Buying Unknown Cues- An Example

Chopdoc

Chopdoc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Unknown or unidentified or unmarked cues can be a matter of controversy when posting and asking about them.

If you think it's stupid or it pisses you off, you might find a more interesting thread to post in elsewhere. Up to you.

Have you ever "taken a chance" on a cue? I mean, without asking anybody. We saw a couple cues recently purchased that turned out to be old Joss cues, a very nice find.

How much are you willing to risk on such a cue? What if it does not resemble a major maker at all? Just a cue that you liked the look of? Maybe just some nice wood?

What about this cue? I have no idea what it is and have put no effort into identifying it. I am not asking here, but if you know and tell me that's great.

Is it worth tossing $150 at? Without a chance to try it out? I realize some don't have $150 to toss at anything without a darn good reason so think outside that box if you need to.

It is: 58 inches, 19 ounces exactly, very clean looking ferrule and shaft, unknown tip diameter but looks small-ish, maybe 12mm-ish. Nice looking wood, but maybe the other side isn't so nice. No idea if it has a weight bolt. Big pin, looks like 3/8x10 next to the McDermott in the pictures. Cue looks to be in pretty darn good general condition.

What do you think that handle wood is? You can see some tearing of end grain at the bottom of the forearm where it meets the ring at the A joint, so it isn't the most masterful work.

Could be a player? Personally, I think this cue would look better with a brown bumper.

Let's call this an experiment.

Here is the tip next to a 13mm tip. The dirtier shaft next to it goes to a McDermott cue.

s-l1600nn (1).jpg


And the rest of the cue.

s-l1600 (1).jpg

s-l1600.jpg

s-l1600 b(2).jpg
 
What would it be worth if a maker like Newsheriff or Baxter made it? They do better work than this but one can imagine. We wouldn't see that grain tearing in one of their cues.

The finish isn't the best either but it looks adequate at a glance.

I looks like a hobbyist cue to me. But I like the look.
 
Chopdoc said:
Unknown or unidentified or unmarked cues can be a matter of controversy when posting and asking about them.

If you think it's stupid or it pisses you off, you might find a more interesting thread to post in elsewhere. Up to you.

Have you ever "taken a chance" on a cue? I mean, without asking anybody. We saw a couple cues recently purchased that turned out to be old Joss cues, a very nice find.

How much are you willing to risk on such a cue? What if it does not resemble a major maker at all? Just a cue that you liked the look of? Maybe just some nice wood?

What about this cue? I have no idea what it is and have put no effort into identifying it. I am not asking here, but if you know and tell me that's great.

Is it worth tossing $150 at? Without a chance to try it out? I realize some don't have $150 to toss at anything without a darn good reason so think outside that box if you need to.

It is: 58 inches, 19 ounces exactly, very clean looking ferrule and shaft, unknown tip diameter but looks small-ish, maybe 12mm-ish. Nice looking wood, but maybe the other side isn't so nice. No idea if it has a weight bolt. Big pin, looks like 3/8x10 next to the McDermott in the pictures. Cue looks to be in pretty darn good general condition.

What do you think that handle wood is? You can see some tearing of end grain at the bottom of the forearm where it meets the ring at the A joint, so it isn't the most masterful work.

Could be a player? Personally, I think this cue would look better with a brown bumper.

Let's call this an experiment.

Here is the tip next to a 13mm tip. The dirtier shaft next to it goes to a McDermott cue.

View attachment 847698

And the rest of the cue.

View attachment 847695
View attachment 847696
View attachment 847697
Click to expand...
Nice looking cue, I really like the combination of the curly maple forearm and butt, attached to an ebony handle.👍
 
I took a chance on an unknown cue for $700 once. I sold it for about the same years later still not knowing what it was. I had some Bushka experts look at it and they thought it was a very old unsigned Richard Black. The ring lengths and butt plate were the same lengths as a Richard Black I had. Richard had told the previous owner it was not one of his.
 
I figured I can enjoy it, or sell it to someone that needs a cue, or give it away to someone that needs a cue.

Once I verify the cue is OK and good to go, that alone strengthens the value.

I might do a social experiment with it at the pool hall.
 
There are a couple of ways I think about or even justify rolling the dice on a cue like this.

1. I've spent far more money on far less. That's not really sound logic, but it makes me feel better when I want it to. 😁
2. We make money so we can buy things. And if it's something I really like at a reasonable price for me, I'll buy it.
3. I probably couldn't go out and buy the individual components needed to make this cue for $150. So it's a "good deal."
4. I could probably get at least half of my money back out of it. So I'm essentially only gambling $75.00 at most. I might even be able to make a little on it.

If somebody had this for sale at the pool room or a bar where I could handle it and it checked out as "decent" or better, I'd probably rip my pocket off digging for the $150. That's an obvious exaggeration. But I'm a sucker for curly maple and I think $150 would be a killer price for that cue.
 
Hard to tell what the handle is but looks like it could be a type of striped ebony ot Bocote.
As for the shaft it almost looks like an illusion and it is very close to 13mm. I think it has a strainghter taper making it appear thinner. I'd say it's a 150.00+ cue for sure.
 
Neat cue, most likely worth the $150. The tear out makes me wonder if it was from a hobbyist, like you wondered, or from some really cheap outfit that cared about speed over everything. But they used nice wood. It's kind of sad to see on such a nice piece of curly. Not that it would effect play-ability much but it could limit the resale market. I'm curious to see how it plays. I don't think you got hurt at all for $150 though. If it plays good you got a steal.
 
Rusty in Montana said:
I'd screw it together and gently bump the heal of my hand with the shaft and depending on the vibration or in some cases lack of vibration would tell me if I needed to try shooting a few practice balls with it .
Click to expand...
I did that in the pol hall with a friend's high dollar custom , handed it back to him and said well I hope you like it. He came unglued.😁😆😅
 
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