Yeah the finish along with the old JC, obvious its a fairly old cue of Mikes. Believe he said his wife started making him sign the cues on the forearm back in 2000 or 2002, somewhere around there. Other then that he just use 2 put the JC on the buttcap. Theres a guy down the street from me whom has one and he states it was made about 13yrs ago. So i guess he could be right about that, or pretty close. You know those of u that have some of Mikes cues, ya might wanna think about holding onto them. For what Mike has told me, he isnt gonna be making cues much more longer. He is ready to retire as soon as he friends the right person for an apprentice and he takes a few years to teach them the way things work. So IMO, IF Mike really does do this. Then those cues of his will definately increase in value as the years go by. I had him make a SP for me a few weeks back. He did a great job on it, IMO. Ive never shot with a cue that had a 3-8/10 pin wood to wood. Obviously it shoots alot better than my old Meucci's (which i still have). Since the SP was made, i have retired all my other cues and dont plan on ever bringing them out again. A few of them have been played and a few are still unchalked. The unchalked ones will forever stay that way, and the chalked ones, i just share memories with. Anyways, Mikes a great guy, IF u dont have one of his cues. I'd suggest getting one from him. U will not be disappointed with the work nor the way it shoots, for the price....=-)