This is in fact a Master Class Cue by Dan DeCola. I found it at the billiardwarehouse.com last night and was very surprised by the striking similarity to Black Boar. I've seen many threads on here where people have strong feelings about cue design theft/copy. What are your thoughts?
Ask Jack.
I find it to be nothing more than a pool cue. I think that the wrap is too short or the butt piece is too long.
I don't know who did the first crown butt cap that BB is doing now but even if they were first someone had to be. Scallops like this are found in architecture so I am sure that Tony at Black Boar was also inspired by something he saw somewhere else.
Unless something is a one to one copy it's not design theft. It may be tacky to substantially take elements that are distinctive to another person's style, especially while they are living, but it's normal for the growth of design.
It's entirely possible that some new cue maker sees the DiCola and the crown cap without ever knowing about the BB caps and takes it again to another level. This is how it works in the real world. Someone is first, everyone else copies and some improve and some don't. Then at some point someone else comes up with another first and the cycle continues.
At this point no one can lay claim to points. Points have been done just about every way that points can be done and still be pointing somewhere.
The butt cap is the only thing on this cue that is clearly identified strongly with another maker. And as evidenced by the replies it's enough for people to assume the cue is a BB. I am sure that Mr. DiCola's intentions were not to have people thinking his cue is a BB. He probably liked the style and decided to use it. That's the downside to using another's design, people can look at it and not give you the credit.
At the end of the day though I feel that Mr. DiCola should be able to use this buttcap design without negative vibes.
There is a major difference between design THEFT and design similarity. One shows no originality the other shows no imagination. Unless as "certain people" put it the person making the new thing takes the design and makes it their own by doing something new to it.
I'd like to see some of these high end cue makers doing some more Meucci style designs. That guy could come up with some wild stuff. I couldn't ever play with one but that didn't stop me from buying several in the 80's.