Silicone = Bad in the shop imo.Silicone or Pledge but wipe excess off. I would not use oil unless really wiped off as it will just attract dirt. I think Mid America actually recommended silicone or pledge also. Mid America beds will gall easily if dry and or you slide the components by hand too fast on the rail.
The ones with rounded tips on the outside veneer are not spliced, but are flat inlaid pieces. Ernie G introduced that method and Stroud used it a lot. My guess is the bidders think it is one of those two.Points look like some Josswest I’ve seen, spliced but with rounded tips.
I.would have bet your whole bankroll he was an only child.
You almost went home broke, damn!
Years ago I was approached by a gentleman in northern Mich that had been purchasing blanks from Joel for years (pre 2000) and building cues that looked very similar to this. He had said Joel was no longer selling just the blanks and asked me if I would be able to build him some similar blanks that I would sell to him.Couple of things... This is why you pay people to ID cues AND write LOA's. This is a full splice Spain Brazilian rosewood cue. There is no joint under the wrap, it is a true Spain splice. The colors are the only ones we have seen with black, orange, purple and natural. It was purchased at the SBE THIS YEAR, from another "knowledgeable" dealer as a Petersen, but he said he really did not know. It came to him as an unknown from another long-time dealer. Between those two, there might be 50 years of "experience" as cue brokers. Another great restoration by the Tascarella shop. (Check out the birdseye shaft) Yes it now has a letter or two... and it has been x-rayed like a broken arm.
So Chop... what do you think?
JV