FS - Fancy Ivory Verl Horn Cue

cueaddicts

cueaddicts

AzB Gold Member
Silver Member
OK folks, here's a New Year's/pre-Derby City Classic special for interested AZB'ers. A fancy Verl Horn with a TON OF IVORY....probably c. 1990.

8 staggered ivory prongs recut into ebony, ivory stitch rings throughout, ivory joint (flat face 3/8-10), and lots of ivory inlay work in the butt (4-diamond arrays, long scalloped windows, and dots). Butt cap is synthetic and the cue has Horn's later marking with gold print in the ring just above. Comes with 2 shafts, both are straight and have ivory ferrules. This cue is surprisingly straight for it's age. It rolls great with either shaft. It is in excellent condition but the finish has lifted off the rings somewhat, as you can see in the scan below. I don't believe that the cue has seen any play. With a Proficient Billiards refinish, this cue would be perfect to add to your collection.

First $1650 gets it...shipping included. Payment must be check or money order.

Hope everyone has a great New Year!!

Sean

horn1.jpg

horn2.jpg

horn3.jpg
 
Last edited:
cueaddicts said:
OK folks, here's a New Year's/pre-Derby City Classic special for interested AZB'ers. A fancy Verl Horn with a TON OF IVORY....probably c. 1990.

8 staggered ivory prongs recut into ebony, ivory stitch rings throughout, ivory joint (flat face 3/8-10), and lots of ivory inlay work in the butt (4-diamond arrays, long scalloped windows, and dots). Butt cap is synthetic and the cue has Horn's later marking with gold print in the ring just above. Comes with 2 shafts, both are straight and have ivory ferrules. This cue is surprisingly straight for it's age. It rolls great with either shaft. It is in excellent condition but the finish has lifted off the rings somewhat, as you can see in the scan below. I don't believe that the cue has seen any play. With a Proficient Billiards refinish, this cue would be perfect to add to your collection.

First $1650 gets it...shipping included. Payment must be check or money order.

Hope everyone has a great New Year!!

Sean

horn1.jpg

horn2.jpg

horn3.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a very nice looking cue! Can you give a little background on Verl Horn cues?

SCCues
 
Verl Horn was, for the lack of a better term, probably the grandfather of Midwest cuemakers. He made cues from the early 60's to mid 90's out of OK, and was the predecessor and mentor of many a cuemaker in that area (Ingram, Guffey, Prather, Kinder, Farris, etc.) Over the years he made some really nice Bushka clones with Spain blanks that unfortunately have been passed off as the real thing. He is also known the amount of ivory he had in his possession. I've heard that it was unbelieveable how much he had. Toward the end of his career he made some nice, fancy cues like this one with ivory prongs. He passed away in the late 90's and his estate was auctioned off a few years back.

I forgot to list the specs on this cue. It's 58" and weighs 20.1 and 20.2oz. Shafts are both dead on 13.05mm.

Sean
 
I've always been a little curious as to why his cues, considering the amount of ivory that he was known for using never seem to be very pricey? How are they in terms of playability. I realize that playability is a very subjective description, but just as a greater majority of players agree that SW play and hit well, what is the general consensus when it comes to Horns cues? Plain and simply put, with all that ivory, why are they so affordable?
I bought a cue from a guy that apparently learned from Verl, and as I won't mention names, it was the most difficult playing cue I've ever seen. It deflected so much, that it became a very popular source of entertainment with guys at my club fooling around with it.
dave
 
Thanks Chris. It's a real nice Horn for the money. Hope you enjoy having it in your collecton.

Sean
 
Tokyo-dave said:
I've always been a little curious as to why his cues, considering the amount of ivory that he was known for using never seem to be very pricey? How are they in terms of playability. I realize that playability is a very subjective description, but just as a greater majority of players agree that SW play and hit well, what is the general consensus when it comes to Horns cues? Plain and simply put, with all that ivory, why are they so affordable?
I bought a cue from a guy that apparently learned from Verl, and as I won't mention names, it was the most difficult playing cue I've ever seen. It deflected so much, that it became a very popular source of entertainment with guys at my club fooling around with it.
dave
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Verl was once partners with Dan Prather. When he sold out to Dan he continued to get cue parts for life at a discount. His cues were mainly prather parts and therefore bring less money. I have no problem with that fact, especially since Verl established the shop in the first place. With in 4 to 5 years Verl should get in one of the Hall of Fames and then his prices will go way up. At least that is what I am speculating on anyways. Kind of like buying stocks, but these are much prettier than papers with Microsoft or Walmart on them.
 
Verl Horn

Tokyo-dave said:
I've always been a little curious as to why his cues, considering the amount of ivory that he was known for using never seem to be very pricey? How are they in terms of playability. I realize that playability is a very subjective description, but just as a greater majority of players agree that SW play and hit well, what is the general consensus when it comes to Horns cues? Plain and simply put, with all that ivory, why are they so affordable?
I bought a cue from a guy that apparently learned from Verl, and as I won't mention names, it was the most difficult playing cue I've ever seen. It deflected so much, that it became a very popular source of entertainment with guys at my club fooling around with it.
dave
Click to expand...

I had about 5 Horns in my possessions at one time. i was even negotiating with his niece half way for another ebony piece when suddenly he passed on. While he was from ard the same era as Schrager and Gina there is certainly reason why his cue arent more popular. His cues' hit are consistent in its inconsistency. and i find that generally the older the horn the better they hit... The ivory prong cues he started making in the late 90s. i had 3 of those, and sadly none of them hit well. One of them had the joint rings inverted. Another the points was way off. Perhaps i was just unlucky. Those ivory prong cues retail for 1300 off his site at that time in 1999

I heard strong rumors that at the last 3 years of production, most of the cues stamped under his name was made in fact by his apprentice at that time.
 
titlistsucker said:
I had about 5 Horns in my possessions at one time. i was even negotiating with his niece half way for another ebony piece when suddenly he passed on. While he was from ard the same era as Schrager and Gina there is certainly reason why his cue arent more popular. His cues' hit are consistent in its inconsistency. and i find that generally the older the horn the better they hit... The ivory prong cues he started making in the late 90s. i had 3 of those, and sadly none of them hit well. One of them had the joint rings inverted. Another the points was way off. Perhaps i was just unlucky. Those ivory prong cues retail for 1300 off his site at that time in 1999

I heard strong rumors that at the last 3 years of production, most of the cues stamped under his name was made in fact by his apprentice at that time.
Click to expand...

Verl was a character. I ordered a cue from Randy Andersen of Witchita in 88 or so. You know he had an ad Billiards Digest or one of those mags. Anyways during our conversations he told me he learned cuemaking from this auto repair guy and his name was Verl. So I got his number and ordered one from him to. But talking to him, he was great. Knew Spain, all the best, talked to Gus, the whole kit bang and kaboodle. Anyways he quotes me 3 weeks for a cue. I said get outta here, he said no problem. So three weeks goes by and I get it in a half eaten case. Anyways I hit with the cue and said WTF!!! It was 22 almost 23oz. I call him up he says send it back, and sends me a new cue with three shafts and says that for the trouble. So anyways the cue played decent, but it warped, all 4 pieces. 3 shafts and the butt. Within a few months, I said hell with it, at that time I got a 4 point cue, with Boti stitch rings for 350.00. I used it as my break cue for a while then sold it for 700. Anyways, Andersen made great cues. I am shocked I haven't seen many around. The cue I had played lights out. Solid, great hit and phenomonal price.

Joe
 
I still feel that the Horn cue we have is the best looking Horn I have ever seen. It has the best looking piece of birdseye maple in the forearm that I have ever seen on any cue. The butt & shaft roll straight and this cue has a solid hit. We bought it from the person who bought it from Verl 30+ years ago. Click here to see it Horn Cue
 
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