Libra? Can someone help to identify this cue

Hidy Ho

Hidy Ho

Missed 4 rail hanger!!!
Silver Member
Hi experts,

My friend has this cue .. and we are trying to identify the maker. It's been floated around that this is possibly Libra. Inside buttcap has no marking but is plugged similar to SW and Bluegrass cue.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

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i've been doing some skulking about, looking at other libra cues, and except for the flat headed pin, my take is that it is not a libra. even the pin is no guarantee because the libra at billiardcue.com does NOT have that pin.

here is what i see....

1...all the other libras have the butt ring near the top end of the butt plate, while yours is nearer the bottom.

2...the design of your cue isn't well thought out. the white tip on the butt just doesn't make sense, while the other libras have a traditional approach to their butt plates.

3...the other libras looks like they have those rubber screw-in bumpers. it's hard to tell with yours as it looks like you may have taken the bumper off.

4...i played with one when eons ago, and as i remember(and as it seems in the butt pic from cueaddict's site) libra butts tapered up to the end,,,they weren't straight. sean might correct me if i'm wrong on this, but the butt pic on his site shows a definite taper all the way.

5...i might be wrong here too, but was the libra grip kinda fat? you migt want to check this.

all in all, your cue bothers me. it's odd design of the white butt cap, questionable bumper type, misplaced butt ring. the cut at the butt of your cue doesn't look as clean as a libra, but it does seem to taper.

just my $.02
 
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Thanks for a detailed analysis .. I appreciate it.

Regarding the bumper, it's not screw in .. just a plug in rubber used on DPK, SW and Bluegrass cue.

Taper .. since Libra is suppose to be DPK inspired, what you say make sense. Fortunately, I have DKP and JF era SW cues around the area to compare the taper.

Low butt ring I think it's similar to this one on proficient site.

I hope some of the cueaddicts will pitch in since they have few Libras on their site.
DSC01401_jpg.jpg
 
Jazz said:
Thanks for a detailed analysis .. I appreciate it.

Regarding the bumper, it's not screw in .. just a plug in rubber used on DPK, SW and Bluegrass cue.

Taper .. since Libra is suppose to be DPK inspired, what you say make sense. Fortunately, I have DKP and JF era SW cues around the area to compare the taper.

Low butt ring I think it's similar to this one on proficient site.

I hope some of the cueaddicts will pitch in since they have few Libras on their site.
DSC01401_jpg.jpg
Click to expand...


ok,,,rubber screw-in or plug. they're kinda similiar. i don't know what libra used, so someone else might have an answer.

ok. i didn't see it at first because the butt plate and wood are both dark in your pic....and yes the ring is near the top for sure. if you look at all the libras at proficient, the distance of the butt rings to the wood IS WIDER than the thickness of the rings. this seems to be consistant on all the libras and is especially noticeable on the close-up of the "fancy libra". on your cue, the distance to the wood is about the SAME as the thickness of the rings. i wouldn't have paid that much attention except for ALL the libras show this distance. what's really screwy is that funny placement of the white butt plate messes everything up,,,so they may have pushed up the ring placement just to avoid getting too close to the white.

in other words, i can definitely say "who knows for sure" :):):)
 
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No idea on the make of the cue but i like the cue, and it looks like it probably plays a ton !!!!!:)
 
one thing i just noticed in your favor is that it seems libra had a penchant for using a totally different ring design at the wrap than what they used in the butt/joint. at least the cues at proficient are like that.

i think it's silly, but what da heck. it may have been their signature mark. cuz of this, i'm starting to lean towards your cue being authentic.
 
pooldogue said:
No idea on the make of the cue but i like the cue, and it looks like it probably plays a ton !!!!!:)
Click to expand...

It's not yet the best hitting cue I've ever owned and hit a ton. Meaning, it's not mine and it's not for sale :D :D :D
 
Hey Jazz,

Just thought of this...Try to ask Eric Hirata if he's still around. He may have been the one that identified it as a Libra originally.

Dave
 
bruin70 said:
....what's really screwy is that funny placement of the white butt plate messes everything up,,,so they may have pushed up the ring placement just to avoid getting too close to the white.
Click to expand...

Bruin,
Could it be that the original buttsleeve was damaged- and a repair was made with the white ring added (owners 'request)?
The "total" distance from ring to bumper seems about right... (about 4x ring width). There are similarities in proportion of sleeve-lengths and position too, to other Libra's I've seen- and on the net.

.. it is built "Libra-esque"... I couldn't guarantee it's a Libra, but certainly has alot of similarities...

Ray
 
Baker(6x6) said:
Bruin,
Could it be that the original buttsleeve was damaged- and a repair was made with the white ring added (owners 'request)?
The "total" distance from ring to bumper seems about right... (about 4x ring width). There are similarities in proportion of sleeve-lengths and position too, to other Libra's I've seen- and on the net.

.. it is built "Libra-esque"... I couldn't guarantee it's a Libra, but certainly has alot of similarities...

Ray
Click to expand...

yeah i magnified the image and the ring placement appears to be about right. replacement white material by another cuemaker would explain why the end of the butt plate is not cut as sharp as the other libras
 
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The white butt sleeve .. don't know if it's original or not .. but I do know it's cracked. It's not ivory .. just phenolic.
 
That drilled and filled joint pin is the makers trademark, I have read about it someplace, I thought it was in the billiards encyclopedia, but i couldnt find it when i skimmed through it this morning. Good luck!
 
Jazz said:
Thanks for a detailed analysis .. I appreciate it.

Regarding the bumper, it's not screw in .. just a plug in rubber used on DPK, SW and Bluegrass cue.

Taper .. since Libra is suppose to be DPK inspired, what you say make sense. Fortunately, I have DKP and JF era SW cues around the area to compare the taper.

Low butt ring I think it's similar to this one on proficient site.

I hope some of the cueaddicts will pitch in since they have few Libras on their site.
DSC01401_jpg.jpg
Click to expand...
I personally think that the cue is a Libra. I am no expert but the cue in the picture above belongs to me. As for the rubber plug it is a push in but it is not the same as SW, Bluegrass etc. The plug on my cue is bigger. Also the original wrap on mine was the same color as the wrap on the cue you are inquiring about.

Hope this helps.
 
Ah ha!!! Finaly a Libra owner shows up!!! K town, thanks for the post, appreciate it.

Looking for more input from Libra owner ...
 
Jazz said:
Ah ha!!! Finaly a Libra owner shows up!!! K town, thanks for the post, appreciate it.

Looking for more input from Libra owner ...
Click to expand...

Based on the pics I would LEAN towards the Q being a LIBRA. :)
 
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