Very nice cue, you just don't see many Balabushka cues with an original leather wrap.
It certainly look like a keeper.
Very Fancy Original Balabushka
- Thread starter skierlawyer
- Start date
Very nice cue, you just don't see many Balabushka cues with an original leather wrap.
It certainly look like a keeper.
They are Nickel Silver.
OMG!!! this is like one of those barnyard antique finds that become tall tale legends. Thanks so much for posting up the photos. It's amazing to see a cue of this caliber with the leather wrap. Almost looks like stacked leather. Congrats!!!
Fedex Delivered the Holy Grail
Oh my god! The cue arrived just a few minutes ago, and it blew me away. Pictures CAN NOT begin to express what this cue actually looks like, and feels like. I also got Pete's letter and I didn't realize that I was getting a Gus Szamboti blank based Balabushka. I assumed it was a Davis blank, but now that I know its a Szam I am just beside myself. Everything is perfect on the cue and its in better condition that you can imagine. Should I save the shipping box from Tascarella?
Oh my god! The cue arrived just a few minutes ago, and it blew me away. Pictures CAN NOT begin to express what this cue actually looks like, and feels like. I also got Pete's letter and I didn't realize that I was getting a Gus Szamboti blank based Balabushka. I assumed it was a Davis blank, but now that I know its a Szam I am just beside myself. Everything is perfect on the cue and its in better condition that you can imagine. Should I save the shipping box from Tascarella?
Attachments
Incredible find Brian
Congrats
Bring it to Hank's...
Let's get together again soon, I'd love to see more of your collection and yes I will bring the Balabushka.
confused
Extraordinarily beautiful cue.
I am curious. Perhaps the stories I've read previously are wrong. But how can there be a Balabushka from the mid 1960's made from a Szamboti blank if Gus didn't start providing George with blanks until 1971? I am sure that Pete knows better than me. And I agree that your cue looks like a Szamboti blank. Could someone set the record (or at least me) straight?
Congratulations.
Best regards,
Greg
Extraordinarily beautiful cue.
I am curious. Perhaps the stories I've read previously are wrong. But how can there be a Balabushka from the mid 1960's made from a Szamboti blank if Gus didn't start providing George with blanks until 1971? I am sure that Pete knows better than me. And I agree that your cue looks like a Szamboti blank. Could someone set the record (or at least me) straight?
Congratulations.
Best regards,
Greg
I was thinking the same thing.....Outstanding cue. Thanks for posting pictures.:thumbup:
I'd save everything. It's an awesome cue and everything that came with it, including the box helps the cue. Pete is a great source for cues like this one. People calk him on a regular basis about selling Balabushkas. Enjoy that beauty.
You are certainly right, Pete must have a mistake on the LOA. I would send it back to him to get that corrected. But it just go's to show even the most informed and knowledgeable can make a mistake, it nothing else comes out of it, I certainly feel better!!
After reading the Blue Book of Pool Cues 3rd edition, it also states that Gus started providing George blanks in 1971. Pete did the letter last minute for me and was heading out to the SBE so he might have rushed it and the language about it being made in the 60's might be saved in his form letter, who knows? I will ask Pete on Monday for clarification. Either the date range is a mistake in the letter, or the Blue Book is wrong but the points appear to be Szamboti.
I took the cue to the pool hall and hit a few racks with each shaft and with a 3rd Balabushka shaft I already had. Both shafts measured 13.15mm with my caliper. Both shafts weighed 4.15 oz on my scale. Total weight is 20.5oz. The cue's overall length is just shy of 58". The ferrules are about 0.9". It hits really fantastic with all the shafts. Its balanced wonderfully, the leather wrap is unlike anything I've ever felt before. It plays as good as any cue I've ever hit with. It hits a lot like my Gus, maybe better. I was thinking that it belongs in the Smithsonian! I doubt I'll take this cue back to the pool hall except on a rare cue collector exhibition day, but when I set my gold crown I back up it will see play in my home.
I took the cue to the pool hall and hit a few racks with each shaft and with a 3rd Balabushka shaft I already had. Both shafts measured 13.15mm with my caliper. Both shafts weighed 4.15 oz on my scale. Total weight is 20.5oz. The cue's overall length is just shy of 58". The ferrules are about 0.9". It hits really fantastic with all the shafts. Its balanced wonderfully, the leather wrap is unlike anything I've ever felt before. It plays as good as any cue I've ever hit with. It hits a lot like my Gus, maybe better. I was thinking that it belongs in the Smithsonian! I doubt I'll take this cue back to the pool hall except on a rare cue collector exhibition day, but when I set my gold crown I back up it will see play in my home.
Last edited:
It certainly looks to be Szamboti prongs to me. They are way more rare than most people realize. This is a very special cue.
If it has been taken care of, the shafts have not been sanded down to nothingness, and is near condition as to what George made it (like this one), one does not even have to ask that question...:grin:
Got nostalgic and had to look at this thread again.
