All picking is a big”if” that is why most don’t do it - mostly a needle in a haystack find.
Always pays to look in the haystack. Always.
As for the pawn brokers, yeah, they often have no idea and just overprice stuff like cues.
But they will have $400 on a fancy made in China ramin wood cue next to a perfect condition Joss for $125. I have seen it. I now own that Joss. I offered a price on the bundle. Negotiated a lower price on the budle with specific prices assigned to each cue. Then said I wasn't interested in the more expensive one but would take the Joss for $90. Done deal! I still have it.
As for identifying such cues, have a number of them I bought without an ID. I have never once failed to come out smelling like roses in such a deal. If it looks like a "good cue" and your instincts say the price is good, bundle it with the POS cue for a cheaper price, or just make an offer, and buy it. Just buy it. Garage sale, flea market, pawn broker, Craigslist, whatever.
If you know cues, and know enough to ask the right questions, it is very unlikely you will be unhappy. But if you wait and research it, and give them time to research it, or someone else buys it, you might regret it. Just buy it.
This cue? I don't know what price they had on it, but there is a very good chance I would have bought it. It took be about 30 seconds of searching to ID it in post #8.
I think most of us would have thought early Woodworth right off the bat anyway.
Most don't do it? Good.
