Unknown cue for sale

jay helfert

jay helfert

Shoot Pool, not people
Gold Member
Silver Member
I've got a beautiful cue that I picked up some time ago that I would like to sell. It has the Southwest/Coker look to it, but it's doubtful that's who make it. I can find no name anywhere on the cue. I also doubt that it's foreign made as it came with two shafts and the quality, workmanship and fine wood speaks more of an American made product. Someone may recognize this cue.

I have taken several photos, unfortunately I am unable to post them on here. Sorry about that. Sure would appreciate an assist here. The cue is 18.7 oz., 58", with two 13 mm shafts. One shaft has a very slight wobble and the other one is fine. The butt rolls flat and straight as well. Same with the cue together. The overall cue is in 98% new condition. The only scratches are on one ferrule. The butt is cocabola, with three long and three short points above and below the wrap. The veneers are maple and purpleheart. The joint and butt cap are black phenolic. Whoever made it, it's a beauty!

I bought it because it was a real nice hitting cue. I just have way too many cues and I need to start selling again. I'm not looking for a big price on this cue, just something fair. Make me an offer via PM. Until I can get them posted, I can send you photos. Contact me at jayhelfert@yahoo.com.
 
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Pretty sure that's a Kao Kao. Like the Omega cues. Good hitting cues.
 
[QUOTE=jay helfert;2477699]I've got a beautiful cue that I picked up some time ago that I would like to sell. It has the Southwest/Coker look to it, but it's doubtful that's who make it. I can find no name anywhere on the cue. I also doubt that it's foreign made as it came with two shafts and the quality, workmanship and fine wood speaks more of an American made product. Someone may recognize this cue.

I have taken several photos, unfortunately I am unable to post them on here. Sorry about that. Sure would appreciate an assist here. The cue is 18.7 oz., 58", with two 13 mm shafts. One shaft has a very slight wobble and the other one is fine. The butt rolls flat and straight as well. Same with the cue together. The overall cue is in 98% new condition. The only scratches are on one ferrule. The butt is cocabola, with three long and three short points above and below the wrap. The veneers are maple and purpleheart. The joint and butt cap are black phenolic. Whoever made it, it's a beauty!

I bought it because it was a real nice hitting cue. I just have way too many cues and I need to start selling again. I'm not looking for a big price on this cue, just something fair. Make me an offer via PM. Until I can get them posted, I can send you photos. Contact me at jayhelfert@yahoo.com.[/QUOTE]

I think the first paragraph is bordering on blasphemy considering the cue has been identified as Chinese made.
 
Jays got no heart JK

That Veneer would be stained the color purple, not actually purpleheart
The cue is model #4055 made by KaoKao
4055.jpg

Not So Measureman.
It just speaks for how nice these cues really are. :thumbup:
I have been selling this model for years.
I play with one from the same series myself
 
Had one I bought from Jim Baxter. Ebony with 3 high and 3 low ebony points that were accentuated (sp) with natural veneers. Jim added a leather wrap to it and it does come with 2 shafts.
Very nice playing cue. Well built. The guy I sold it to absolutely loves it. He lost his case and cues in a car fire and was glad to have a replacement.
Rackem, is Kao Kao the same company as Kao Fa or are they associated in any way?
 
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rackem said:
That Veneer would be stained the color purple, not actually purpleheart
The cue is model #4055 made by KaoKao
View attachment 141918

Not So Measureman.
It just speaks for how nice these cues really are. :thumbup:
I have been selling this model for years.
I play with one from the same series myself
Click to expand...

for what its worth I've seen a couple of these and hit with them and for what they go for I'd agree its a pretty good hitting cue....


measure man,
its not like Jay was asking some big figure...he said something fair, and he's too smart to think he could try to get one up on the forum members with an import cue, not to mention AZ suicide. I'm sure he did like me when i hit a ball with one of them, looked at it and said "well dam that aint bad at all" in the way it looks and hits....
 
I agree with you 100% Keeb but it does speak volumes on the quality of some of the cues. I deal with a company in Taiwan and bought a Balabushka tribute cue (excellent price too) and the quality and workmanship is absolutely flawless.
 
rackem said:
That Veneer would be stained the color purple, not actually purpleheart
The cue is model #4055 made by KaoKao
View attachment 141918

Not So Measureman.
It just speaks for how nice these cues really are. :thumbup:
I have been selling this model for years.
I play with one from the same series myself
Click to expand...

Rack 'Em - is there any kind of link to the different models Kao Kao offers? I've seen the small line on their web site, but the cues come up more frequently now.

I think John Barton mentioned they have a factory in China now too. I guess relations between Taiwan and China have cooled enough so businesses can cross over.

Did they make the KC Cues, or was that Tai-Can?

Chris
 
I knew I could count on you guys. I guess I'm disappointed to find out it's foreign made. They fooled me. Amazing what they can make over there for a hundred bucks. Pretty well constructed cue with a nice hit to it. Seems like they can make something just as good over there, for a fraction of the cost. I gave two hundred in trade for it on another cue. Not really so out of line. This cue might retail for $150-200 (maybe more) in a pool room or billiard supply.

Now that I know what it is, I wouldn't sell it for less than $150 with two shafts. I still like how it hits. :D
 
measureman said:
[QUOTE=jay helfert;2477699]I've got a beautiful cue that I picked up some time ago that I would like to sell. It has the Southwest/Coker look to it, but it's doubtful that's who make it. I can find no name anywhere on the cue. I also doubt that it's foreign made as it came with two shafts and the quality, workmanship and fine wood speaks more of an American made product. Someone may recognize this cue.

I have taken several photos, unfortunately I am unable to post them on here. Sorry about that. Sure would appreciate an assist here. The cue is 18.7 oz., 58", with two 13 mm shafts. One shaft has a very slight wobble and the other one is fine. The butt rolls flat and straight as well. Same with the cue together. The overall cue is in 98% new condition. The only scratches are on one ferrule. The butt is cocabola, with three long and three short points above and below the wrap. The veneers are maple and purpleheart. The joint and butt cap are black phenolic. Whoever made it, it's a beauty!

I bought it because it was a real nice hitting cue. I just have way too many cues and I need to start selling again. I'm not looking for a big price on this cue, just something fair. Make me an offer via PM. Until I can get them posted, I can send you photos. Contact me at jayhelfert@yahoo.com.
Click to expand...

"I think the first paragraph is bordering on blasphemy considering the cue has been identified as Chinese made."[/QUOTE]

Blasphemy, I like that. Now I've been called everything. :thumbup2:
 
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TATE said:
Rack 'Em - is there any kind of link to the different models Kao Kao offers? I've seen the small line on their web site, but the cues come up more frequently now.

I think John Barton mentioned they have a factory in China now too. I guess relations between Taiwan and China have cooled enough so businesses can cross over.

Did they make the KC Cues, or was that Tai-Can?

Chris
Click to expand...
I am pretty sure KC cues is neither.
The KaoKao operation is hugh second to Tai-can which does Lucassi/Players among others.
I have been told they have 1 million shafts hanging at any one time at the kaokao factory.
That website is only a small part of what they offer pre designed.
 
rackem said:
I am pretty sure KC cues is neither.
The KaoKao operation is hugh second to Tai-can which does Lucassi/Players among others.
I have been told they have 1 million shafts hanging at any one time at the kaokao factory.
That website is only a small part of what they offer pre designed.
Click to expand...

And they're a distant second! What does that tell you about the number of people who play pool worldwide? I'm guessing it's well into the hundreds of millions.

Just guessing here. Let's say there are 50 million in China alone, 40 million in the USA, another 40 mil in Europe and at least as many in the rest of Asia (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand...oops, what about the Philippines!). I haven't considered South America yet, Australia, and a lot of the Middle East. Africa I have no clues about, but I'm betting you can find pool tables there too. Two to three hundred million worldwide is probably a low number.

P.S. I saw pool tables in Nepal over thirty years ago!
 
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hey rackem do you still have these in stock,i remember you have sold this cue in diffrent woods!! GL with the sale jay didnt mean to hi-jack you thread. i've shot with a kaokao cue before and they hit great!!!
 
Jay do I get a discount cuz I was the first to ID it? Hahaha just kidding. Good luck with the sale bud! Price is right.
 
rackem said:
I am pretty sure KC cues is neither.
The KaoKao operation is hugh second to Tai-can which does Lucassi/Players among others.
I have been told they have 1 million shafts hanging at any one time at the kaokao factory.
That website is only a small part of what they offer pre designed.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's funny how production cues are perceived here. My Medici is the best playing cue for my game, that I have ever played, and believe me, I've played with many over the last year, especially. It's really in the engine of the cue. How the shaft plays with the right tip is the whole game here. I realize that the mere fact these guys and gals are members, is because they are either players, resellers, cuemakers, or collectors of fine customs, but, some of these imports are as good as anything out there. My Lucasi is cosmetically flawless, even under a magnifying glass. My Carolina custom was not. Several Josses I've examined, and several Schons I've seen were also not. If my cue did not say Lucasi on it, you could not tell it from some of the stuff here, selling in the thousands. I've had 2 by KaoKao, and they also looked very well constructed. I also do not put nearly as much stock in USA made production cues as I used to. The companys are all struggling to survive due to the economy and foreign competition. Meucci took a stab at producing in China to try to produce a cheaper line. They discontinued it, for whatever reason. Even some of the custom cuemakers here, have lines produced in China with their name on it. It's simple: they are cheaper to produce there. That does not necessarily equal lesser quality. As a matter of fact, the majority of those workers actually take pride in their work. That aspect seems to be disappearing here. NAFTA has caused thousands of American based companies to follow their competiton, and produce overseas, or shut the doors. I know, I've lived through 4 shutdowns for these very reasons. All in all, some of these products live up to much higher standards than most of us here assume. For cosmetics and playability, I'm sure Jay's cue is worth what he's asking
 
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