History of the X-breaker?

F

fathomblue

Rusty Shackleford
Silver Member
Can someone give me the history of the X-Breaker? I hear they're pretty much the nuts.

Are there different versions of it?

What about the X-Breaker tip?

How is Samsara involved?

Is it possible to find one of these cues?

Are they still manufactured?

I'm looking for a really good break cue. I already have a Lomax jumper, so a break cue specifically is all that I need.


Thanks.
 
fathomblue said:
Can someone give me the history of the X-Breaker? I hear they're pretty much the nuts.

Are there different versions of it?

yes there were different versions of it..

What about the X-Breaker tip?

also were different versions of it..

How is Samsara involved?

they were contracted to make the new version.. but Richard got really sick and couldnt complete the deal

Is it possible to find one of these cues?

they show up for sale from time to time..

Are they still manufactured?

no they are not

I'm looking for a really good break cue. I already have a Lomax jumper, so a break cue specifically is all that I need.

try a Pete Ohman (OMEN) break cue.. i really love mine..


Thanks.
Click to expand...

hope that sums it up for you..

chris
 
Thanks, Chris. That definitely gives me something to chew on.

I'm going to take a gander at Pete's stuff. Does he have a website?
 
The break cue that Samsara offers is very very close to the X-Breaker. My understanding was that Samsara built the butts (curly maple) and dyed them to replicate PH, Oak, Ebony; and possibly supplied the shafts....Richard then added his proprietary tip/ferrule combo and the bumper...which was basically a Limbsaver. This was to help reduce the jarring of the break shot. They were very nice breakers.

My understanding is that Richard got terminally ill, and moved from BC back to Taiwan (?) to spend his last days with family. When he initially found out he was ill and in Hospital, some 'friends' of his were supposed to be handling business for him via his website. They took the funds and never delivered, scamming several people in the process. It was all very sad.

So...if you purchase a Samsara breaker, and add a Limbsaver to it, you will basically have an updated version of an X-Breaker. http://www.samsaracues.com/cue.php?view=3

Lisa
 
ridewiththewind said:
My understanding is that Richard got terminally ill, and moved from BC back to Taiwan (?) to spend his last days with family. When he initially found out he was ill and in Hospital, some 'friends' of his were supposed to be handling business for him via his website. They took the funds and never delivered, scamming several people in the process. It was all very sad.
Click to expand...

There is no "they". It was all Richard.

It's sad and shameful that he would smokescreen his behavior by pointing to vague health concerns which were never confirmed. To the contrary, he was spotted on numerous occasions by locals during and after, and some people knew his new hangouts. Why did you think he had moved?

Richard even posted on AZ (perhaps his last post) that he would not be refunding anyone nor returning any equipment. Then, for months after the fact "someone" with Richard's exact writing style and using Richard's eBay account sold off X-Breaker related parts and equipment. Shocker :p

Richard had also changed the name of his eBay account numerous times to try to hide it. Fortunately, eBay lets you check the history of an account, or at least it did at the time.

There were actually numerous laughable and questionable BS behaviors on his part happening on numerous occasions. Not everyone knew about it. Of course the vendors he partnered with know some, as do us locals.

By the way, X-Breaker is a fantastic cue. I've owned more than one and would gladly use one again. I'm commenting purely on what you wrote, because people should know there was nothing innocent nor unfortunate about the way things unfolded at the end.
 
shinobi said:
There is no "they". It was all Richard.

It's sad and shameful that he would smokescreen his behavior by pointing to vague health concerns which were never confirmed. To the contrary, he was spotted on numerous occasions by locals during and after, and some people knew his new hangouts. Why did you think he had moved?

Richard even posted on AZ (perhaps his last post) that he would not be refunding anyone nor returning any equipment. Then, for months after the fact "someone" with Richard's exact writing style and using Richard's eBay account sold off X-Breaker related parts and equipment. Shocker :p

Richard had also changed the name of his eBay account numerous times to try to hide it. Fortunately, eBay lets you check the history of an account, or at least it did at the time.

There were actually numerous laughable and questionable BS behaviors on his part happening on numerous occasions. Not everyone knew about it. Of course the vendors he partnered with know some, as do us locals.

By the way, X-Breaker is a fantastic cue. I've owned more than one and would gladly use one again. I'm commenting purely on what you wrote, because people should know there was nothing innocent nor unfortunate about the way things unfolded at the end.
Click to expand...

richard<===master of hyperbole

claimed accurate radar measured CB speed at 39+ mph and when pressed stated he confused kph w/mph :smile:

gotta wonder where he got the idea for the buttplug...
 
I still have the Samsara XBreaker and there were only 20 of the made. Mine is the Hillbilly Bryant version and it works great. I know Richard got sick after making these and went out of business. I had both versions and have to say I believe the Samsara was the better of all. I have never had to replace the tip or anything on mine. It is the J/B stick. It also was signed by Charlie HB Bryant but it wore off from going in and out of the case so much.
 
I had a x-breaker and it was ok, but if your looking for a jump/break I would get a Lomax. Lomax jump/break cues are the best by far imo and I have had about every jump/break out there.
 
My 2 cents on a breaker is a Omen jump break!!!!!!! I have owned a lot of jump breaks and my two favorite's are Omen and J&J (No I am not related to Omen in any way just love the cues). Joe
 
ridewiththewind said:
The break cue that Samsara offers is very very close to the X-Breaker. My understanding was that Samsara built the butts (curly maple) and dyed them to replicate PH, Oak, Ebony; and possibly supplied the shafts....Richard then added his proprietary tip/ferrule combo and the bumper...which was basically a Limbsaver. This was to help reduce the jarring of the break shot. They were very nice breakers.

My understanding is that Richard got terminally ill, and moved from BC back to Taiwan (?) to spend his last days with family. When he initially found out he was ill and in Hospital, some 'friends' of his were supposed to be handling business for him via his website. They took the funds and never delivered, scamming several people in the process. It was all very sad.

So...if you purchase a Samsara breaker, and add a Limbsaver to it, you will basically have an updated version of an X-Breaker. http://www.samsaracues.com/cue.php?view=3

Lisa
Click to expand...

The Samsara breaker is more like a version of the Gulyassy Sledgehammer, who also had them briefly made by Samsara. I've had all 3 and am still using the X-Breaker...it gives them both the 7.
 
I already have a Lomax jumper, so I've been lookin for a dedicated breaker.

Looks like it will be tough to find an X-Breaker.
 
rayjay said:
The Samsara breaker is more like a version of the Gulyassy Sledgehammer, who also had them briefly made by Samsara.
Click to expand...

The last generation of the x-breaker butts were made by samsara. When it was discovered that richard could not complete the deal, samsara reach out to gulyassy (or the other way around) and had the butts modfied so that it had bocote ringwork and joint. After the modification, gulyassy would add his patented one piece tip ferrule combination and it became the gulyassy jump break cue. Not sure if the shafts were supplied by samsara.
The x-breaker and gulyassy jump/break were similar in forearm, butt sleeve, and joint pins, and differed in ringwork and tip.
 
X-breakers

I have j/b from the same Taiwan factory that made x breakers and the OB breaker is way better. JMHO
 
No Taiwan factory ....all 'in house' by Richard Chan out of BC, Canada.


Shinobi....obviously you have more info than myself...and so not doubting your info ...just really surprised....he seemed like a stand-up guy. He even called me to see how I liked mine...although I had barely got it unwrapped. It worked very well...although my break sucked overall at the time.

Sent from my VM670 using Tapatalk 2
 
X-Breaker

I still have my X-Breaker JB cue it is the Blonde one (Thats what I call it) and it is the Bomb. I bought it after I saw Larry Nevel do the jump that was a credit card thickness away from the obstructing ball. It has never let me down. There was a time I used it for my shooting cue it is just that nice. I play mostly one pocket now and don't use it anymore and is for sale if your interested. Pm me for details.
 
I had both an X-Breaker and an X-Jumper. I even had Richard build me a extra shaft with a leather tip (after the BCAPL only allowed leather tips). I did eventually sell both to another AZ member to allow me to purchase my custom J/B from Wes Hunter. I know that I did occasionally see X-Breaker items appear on eBay but I thought it was Richard's sister doing the selling.
 
To the best of my knowledge the 1st & 2nd generation Xbreaker's where all made in Richards shop,and where the best ones.There where problems with the ring work not lining up the Xbreaker logo,and the metal ring work would SOMETIMES pop out.But those where the only problems that I ever heard of.

The 1st & 2nd generation cues HIT a TON! I would recommend one any day even if it's one that has those problems!The cue will still hit like a sledge hammer,it's just aesthetics.
The Samssara version that I had a chance to hit wasn't even close to my Xbreaker as far as hit goes!As for the finish it's top notch.

Some people say it's just the tip that made the Xbreaker great,I like the G10 tip,but it's not just the tip!I just replaced the the G10 tip with a layered B/Jump tip I got for free,though slightly softer in hit,it still kills a rack,yesterday I had more than 1 five ball breaks!!!!

If you can get an Xbreaker 1st or 2nd generation I would recommend trying one.There not magic it may not be a good B/J cue for your style of break or jump,but you wont know till you try one.

The good ones are very hard to find and there where a lot of cheap copies out there so make sure it's a real one.Richard only used a logo on the ring work in the 2nd generation,and the logo would not line up correctly,the shaft would be numbered on the joint face,if it does not have those 2 things then it may be a Samssara or a copy.

I've never hit an Omen break/jump cue but I play with an Omen.I plan on ordering an Omen b/j cue to match my player,and have heard they also hit a ton!His quality of cue for the money can not be beat.
Good luck with your search
 
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