How to identify lesser-expensive McDermott cues from its more-expensive cues?

Paul_#_

Paul_#_

Well-known member
How can you tell whether a McDermott cue is one of its less-expensive cues or a more-expensive cue? Today, it appears the less-expensive cues will have the McDermott four-leaf logo and either Lucky or Star written on the butt; the more expensive cue has only the logo. Does this hold true to earlier times? Pretty much it does? Hardly at all?

I am curious about a cue on Ebay auction now at $127 (includes shipping). Is that Ebay item in the photos a less-expensive or more-expensive McDermott cue? See https://www.ebay.com/itm/3555190552...d=link&campid=5335988529&toolid=20001&mkevt=1


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alphadog said:
. I don't believe that shaft is original to that cue as I don't believe G-cores went on the imports.
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That is not too surprising: seller describes shaft in excellent condition versus the butt in good condition suggesting the two weren't bought together. Looking over the many new and older discontinued cues on the McDermott site, the butt seems rather new. This is based on my troglodite's fashion and aesthetics estimation ----I may be wrong.
 
Paul_#_ said:
How can you tell whether a McDermott cue is one of its less-expensive cues or a more-expensive cue? Today, it appears the less-expensive cues will have the McDermott four-leaf logo and either Lucky or Star written on the butt; the more expensive cue has only the logo. Does this hold true to earlier times? Pretty much it does? Hardly at all?

I am curious about a cue on Ebay auction now at $127 (includes shipping). Is that Ebay item in the photos a less-expensive or more-expensive McDermott cue? See https://www.ebay.com/itm/3555190552...d=link&campid=5335988529&toolid=20001&mkevt=1


View attachment 747732View attachment 747733
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I'll do you one better...

These poor saps have bid up a 99.00 pool cue to $180 and that is not including the buyer's premium of 20% and shipping...

hibid.com

Beautiful McDermott Pool Stick Cue w/ Case | Live and Online Auctions on HiBid.com

hibid.com hibid.com

Here is the McDermott page...
https://www.mcdermottcue.com/kit1.php
 
Do any "high end" McDermotts actually have a clover near the joint? I've not seen that but maybe it's a newer one, the old ones were always on the butt cap.
 
boogieman said:
Do any "high end" McDermotts actually have a clover near the joint? I've not seen that but maybe it's a newer one, the old ones were always on the butt cap.
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Heck that sticker cue I just linked has the clover on the butt, So you can't really count on location either.

The best course of action is to email photos of the cue to Jayme Cernicka at McDermott (jcernicka@mcdermottcue.com) and they usually respond back same day.
 
The Ebay butt and the cue Benelli posted about are from McDermott’s Classic Cue Kits. McDermott’s website has them for $115 including cue, soft case, chalk, chalk holder, and a tipper/scuffer. Ebay’s cue is selling for $135 while Benelli’s cue is selling for $180 with the BUYER paying an additional 20%. Ugly! The Ebay price is okay since that cue has a G-Core McDermott shaft that sells new for more than $400.

As far as identifying cheap from expensive in McDermott's newer cues, the cheapest Classic Cue Kits, have only McDermott’s four-leaf-clover logo on the butt near the joint. The next cheapest McDermott Lucky & Star cues have near the joint McDermott’s logo and the word “Lucky” or “Star”. McDermott’s Select, G-, GS-, and Cue of the Month (for one in the series) have near the butt cap the logo and “U.S.A.”. The most-expensive H-series have near the butt cap the logo, “U.S.A.” and patent information something like “Pat. 8,523.695 Pat. Pend.”.

So, the more expensive McDermott cues have the word “U.S.A.” written next to its logo.
 
Back when I was a noob I decided I liked pool enough to get my own cue. A guy on my team said he had cues I could buy from. One was a McDermott and I knew just enough to recognize the name as a good production cue.

I bought it hit a couple balls before having to go home. Once home I excitedly looked for info on my new cue. Pow! I just paid $250 for a $70 cue.

Pissed I called him and he tried to insist it was a US made version blah blah spin spin. Finally agreed to me returning it and still tried to further scam me by saying only $150 back because I chalked it.

My own teammate… lesson learned. (Now ex teammate)
 
SSDiver2112 said:
Back when I was a noob I decided I liked pool enough to get my own cue. A guy on my team said he had cues I could buy from. One was a McDermott and I knew just enough to recognize the name as a good production cue.

I bought it hit a couple balls before having to go home. Once home I excitedly looked for info on my new cue. Pow! I just paid $250 for a $70 cue.

Pissed I called him and he tried to insist it was a US made version blah blah spin spin. Finally agreed to me returning it and still tried to further scam me by saying only $150 back because I chalked it.

My own teammate… lesson learned. (Now ex teammate)
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Years ago i found some of the import McDs on sale after xmas. I wasn't even aware they were imports when I bought 3 for 200 including tax.

I went to the pool hall and a guy said those are the cheap imports. Well I sold 2 for 100 each and kept 1 that played with. I hate ss joints but I liked the way this cue played.

I found 4 more and bought them just as cheap. Sold all 4 for 120 each. I had promised to hold 1 for a friend for 80.
Well I had sold all but the 1 I was using. Friend came to me whining so I honored my previous commitment. Later I found out she sold the cue for 250 to the guy who originally said those are cheap import cues. Go figure😉
 
alphadog said:
Years ago i found some of the import McDs on sale after xmas. I wasn't even aware they were imports when I bought 3 for 200 including tax.

I went to the pool hall and a guy said those are the cheap imports. Well I sold 2 for 100 each and kept 1 that played with. I hate ss joints but I liked the way this cue played.

I found 4 more and bought them just as cheap. Sold all 4 for 120 each. I had promised to hold 1 for a friend for 80.
Well I had sold all but the 1 I was using. Friend came to me whining so I honored my previous commitment. Later I found out she sold the cue for 250 to the guy who originally said those are cheap import cues. Go figure😉
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These are the kits I had bought on clearance back in 2012
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Anything that has the logo near the joint is a Lucky or Star cue, which is an import with decals. The McDermott brand cues made in Wisconsin will have the logo and USA on the butt plate.
 
briankenobi said:
Anything that has the logo near the joint is a Lucky or Star cue, which is an import with decals. The McDermott brand cues made in Wisconsin will have the logo and USA on the butt plate.
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Not all USA made McDermott cues with the M clover on the butt cap will also have USA or Made In USA printed.

I am no authority on this, but I think this should be a pretty reliable guide:

USA made (visible on butt cap or butt sleeve):
- M clover logo
- M clover logo with "USA" below it
- M clover logo with "Made" above and "In USA" below it

Import (visible near joint):
- M clover logo
- M clover logo with "Lucky" below it
- M clover logo with 'Star" below it

Others please chime in and maybe we can update this list?
 
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