I recall there being some controversy regarding whether or not Les Blevins had worked for South West Cues. Can anyone definitively clear the air on the subject?
Thanks
Thanks
Did Les Blevins Build Cues for South West?
- Thread starter PhilosopherKing
- Start date
The answer I got from Laurie Franklin is no. I bought a cue that was purported to be a SouthWest. I sent it to Laurie for authentication and she sent it back telling me that it wasn't a SouthWest. I went back to the seller and he said it was a Les Blevins "made while Les worked there" as if Les was able to make his own cues on their equipment.
So I called Laurie back and asked if Les Blevins had ever worked there and she said no but that she gets asked that a lot.
At least that's how I remember it going down. I did get my money back on the Les Blevins I had though but was still out the shipping and the fee to SW. I don't even remember what she charged me.
So I called Laurie back and asked if Les Blevins had ever worked there and she said no but that she gets asked that a lot.
At least that's how I remember it going down. I did get my money back on the Les Blevins I had though but was still out the shipping and the fee to SW. I don't even remember what she charged me.
I got the same answer from her too.
He used the same pins, and his cues look close to a SW too.
Great cue though.
chris G<------owned 3, and thought they were all great hitters
He used the same pins, and his cues look close to a SW too.
Great cue though.
chris G<------owned 3, and thought they were all great hitters
Les used a southwest looking pin but it had a 10 threads instead of 11. I think that Les got the bulk of his cuebuilding knowledge from Joe Blackburn while Joe was living in the Ashland Ky area. Joe has helped several cuebuilders over the years. The southwest rumor has been around for years. Probably made up by someone wanting to pump up Les' cues. He didn't really need it though, his cues played good on their own merit.
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Les Blevins worked for someone alRIGHT... waking Les West cues....
Just like a Horny Bushka... you have Les West cues...
Just like a hooker and a JOHN... you pay your money and get your screwin'... LOL I am sure many Les Wests have been sold as Franklin ERA SW's...
Which is why I always recommend that the cues, if not accompanied by a letter from Mrs. F... ain't worth the trouble.
JV
Do they use similar specs?
that's kind of cool to know. if you can find a les belvins there's a chance that you'll be buying a cue that actually plays like a southwest for much cheaper. and when i say "plays like a southwest" i don't just mean it's for sale
I think I can answer some of these Questions.
I am a huge collector of Blevins cues, I have 14 of them. Les never worked or Apprenticed with any cue builders, he has probably never even met Jerry Franklin or Laurie. He did repair cues with Joe Blackburn and they are still very close friends. He started making cues from old house cue sneaky petes and then progressed. His cues do have a brass pin that look like a pre-date southwest pin, but they are 3/8x10 not 3/8x11. He made his pins by hand from brass round stock. His bumper system is also different than a southwest Usually the screw that holds the bumper in screws into the wieght bolt. His cues do have a southwest or DPK taper, most of the time. Hope this helps. If you have a BLevins forsale let me know, I'll probably buy it.
I am a huge collector of Blevins cues, I have 14 of them. Les never worked or Apprenticed with any cue builders, he has probably never even met Jerry Franklin or Laurie. He did repair cues with Joe Blackburn and they are still very close friends. He started making cues from old house cue sneaky petes and then progressed. His cues do have a brass pin that look like a pre-date southwest pin, but they are 3/8x10 not 3/8x11. He made his pins by hand from brass round stock. His bumper system is also different than a southwest Usually the screw that holds the bumper in screws into the wieght bolt. His cues do have a southwest or DPK taper, most of the time. Hope this helps. If you have a BLevins forsale let me know, I'll probably buy it.
Maybe he made it while working IN THE Southwest (US that is) 