I can risk five bucks right? Well at the moment I probably shouldn't, things are tight and I've had some financial curve balls lately. But hey....five bucks....OK, OK....I need to breathe and cut....get it over with and see what's in there.

For some reason it was actually a pain in the behind to open...but I got in there. And behold.....the Viking.....a Model Q26, level three cue, with the original sticker on it.

FIVE BUCKS

IMG_0474.JPG


IMG_0467.JPG


IMG_0473.JPG


I have a few bucks in my pocket. I am going to the flea market tomorrow. :thumbup:
 
Last edited:
That is WAY TOO COOL!!! I'm going to see if I can get pics of my "unknown" tomorrow...like I said in the PM though, you got me beat (hands down) on the cue, but I've got you beat on how it was shipped!!! I'll try to get pics posted this weekend!

Jason

(Again...super catch on that blurry picture!!!)
 
If you can beat that shipping then I am amazed.

Oh....and if I remember correctly you paid pretty well for that shipping. :D

Can't wait to see it.

Hey, at least yours is a whole cue....I need to find a shaft now. I have all kinds of shafts, I even have two other Vikings, but I don't have a Viking quick release shaft. So.....gotta find one, preferably with a matching ring.


OK folks, for those that want a laugh, I got a PM from JAMSGOLF that only hinted at something about the shipping. I absolutely laughed my ass off. I won't spoil it though, I won't tell you what he told me. All I can say is stay tuned, he's going to post pics over the weekend of the cue and how it was shipped and I think this is going to be something to see! :thumbup:
 
Last edited:
EightballJunkie said:
I'm slightly envious, nice find! For Five dollars, I probably would have settled for the house cue :p

In case you didn't know, you should be able to use just about any shaft with a 5/16-18 insert sans pilot, but the insert will need to be bored to 17/64 first.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I know, thanks for the tip though. The thing will be to try to match the rings if possible. Gotta try to do it on the cheap. I mean, it's a five dollar cue, I don't wanna have to get a shaft made for it. I'll be on the hunt.....
 
Yup. Three points, short splice, vinyl veneers. :thumbup: Those vinyl veneers sure are bright.

I also have a 1980 Viking three point which I believe has WICO vinyl veneered points. Very cool cue, needs refinished and a wrap.
 
Here's the joint ring. Sorry, just cropped it out, didn't get the camera out, being lazy.

joint%252520ring.jpg
 
Alright...I promised pictures and it's taken me awhile to get over the "embarrasment" here...(okay not really...just been busy).

I've got Chopdoc beat on the shipping I think...yes...that is GREEN SARAN WRAP..and that was the extent of the wrapping of the case!!!

Now, before anyone gets bent out of shape about the shipping, the cue was listed on Craigslist for $5...I offered the person $30 shipped and wasn't expecting to find "the golden chalice"...she obviously doesn't know anything about cues - or shipping for that matter...it appears to be a very inexpensive import, but it is surprisingly "solid" compared to other "cheap imports" I've had in my hands...no markings and no clue about it...

01010011.jpg


01010012.jpg


01010014.jpg


01010015.jpg


01010016.jpg


01010017.jpg


01010019.jpg


01010020.jpg


01010021.jpg


01010023.jpg
 
Your new nick name...........Saran-Man.......LOL!

Now that's a fine billiard instrument.

But I do think you have me on the shipping. :thumbup: But at least it was in the case!

Which is more bullet proof, saran wrap or the Sunday funny papers? I think we need a new thread to debate that..... :confused:

Is there a "Shipping Of The Year" thread yet? :D
 
Chopdoc said:
Your new nick name...........Saran-Man.......LOL!

Now that's a fine billiard instrument.

But I do think you have me on the shipping. :thumbup: But at least it was in the case!

Which is more bullet proof, saran wrap or the Sunday funny papers? I think we need a new thread to debate that..... :confused:

Is there a "Shipping Of The Year" thread yet? :D
Click to expand...

I hope so...I'm already preparing my acceptance speech!!! :D

"I'd like to thank the academy and all the disposable food storage manufacturers throughout the world..." (I know it's just a start, but I want to have something started in case I win the prestigious award!)

Jason "Saran Man" Schilling
 
Last edited:
I am extremely disappointed that we have not seen a review of the playability of this fine billiard instrument.

Comments like "seems surprisingly sold" just won't cut it.

Does it play jam up or does it play lights out?

How much deflection does it have?

Does it move the cue ball easily or not?



Apparently your reputation is growing as we have some questions from the viewing audience:

Is Saran-Man a real superhero or does he just play one on the internet?

One of the ladies has asked:

Boxers or briefs? (She seems a bit histrionic so be careful with that one, does Peg Bundy strike an image for you?)

She has also asked if you like your butts fat or skinny........ :confused:



Almost lastly: Since this is an unknown cue, do you feel it could be the early work of Mr Spain or Mr Balabushka?
Lastly, do you consider this an investment, a player, or both?




And yes.....this is how those of us who could not be at the SBE spend our time......sad isn't it....... :o
 
Chopdoc said:
I am extremely disappointed that we have not seen a review of the playability of this fine billiard instrument.

Sadly, this cue has been sitting on the "back-burner" and has not seen much playing time to date...

Comments like "seems surprisingly sold" just won't cut it.

I'll agree...which is why I'll say it's surprisingly SOLID

Does it play jam up or does it play lights out?

Currently it's been playing "lights out"...as in I have to have them turned off in order to avoid any embarrasment with having this cue that plays JAM UP in my hands!

How much deflection does it have?

Well, to be as specific as I can, it definitely has more deflection than various other cues I've shot with, but significantly less than some of the other cues with which I've shot...I hope that clears things up on this matter!

Does it move the cue ball easily or not?

Quite honestly, it depends on which end of the cue I use to actually strike the cueball...

Apparently your reputation is growing as we have some questions from the viewing audience:

Is Saran-Man a real superhero or does he just play one on the internet?

Although I don't necessarily "like" to be called a superhero, I'm not going to shy away from this well-deserved nomenclature!

One of the ladies has asked:

Boxers or briefs? (She seems a bit histrionic so be careful with that one, does Peg Bundy strike an image for you?)

What if it's boxer-briefs? Of course, this one really "depends" on if it's laundry day or not! And I don't care who know it, Peg Bundy is HOT!!!

She has also asked if you like your butts fat or skinny........ :confused:

Beggars can't be choosers!

Almost lastly: Since this is an unknown cue, do you feel it could be the early work of Mr Spain or Mr Balabushka?

It's too early in the research and development stage to make any kind of response worth much merit at this point...but if I were forced to make a guess one way or the other than that's exactly what I'd do...make a guess one way...or the other...

Lastly, do you consider this an investment, a player, or both?

Those of us "in-the-know" like to refer to a cue such as this fine example as a "plastment" as it's too hard to put a cue like this in one category or the other...


And yes.....this is how those of us who could not be at the SBE spend our time......sad isn't it....... :o
Click to expand...



Yes...this is EXACTLY how we spend our time!!! :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top