The cue I had, (the one pictured) I took in a trade from John Wright about 1 1/2 years before Gus Szamboti passed away. I had just received my new Gus Szamboti a few weeks before. It was one of the fancier cues Gus made with a bunch of ivory inlays in the points and butt. Bushka rings above the wrap, red veneers. It was awesome. I was at a tournament in Indianapolis where John tracked me down. He'd heard through the "grape vine" about my new "Boti"! He made me several offers on the cue, each time I told him, It's not for sale! He laid out his display case with a dozen exotic cues. Maybe we can trade. He had the Bushka, with 5 shafts (2 original, 3 Doc Fry along with a letter from Doc Fry authenticating the cue) several Joss West cues, etc.. He said he'd take my cue and a few hundred to boot for the Bushka. I told him I'd take the Bushka and a Joss West for my cue, just to shut him up! He said that's rediculous, I can't do that! Five minutes later, he came up and told me, "OK , You've got a deal!" I didn't really want to trade! I just told him that because I didn't think he'd make the deal and wanted to drop the subject! He insisted that I honor the offer and I did, regretfully! I lost a lot of sleep over that deal! Gus had been a mentor of mine. He used to sell me ivory ferrule blanks and actually helped me a lot when I had specific cue construction questions. When he heard I'd traded my new cue, he was "hot as a firecracker"! He yelled at me on the phone and hung up. It was a month before he'd even talk to me! That was one of my biggest regrets in life, trading that cue! The Balabushka made me sick every time I looked at it, so I sold it soon after. I think Pete & Dennis Glenn bought the cue, but I wouldn't swear to that. I had 13 Boti's and 2 Bushkas all together, but only the one that Gus MADE FOR ME! I forget who ended up with what, when I split them up. Rich Ford from Cleveland bought a few of them IIRC. I was collecting Botis when you could buy them for under $300. Some of the guys in my poolroom had Szamboti cues they purchased new for $110. A good friend of mine has a REAL rare one. One of few (literally) made with the Wico plastic veneers like Gordon Hart used a lot in the OLD Vikings!
Sherm
