The type of joint can, but not always, affect the demand and interest in a cue.
The inference being the higher the demand and interest, the better is the price.
A Balabushka cue will command a admittedly high price and everyone knows
George loved to use 5/16x14 piloted steel joints & Cortland linen #9 cue wraps.
His cues are in high demand as are Szamboti pool cues, Gus & Barry. Gus also
mainly used 5/16x14 joints and Barry mostly uses the same joint. It is still popular.
Can a joint increase the demand and value of a pool cue? Absolutely and anyone
thinking otherwise hasn’t considered historical cue sales or even the current trend.
Rarity and scarcity are the key elements in determining the value of a cue, even if
there’s low interest that can be confused with demand. Expensive cue have a much
smaller financial audience. This also applies to a cue’s appeal when it’s priced right.
Most folks know I am a fan of flat ivory joints. Despite that over a dozen states have
banned ivory, the majority of our country still allows ivory sales. Cues with ivory joints
are declining in use by cue makers to avoid legal issues fulfilling orders for buyers in
selected states. However, there’s still a substantial population of cues already made.
Joel Hercek is my favorite cue maker and I’ve been fortunate to talk with him about his
cue making. He knew I was his #1 fan and was so generous with his time. I told him
about my frustrating experience trying to find one of his cues that coincided in specs
with my other cues. Joel explained why saying he’s only made a limited number of cues
with the joint, shafts and weight I want and made a lot more cues with piloted ivory joints.
A George Balabushka ivory joint is rare and highly prized by collector worth big bucks.
Szamboti cues with ivory joints are more common but the value increase also coincides.
Joel Hercek cues are the same. I could keep citing cue makers but the point is deceased
cue makers and currently active ones can build cues that have added value because of
the design of the cue’s anatomy. Of course, a cue maker’s reputation is a big factor and
so does the cue maker’s wait list and annual production. There are lots of factors involved.
A 5/16x14 steel joint does not limit or lower the value of a cue. An ivory joint cue can, but
not necessarily, increase a cue’s value but it certainly shouldn’t diminish it. Here’s the real
bottomline. If you buy a pool cue worrying about how much you could sell it for later on,
you likely are buying the wrong cue. Flipping cues is like flipping coins. Sometimes you’ll
guess right and other times be dead wrong. With cues, that can become a expensive mistake.
Pool cues are a horrible investment but if you buy right, you’ll get to play with a great pool cue
and you can eventually, or your heirs could, recover what you paid for the cue by selling it. If
there was any loss, it’d be minuscule compared with most other cue sales. Just take care of
that cue keeping it pristine and spend as much as you can afford to get the best cue possible.
I have enough cues to leave a nice one to all of my children and grandkids. Hopefully, they’d
pass it along in time just as I hope would happen to my collection of guns and knives. I have a
bunch of handguns but two special rifles (1903A1 Springfield sporterized & 1948 Winchester 94).
Back to pool cue value and cue joints. Remember this…..nothing in life, no outcome is assured.
People may joking refer to how about death or taxes. I’m referring to pool cues and investments.
If you buy a pool cue expecting to make a profit, you had better be buying low and right or else
you’ll be singing the blues. Pool cues are not a smart investment vehicle & cue joints can be a factor.
