O-ring in Joint?

[MacGyver]

Hello, I bought awhile ago a used Joss cue with a wood to wood joint, and just recently noticed that there were some black bits of something in the recess of the butt end of the joint.

It looks like either small rocks or dried up pieces of rubber(possibly from an O-ring?)

I emailed joss but have recieved no response, and was just wondering if anyone could tell me if there are normally O-rings in cue joints, whether I should replace it if that is right, and whether I could pop one in myself?

Thanks!

 

[cueman]

No it is not normal. But someone may have put it in there to soften the sound of the cue. I can see how having the brass insert compressing the rubber o-ring would take away some of the tinky sound some piloted cues make. If you need to replace it with a new one look in the bathroom water fixtures department of your local hardware store.
Chris
www.cuemsith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com