For Sale - 1970's Vintage Bill Schick "Gambler" -- Bill's Personal Playing Cue - MINT
Today I verified all of the factual information contained in this thread with Bill Schick (he did not verify the specs because I own and am in possession of the cue), and have an e-mail from him to prove it. I will forward that e-mail to any person upon request.
Bill Schick made this "Gambler" between 1974 and 1976. He was inspired to do so as a result of a cue that George Balabushka made for a friend of his. That cue is now in the "Hishinuma" collection and is known as the "Balabushka Gambler." When this cue was finished in the mid 1970's, there were no gambler inlays in the butt sleeve. Sometime between 1981 and 1983, Schick inlaid the gambler inlays in the butt sleeve and retired the cue to his wife's personal collection of Schick cues. This cue was Bill's personal playing cue from the time that it was finished (sometime between 1974 and 1976) until the time that it was retired to his wife's collection. The cue was in her possession until 2006, when Schick refinished the butt and both shafts and it was sold to a collector. I recently purchased the cue directly from that collector.
The forearm features 4 razor-sharp Ebony points with 4 veneers each (natural, black, natural and black). At the end of each point is a different playing card symbol. Each point has 2 Ivory dice (the numbers in the points total 7, 7, 7 and 11). The butt sleeve is Ebony and sports two rows of Ivory inlays, each of which consists of 4 different Ivory card symbols separated by an Ivory circle. In all, the cue has 24 Ivory inlays. Schick wrote his name in script on the butt cap. The wrap is textured black leather. The joint is piloted stainless steel with a 5/16-18 screw. The shafts are original and roll amazingly dead straight for shafts that are at least 31 years old (I have never seen straighter rolling shafts more than 30 years old). One shaft rolls at least 99.5% perfect; the other one rolls at least 98.5% perfect. Each shaft has an Ivory ferrule and a nonlaminated tip. The black collars have a thick nickel ring. The butt rolls dead straight.
This Schick is extraordinary, especially considering the fact that it was made more than 30 years ago without the aid of any computer technology, was Bill's personal playing cue, has not been seen by very many people in the past 25 years, and is a Balabushka inspired masterpiece. My price on this historically significant Schick is $9,900.00 delivered. If you are looking to acquire a true collectible cue, then this Gambler is for you.
Today I verified all of the factual information contained in this thread with Bill Schick (he did not verify the specs because I own and am in possession of the cue), and have an e-mail from him to prove it. I will forward that e-mail to any person upon request.
Bill Schick made this "Gambler" between 1974 and 1976. He was inspired to do so as a result of a cue that George Balabushka made for a friend of his. That cue is now in the "Hishinuma" collection and is known as the "Balabushka Gambler." When this cue was finished in the mid 1970's, there were no gambler inlays in the butt sleeve. Sometime between 1981 and 1983, Schick inlaid the gambler inlays in the butt sleeve and retired the cue to his wife's personal collection of Schick cues. This cue was Bill's personal playing cue from the time that it was finished (sometime between 1974 and 1976) until the time that it was retired to his wife's collection. The cue was in her possession until 2006, when Schick refinished the butt and both shafts and it was sold to a collector. I recently purchased the cue directly from that collector.
The forearm features 4 razor-sharp Ebony points with 4 veneers each (natural, black, natural and black). At the end of each point is a different playing card symbol. Each point has 2 Ivory dice (the numbers in the points total 7, 7, 7 and 11). The butt sleeve is Ebony and sports two rows of Ivory inlays, each of which consists of 4 different Ivory card symbols separated by an Ivory circle. In all, the cue has 24 Ivory inlays. Schick wrote his name in script on the butt cap. The wrap is textured black leather. The joint is piloted stainless steel with a 5/16-18 screw. The shafts are original and roll amazingly dead straight for shafts that are at least 31 years old (I have never seen straighter rolling shafts more than 30 years old). One shaft rolls at least 99.5% perfect; the other one rolls at least 98.5% perfect. Each shaft has an Ivory ferrule and a nonlaminated tip. The black collars have a thick nickel ring. The butt rolls dead straight.
This Schick is extraordinary, especially considering the fact that it was made more than 30 years ago without the aid of any computer technology, was Bill's personal playing cue, has not been seen by very many people in the past 25 years, and is a Balabushka inspired masterpiece. My price on this historically significant Schick is $9,900.00 delivered. If you are looking to acquire a true collectible cue, then this Gambler is for you.
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