> A=butt side of joint,although some consider the shaft side the A ring.
Others consider the A ring to coincide with the A joint,which is right at the top of the wrap. These cuemakers often have a standard ring at the joint,which almost never matches the rings elsewhere in the cue,like most Schons.
B=right above wrap/handle
C=other end of wrap/handle
D=bottom of butt sleeve
E=below D ring,like Kersenbrock/SW
Slotted rings work like this. A piece of wood/phenolic/whatever is placed in a position to have slots cut in it length-wise. This is done on a mill,or can be done in a lathe with the spindle off,and using a router to cut the slot.
These slots are then filled with either a single strip of another material,or a stack of thinner strips. This whole assembly is then turned down round,and sliced with a parting tool or saw blade for use in a cue. The billet,as it is usually called,looks like a multi-colored poker chip from the ends. Tommy D.