How to differentiate Predator 314 Pre Cat when logo is gone?

Jive

Jive

Professional Racker
Silver Member
I have a Southwest that comes with a Predator 314, but i'm not sure what kind of 314 it is.

I'm not into Predator LD Stuff but i'd just like to know what i'm holding on to. I know there's the Pre Cat and Post Cat 314s where there's the logo of predator but since mine is a custom shaft, all logos are gone. What other tell tale signs are there to be able to distinguish?

The cue's from 1980's so it's possible the shaft could be made at any point between now and then...which is why it's even harder for me to determine.

Thanks for all the help i can get.
 
OzCueball said:
Does it say "314" at all?
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Nope, no 314, no logo, nothing. Just like a regular shaft.
I know it's a 314 though cos of the "pizza cuts" and i've played with one a few years ago. Then again you never know...plot thickens... :eek:
I'm joking...i know it's 314 just which one?
 
Hmm not sure man. So far as i know the first 314's just had the number o the shaft. Then they started making them with the cat and i thought that after that they always had the cat under the number. But i could very well be wrong.
 
OzCueball said:
Hmm not sure man. So far as i know the first 314's just had the number o the shaft. Then they started making them with the cat and i thought that after that they always had the cat under the number. But i could very well be wrong.
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Yup i know about the 314 vs 314 + Cat logo, but i'm pretty sure mine's made from a custom blank and somehow the logo was removed. That's why i'm trying to find out how else i can differentiate them.
 
Jive, your best bet would be to ask KJ (KJ Cues, AZ name) in Ask the Cue Maker.

314 6 laminations and the 314 Cat 10. Should be able to see the difference between 6 and 10 hopefully.

I could be wrong with my old memory but I think it might have to do with the amount of lams.

KJ will know for sure. He will be able to give you the time frame when these were made, etc. If it weren't 4:20, I would dig my 314 out and count them for you. If I wake the War Dept, then you will know why she is the War Dept. And my 314 might end up someplace that I would prefer it not to be.
 
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Blue Hog ridr said:
Jive, your best bet would be to ask KJ (KJ Cues, AZ name) in Ask the Cue Maker.

314 6 laminations and the 314 Cat 10. Should be able to see the difference between 6 and 10 hopefully.

I could be wrong with my old memory but I think it might have to do with the amount of lams.

KJ will know for sure. He will be able to give you the time frame when these were made, etc. If it weren't 4:20, I would dig my 314 out and count them for you. If I wake the War Dept, then you will know why she is the War Dept. And my 314 might end up someplace that I would prefer it not to be.
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Hahha ok, I'll wait for your war dept to be off duty. Thanks for the heads up!
 
Zerius said:
Off white, the new 314-2 ferrules are a strong cold (blueish) white.
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Hmmm...am gonna try to do that but the shaft is pretty old so this may not be the easiest way to tell. Plus I don't have another shaft for comparison so it's tougher.

Anybody else?
 
The 314-1 had a .75" long ferrule.

The 314-2 has a .60" long ferrule.

You can see that on this link.
http://www.predatorcues.com/predator_cues_shaft_evolution.php

They all had the same number of laminations, which is 10. Only the VERY EARLY 314-1's, made in about the first year of production, were different. They had 1" long ferrules, and a different number of laminations. There are VERY few of these out there, so you most likely don't have one of these.

On the 314-1's, there is no visual difference between the block letter 314-1, and the cat logo 314-1. I'm also fairly certain there is no internal difference. The only difference is the logo.

My knowledge comes from personally owning about 15 predator shafts over the years, and I still have about half of them.

If your shaft was matched to your cue by Southwest, they would probably have a record of it, and can let you know more about it.
 
iusedtoberich said:
The 314-1 had a .75" long ferrule.

The 314-2 has a .60" long ferrule.

You can see that on this link.
http://www.predatorcues.com/predator_cues_shaft_evolution.php

They all had the same number of laminations, which is 10. Only the VERY EARLY 314-1's, made in about the first year of production, were different. They had 1" long ferrules, and a different number of laminations. There are VERY few of these out there, so you most likely don't have one of these.

On the 314-1's, there is no visual difference between the block letter 314-1, and the cat logo 314-1. I'm also fairly certain there is no internal difference. The only difference is the logo.

My knowledge comes from personally owning about 15 predator shafts over the years, and I still have about half of them.

If your shaft was matched to your cue by Southwest, they would probably have a record of it, and can let you know more about it.
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Thanks for the info!! That's exactly what I'm looking for!
I'm pretty sure the 314 I have is made by a third party cos the colour of the phenolic don't match 100% and the finishing on it is thinner than the rest of the cue and the original shafts.

I'll go check on the shaft in a bit.

Once again the forum's wealth of knowledge and info astounds me.

Thanks again!
 
Yellowish wood

All of them have 10 laminations, other than a FEW early ones as mentioned.

However, I have a PRE-cat and the wood is definitely more YELLOW, than the other ones. As seen near collar under varnish. In like manner, the post cat 314-1 are considerably more yellow than their replacement ...the 314-2.

I was told that there's NO DIFFERENCE, but from what I've noticed, the wood is def different.

I have one also made from a blank, and it's longer, that's the only way you'd know. Also, it has a slightly diff taper, as it was made by a cue builder from a blank with whatever taper that builder chose to use.

I'll try to post pics but in short, you can't tell any difference except the color of the wood.
 
8onthebreak said:
All of them have 10 laminations, other than a FEW early ones as mentioned.

However, I have a PRE-cat and the wood is definitely more YELLOW, than the other ones. As seen near collar under varnish. In like manner, the post cat 314-1 are considerably more yellow than their replacement ...the 314-2.

I was told that there's NO DIFFERENCE, but from what I've noticed, the wood is def different.

I have one also made from a blank, and it's longer, that's the only way you'd know. Also, it has a slightly diff taper, as it was made by a cue builder from a blank with whatever taper that builder chose to use.

I'll try to post pics but in short, you can't tell any difference except the color of the wood.
Click to expand...

Thanks for another great info.
I'm pretty sure in terms of playability and quality the Pre and post cats pretty much the same, and if upgrades are what they're suppose to be than 314-2 must be better than 314-1. I'm not so much concern which 314 I have, I just want to know what I have and of I should sell to someone I wanna be able to give a better description.
 
Blue Hog ridr said:
Jive, your best bet would be to ask KJ (KJ Cues, AZ name) in Ask the Cue Maker.

314 6 laminations and the 314 Cat 10. Should be able to see the difference between 6 and 10 hopefully.

I could be wrong with my old memory but I think it might have to do with the amount of lams.

KJ will know for sure. He will be able to give you the time frame when these were made, etc. If it weren't 4:20, I would dig my 314 out and count them for you. If I wake the War Dept, then you will know why she is the War Dept. And my 314 might end up someplace that I would prefer it not to be.
Click to expand...

What is "314 6 lamination's" and "314 10"? Are they differences in the logos?
 
The wood color of my pre-cat shafts is more yellow than the newer 314s.
But I think that might just be because the wood is older. You typically see darker colored maple on older cues.

Other than that, my pre-cat shafts all tend to hit a bit stiffer.
 
Jive said:
Thanks for another great info.
I'm pretty sure in terms of playability and quality the Pre and post cats pretty much the same, and if upgrades are what they're suppose to be than 314-2 must be better than 314-1. I'm not so much concern which 314 I have, I just want to know what I have and of I should sell to someone I wanna be able to give a better description.
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No, 314-2 is nowhere near as good as 314-1...I'm sure PRE-cat is even better than 314-1......I think this yellow tint in the wood has something to do with the hit/wood quality.

What kind of shaft do you have, if it's a 314-1... You'll sell it in 15 minutes on this forum, lol...pm me what u want for it if it's a 1



OzCueball said:
What is "314 6 lamination's" and "314 10"? Are they differences in the logos?
Click to expand...

I think The very first 314 shafts had only 6 pie shape pieces of wood used, then they quickly switched to 10. Everything I've seen whether 314 PRE-cat, 314 cat and 314-2 all have 10 laminations.

The 314-2 has a shorter ferrule for less deflection.
 
8onthebreak said:
...However, I have a PRE-cat and the wood is definitely more YELLOW, than the other ones. As seen near collar under varnish. In like manner, the post cat 314-1 are considerably more yellow than their replacement ...the 314-2.

...
Click to expand...

Don't you think its more logical that the reason the shafts you have seen are darker is because they are older, and the finish has had more time to yellow?
 
Good question

iusedtoberich said:
Don't you think its more logical that the reason the shafts you have seen are darker is because they are older, and the finish has had more time to yellow?
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Good question, thought crossed my mind...but ...no, I actually think its the wood. All of the shafts are 10 plus years old...the hit seems to be related to how yellow...at least in my opinion of experience.

Gonna try to put pics up L8er tonight.
 
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