Allright. I got an answer from Rhino. Simple enough, if it's defective, send it back. I have been a mechanic for several decades now and I always like tinkering with stuff, learning how things work, etc, so I decided to hold off on sending it back and looking at some things first.
So, I took a very good look at the cue butt threads and the extension adapter buttcap. Noticed that there is an allen drive at the bottom of it. So, I started threading the extension adapter buttcap on until it stopped, stuck an allen wrench into it and started slowly working it in and out, back and forth until the buttcap was screwed all the way in. It took considerable effort with a short wrench, but is all I had on hand. Backed it all the way out and there were some slivers of composite thread material that had come off the ID of the butt. No damage to the extension adapter buttcap. So, my conclusion is this: they either did not machine the root radius of the butt ID threads correctly, they used some sort of threadlocker to install the standard buttcap, the remnants making the installation of the extension adapter buttplate hard, or they were indeed intended to be a very, very tight fit to avoid the extension adapter buttcap coming off while unscrewing the extension. In their extension advertising video they show the extension buttcap being installed by hand. Not sure if they had a butt with deeper threads cut into the ID to demonstrate, but mine did not work as in the video.
Anyways, I ended up trying it, and I can say that I like the cue. Been playing with it quite a bit. I like how it hits, the balance, and low deflection. The lizard print wrap feels good on the hand. Definitely a cue that is a good value and plays very well. The Nishiki Brown medium tip resembles a Tiger everest on hit and feel. The hit produces a distinct low ping sound from the shaft, but is not too bad. Easy to follow through with the shaft's pro taper. Overall, I am pleased, and it did not cost an arm and a leg like some other cues I have.
Eddie
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