Pin should always be last only reason to put pin first is because you can't get it straight when it matters .If you put it first and you have any movement in the cue then you have a cue that is truly off center .I don't put cue together until forearm is .875 at joint then you have cue that is on center at A joint and everywhere else we won't even talk about keeping points even doing pin first
There was/is a few who installed first. I remember the discussions on here.How many of you cue makes install the pin first in the butt. i had a cue maker, that has since passed, from florida, tell me years ago that they will always be true to the pin if you do it this way.
I remember Judd installing the screws on his 8-point blanks.There was/is a few who installed first. I remember the discussions on here.
What ever works for them.
I do it last.