What is a Black Boar?
- Thread starter snipershot
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Hi Pete,
I own a 1990 four point Black Boar in the $3,000 range. I have played with Tikklers $6,000 merry widow cue. The newer cue is so technically more advanced than the older cues. It was the best cue I have ever played with.
If you are interested, pm me your email address and I will send you pictures.
Chris
I do carry a gun when I go out, and a shank on my person or have under cover body guards. We had more guns than a gun show one year at the Derby. LOL. I dont go out very often, I dont carry much $$ and no jewelery.
The Gus cues dont leave the house, the a few of the Barrys do, and the Boar leaves once in a while.
thanks for the nicewords-I have been lucky,
best
eric
Joe,
I just wanted to add, That I am very blessed to have the cues, I started with verylittle-I didnt come from $$$, It took me years to have 4 or 5 custom cues-no Szams and they $2500 back when I went from 3 to 5 cues. Then I took a break from the pool scene opened a biz(still played at home). the biz exploded beyond anythingI ever realized(there is some controversy about it-but I never got in any legal trouble) aside from that, All of a sudden I had the means of fufilling a dream-building a solid cue collection, among other things. There isnt a day that goes by I dont take a step back and think how lucky I have been. Sure alot of sacrifice and time I spent to get where I was at. But I never took it for granted, I havent made a dollar since end of april 08. I have lost around $80,000,000, but I have the best girl in the world and I'm still here.
So I do appericate what I own. Ray Martins daughter found out I own his Gus Szam, she wants it for her grand kids, Barry said its worth around 20, funny thing is its IMO the best playing Gus I own and I use it often-I refered to it in this thread. She said she couldnt afford it. i'm 43 her kids are very young, So the way I see it is its alot more important to her and her kids than me, So I'm having my lawyer draw up the paper work and am giving it to them for free. I'm going to retain the right to possess and use it, until I want to give it to them. And at some point in the next 20 years when the kids are grown-and I'm old or if I get killed its theirs(I asked her nicely not to put a hit out on me). We laughed, but that cue is their grand fathers heritage-it should be in their family. So i'm just "borrowing it for now". Thats how I roll..
People confuse niceness for softness and thats a mistake, but not being greatful for what ever goodcomes your way in life is a mistake too. So yeah I am well aware of how lucky I have been. I have had some bad rolls with my health thatrobbed me of alot of things(i'm not dieing) but I been in bed with back problems for the last 4.5 years, and 5 operations. So when you drop your keys and pick them up-dont forget how lucky you are.
my very best,
eric
That is a very good post sir! A lot of people change when they get money, they often forget where they come from. I too am grateful for the good things in my life, wife, son, health, etc. It would be nice to be rich, but I always figured God wont allow it, because he know I would get stupid with it, lol. I know how lucky I am to be semi-healthy too Eric, lol. 12 years of 2-3 packs a day smoking has taken a toll on my health. Funny thing is, I quit a year ago, and have felt like crap ever since! lol! Take care of yourself Eric, and if I get back out to Vegas, Ill look you up.
Joe
After my playing cue was stolen I have bought and played with over 100 cues. Keep trying and you will find the right one, it took me many years and several Black Boars, Tascarella's etc until I eventually settled on a cue which can play all of the shots within my game.
It all comes down to personal preference and feel. However, the main thing that I have learnt is that your confidence in the cues ability is the main factor in finding the right cue. Therefore, all cues may need a placebo factor to do the job consistantly.
My two bobs worth
Cheers
Very, very kind move on your part. It's always nice to know that you don't want to be killed either. I got a kick out of that. :wink:
The first "catalog" Boars are a TOTALLY different animal than what Tony is making today and I'm not so sure warrant the high prices/demand they get today in comparison to the handmade cues Tony makes. The first Black Boars were most certainly a (gasp) "production" cue. On that note, I did hit with a few that had "new" Scianella shafts and they were jam up players.
To support my claim of calling the first gen Boars production cues I lay out the following facts (all of which are on Tony's site):
Bill McDaniel crafted the forearms.
The Tim Scruggs shop crafted the rest and assembled the cue.
Tony and son did the inlays (and perhaps finish).
Yes, the company was called "Black Boar" but it wasn't the Black Boar that is made today.
I was very sceptical about Black Boars cues/prices/claims of hitting great until I hit with a few and then I was sold.
Without any consideration to design elements....out of the gate two of the greatest "playing" cues I've just picked up and tried were Southwest and Black Boar. I can't put one above the other from my memory of hitting with the two cues (although I only hit with a Boar maybe 10+ times and I owned a Southwest for a while). I almost want to buy the cheapest Black Boar I can find (one fairly plain production model sold for just over 1K a few weeks ago) just to buy some of those new jam-up LD shafts Tony is making at $500 a pop. I hear they play great.
To support my claim of calling the first gen Boars production cues I lay out the following facts (all of which are on Tony's site):
Bill McDaniel crafted the forearms.
The Tim Scruggs shop crafted the rest and assembled the cue.
Tony and son did the inlays (and perhaps finish).
Yes, the company was called "Black Boar" but it wasn't the Black Boar that is made today.
I was very sceptical about Black Boars cues/prices/claims of hitting great until I hit with a few and then I was sold.
Without any consideration to design elements....out of the gate two of the greatest "playing" cues I've just picked up and tried were Southwest and Black Boar. I can't put one above the other from my memory of hitting with the two cues (although I only hit with a Boar maybe 10+ times and I owned a Southwest for a while). I almost want to buy the cheapest Black Boar I can find (one fairly plain production model sold for just over 1K a few weeks ago) just to buy some of those new jam-up LD shafts Tony is making at $500 a pop. I hear they play great.
You have alot of your facts wrong.
Only the first 10 "four point" boars made were made from Mcdaniel blanks, after that, every Boar was handmade totally by Tony, Tony estimates there are about 400 four point cues, so about 390 were totally made by Tony.
- None of the cues were made in Scruggs shop
In addition I agree that the newer cues are better players
Sounds like cue cases. Some makers put more INSIDE than out. ;-)
Here is the page that describes the Scruggs/McDaniels - Black Boar relationship
http://www.blackboarcustomcues.com/build/default.asp?CTID=213&IID=
Black Boar
I shot a Black Boar...well, off black, maybe a touch on the brown side...so I guess its a Brown Boar. I will be smoking it on this smoker for New Years, along with 4 chickens, 3 racks of ribs, and a Brisket..
Oh wait.....Black Boar Cue....My Bad.....Disregard
I shot a Black Boar...well, off black, maybe a touch on the brown side...so I guess its a Brown Boar. I will be smoking it on this smoker for New Years, along with 4 chickens, 3 racks of ribs, and a Brisket..
Oh wait.....Black Boar Cue....My Bad.....Disregard
Attachments
It is my understanding in the beginning or planning stages of Black Boar, Tony met with Tim on design and some other issues. The first BB were the typical 4 pt. cues( I've got one of the export cues). Export BB has no Ivory and has a dot in the logo. I also read somewhere that Tony was getting his early blanks from Tim along with someone else who's name I can't remember..I think I read that on the BB website in the history of BB. Tony's big break came with the connection to Japan (Lucky) and that's when the price of his cues went out of site. I use to play after work at USA billiards in Laurel MD and the house man was heavy into Black Boar cues and he sold a lot of customers into getting BB's. Tony would come to the room at least once a week and the cue prices were in line with Scruggs and Phillippi or even less. The fact that the value of BB cues has gone into outter space only makes my $550 cue , purchased new at the end of his 4 pt. era worth 5X, 6X or more times the investment.
Well, I'm not 100 percent your facts are right, but I'm basing this purely on what I've read on Tony's site and speculation.
Tony wasn't even a "cuemaker" at the beginning of his cue business. He just came up with a great idea and got the right people together to get the job done. So, if he wasn't a cuemaker.....after having Bill McDaniels/Scruggs made the first 10...somehow Tony got enough experience off of that to start producing cues? Doesn't make sense.
Why did they call the initial company BLACK BOAR CUES by Scruggs (see photo on Tony's website)? I assume Tim had "something" to do with the production of those cues as Tony wasn't a cuemaker at the beginning of Black Boar. I read on his site that he designed (and quite well mind you) the inlays and his son set up the software to CNC those inlays based on Tony's artistry.
Not to say Tony didn't become a GREAT cuemaker...but in the beginning, unless I'm totally missing something - the logic doesn't make sense. But if I'm missing something I would like to know the facts.
Thanks.
:thumbup:back when tony first started i was just a kid delivering pizza but was lucky to get to shoot with one very early BB at the Ballroom in toms river nj. i have wanted one ever since. delivering pizza wasnt going to pay for one even considering their cost back then. about two years ago i was able to finally pick one up for a decent price. i am soo glad i jumped on the deal. got a beatiful six ptr that plays awesome, and kinda achieved a small goal i had for a long time. I like it much its my everyday player.
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yes and I play with it often, i use it more than any other Gus I own, And I am giving it to the Martin family in a few years, I'm seeing my lawyer about that this week, I will have possesion until I want to give it to them, But its legally going to be their property on loan to me. Its a honor to give it to them.
Alot of people accused me of changing when I made $$$, I did a little. I never wait in line, if I go to the barber shop I aske everyone If I pay for their hair cue can I be next, if someone says no, I wait. I tip alot I give $100 bills to Valet's(when its busy) $20-$40 when its not. I am generous because I can be, I dont give people $$$ to act like a big shot, I hand them the $$$ very descreetly, most times with a hand shake and I'm gone inside before they see it. When I come back out they are happy. Valets, servers, matradees etc work hard, if they hook me up so I dont have to wait I take care of them. It feels good to make other people happy. I just gave one of my workers a 745 BMW Jay will vouch for that. And I havent make $$$$ since may 08, if Vette gets off his ass I will sen him the cue.
being nice is what I like, I dont like ass kissers looking for something-they have nothing comming, its the people who dont ask I like to help. and I ahve been around to tell the phonys fron the real people 80% of the time maybe more. But Dont confuse niceness for softness, I take my biz very seriously.
Its awesome feeling to give a Gus to the origonl owners grand kids. I dont talk here much about all the things like that I do,I did today. But this isnt a one shot deal-ask Jay he knows me better or as good as onyone here on AZ, a couple guys who dont post know that too. It feels good to be nice. I was a ***** for years awalys looking at the bad side of things and I was miserable, So I flipped on that outlook and what do you know, I'm happioer and good things happen, sure I get screwed sometimes, but a whole lot less often than before. you got to be positive and look for the good
I sent you my address in an email, I think I used the ep90210 address I had. I didn't make the post about you sending me your sh*ttiest cue for you to actually do it, I did it to be humorous and just comment on how vast your cue collection was. Anyone that knows me knows that I don't look for handouts. I am always the one that picks up the tab or buys the rounds, especially if someone can't afford it.
I have no idea how many rounds and shots I bought for Ktown, but he was buying them for me as fast as I could buy for him, lol. I honestly don't own a cue though so if you are serious then I would be more than happy to shoot with a "Fatboy" cue and tell the story everytime I beat someone with it. If that isn't the correct email address then pm me the right one.
i didnt see the email, EP90210@hotmail.com, Its a good cue-you'll like it promis, I'm in LA its in Vegas so it will be a week. I really want you to have it, you'll like it. KTown is great, he is fun to hang out with-i wish I would have been there the night you guys called. Take care man, and happy new years,
best
eric
Eric, It could be a Varney knock-off with a picture of Deathball on it and I'd appreciate it.
Tony was working out of Scruggs shop. I know one day when Tony, Tim, Bill, Mike, and Tommy all got together at Scruggs' shop.