John Bender Ebony & Walnut 4 Points

4 Points Ebony into Walnut Stained Birdseye Maple
Points: Ebony
Nose: Stained BEM
Abalone Gunsights in Points and Dots at base of Points
Double Black Double White Veneers
Abalone Barbells and Dots in Ebony Butt Sleeve
2 Shafts w/13mm Arvorin Ferrules
Black w/White Specs Linen Wrap
030 Nicke Silver Trim Rings at JT
Length: 58"
Butt: 15.7 oz
Shaft 1: 4.1 oz, 13 mm
Shaft 2: 4.1 oz, 13 mm
Pin: 5/16-14 Steel Joint
Condition: New

John Bender Fancy Merry Widow

Specs:

Birdseye Maple Custom 5/16-14 Stainless Joint
Faux Ivory "See-Saw" Inlays in Light Walnut Stained Nose
Alternating Ebony and Maple Windows in Sleeve, each
also Inlayed with "See-Saw" parts
Ebony Rings on Both sides of the Wrap and at Butt Cap
Each Inlayed with 8 Faux Ivory Dots. NS .030 Rings @ Join
White with Brown Speck Polished Linen Wrap
Signed only Under Wrap
Maker Name Engraved in White Delrin Butt Cap
Length: 58"
Butt: 15.1 oz
Shaft 1:4.1 oz
Shaft 2: 4.1
Weight bolt: .45

John just finished me 6 cues and this is one of these 6. It turned out beautiful and John was fantastic to deal with as he always is.

You will be able to see more of his work at this year's ICCS Show in Chattanooga, TN at the historic Read House hotel.

Enjoy the photos!!!

Jim Buss....Blue Book of Pool Cues cue!

I decided to take some more pictures of this amazing cue built by legendary Jim Buss who is well known as one of the smartest guys in industry.

Jim Buss was born on November 23, 1942 in Boone, Iowa.
In his rich CV stands that he worked for NASA as electrician engineer.
His first assignment was to design an umbilical cable for one of the Gemini astronauts to use while doing a "space walk".
In 1982 McDonnell Douglas that he worked for get a contract to support NASA in Houston, Texas. They provided the technical assistance to the Space Shuttle program by developing the flight plans, flight trajectory studies, orbital studies, and training the astronauts to perform all the functions associated with flying the Shuttle and operating the Payloads & Experiments. Since Jim had the background that NASA needed, he was asked by McDonnell Douglas to transfer there and support the program, which he did.

Talking to his cue making career... in July, 1994, he was elected President of the American Cuemaker's Association. In August, 1997, he moved back to the St. Louis area, which is where he considers home.
Josh Treadway was tought by Jim and when Jim retired Josh took over his shop and kept building his cues.

It is really hard to get one of his cues since he has been retired for years and it is even harder to come across one which is unplayed!
So, here it is unplayed Jim Buss in Ebony and Pink Ivory.
The cue has been published in 3rd edition of Blue Book of Pool Cues as an example of Jim's finest work!

Enjoy the pics!

Blue Grass....35th Anniversary Cue
Very unique cue, Merry Widow Style, wood is Waterfall Bubinga (museum quality) absolutely gorgeous!

It has Westinghouse Old Yellow Micarta Joint & Ferrules!

The wrap is black Elephant Ear

35th Anniversary Cue

The "Old Yellow Micarta" jointed cues will be some of the rarest cues Richard made.

I was told he would have to look it up, but he thinks this is the 4th cue with old yellow joint.

More and better photos soon

Blue Grass by Donna & Richard Harris

6 Points Tulipwood i to Macassar Ebony
12 slots decor rings
Japanese Buffalo leather wrap that Richard bought more than 20 years ago from a dealer in Japan and only other cue that has the leather out of it is The Ruby Cue which is also in my possession.

Don't have to talk much about Richard since everyone knows how precise, immaculate and perfect work of Donna and Richard is.
It has been an absolute pleasure working with them on this project and can't wait to receive this cue!

Some new photos soon!

Blue Grass....The Camper Cue

6 Points Thuya Burl into Dark Birdseye Maple
Cocobolo Handle
Butt Sleeve in Thuya Burl & Birdseye Maple Area above and below the handle
Handle in Cocobolo
Ebony butt cap
Decor rings with Special 24 slot in Ebony and Orange
2 13 mm shafts with micarta ferrules
3/8x11 pin

There is a nice story behind this order, the cue and how did the name come about. The cue got the name The Camper cue because the money from it should have helped Richard and Donna to buy a camper to go on Bluegrass festivals and i let them to make the entire design for the cue.
Richard and Donna was pleasure to deal with as always and the cue came out fantastic and looks awesome. Workmanship is top notch as always and the entire experience was perfect as always is when you are dealing with honest, old school people who are big professionals.

Enjoy the photos!

Art Cantando

4 Points most probably Rosewood into BEM with propellers and dots design which is one of my favorite. The cue has a gorgeous genuine lizard wrap and ivory ferulles.
I am feeling happy and lucky that I was able to find one of Art's masterpieces in brand new, unchalked condition.
Art built some of the nicest cues that are fantastic players too. His sense for aesthetic was amazing.

About Art Cantando

Art played a lot of pool when he was a teenager. When it was time to make a living , he went into the car repair business with his family. He then started his own succcessful bussines. Along the way he learned leather carving and he carved animals on gun cases and holsters and the like.
Whenbhe retired, he decided to pursue another field, cue making. His goal was to build a good playing cue. He talked to Barry Szamboti, who he knew, and who put tips on cues for him. Art brought a lathe and began doing his own tip work and this led to making cues which he started buiding in 1997.
Art owes his success to friends Tony Scianella from Black Boar, Jeff Prather and most of all Barry Szamboti.

Enjoy the pics!