What are full spliced cues?

[beav99_4life]

I have an extreme passion for billiards and my love of cues has steadily grown over the years. I am now just learning about the intricate details of cue making and am honestly still quite in the dark. I keep hearing about full spliced cues now and think I have some understanding of them, but would love to hear cuemakers give me a proper definition, along with the reason they seem to be the new trend, or atleast it seems this way since it is a "must" when describing cues now. Thank you for any information provided.

 

[JCIN]

I have an extreme passion for billiards and my love of cues has steadily grown over the years. I am now just learning about the intricate details of cue making and am honestly still quite in the dark. I keep hearing about full spliced cues now and think I have some understanding of them, but would love to hear cuemakers give me a proper definition, along with the reason they seem to be the new trend, or atleast it seems this way since it is a "must" when describing cues now. Thank you for any information provided.

Think of a house cue. That is pretty much it. For example a "normal" cue has three basic parts in the butt: The forearm which may or may not have points in it, the handle which can either be wrapped with leather or linen, and the butt section which is either a sleeve of exotic or hardwood over the end of the handle or a different piece all together. A full splice cue at its basic level is two pieces of wood joined together in a splice. Usually 4 points and sometimes more. If it is wrapless it looks like a sneaky pete with a longer hardwood section. The theory is that it is more of a solid construction method resulting in the "one piece of wood hit" that many shoot for.

It sounds simple but it is very difficult to execute well.

This is a very basic description, I am sure one of the cuemakers with more knowledge will be along shortly to describe it better. When the full splice is executed well it is very nice. As for the current popularity I think it is no different than ebony forearms or wrapless cues. Just what is hot right now.

Search for Travis Nikilich here and you will find some pics of the before and after as done by a man who knows what he is doing.

 

[beav99_4life]

Thanks JCIN, nice to know i'm not as dumb as I seem, lol. I kind of figured that was the jist of it. As for Travis' splices, I was looking at the one he has pics of up, with the veneers, absolutely beautiful. I'd love to have it as my SP. Good luck this week in KC, you know i'll be watching.

 

[LosOsosCues]

If you check out the thread started by Travis Niklick you will see exactly what a fullsplice is. There are two threads make sure you check them both out.

 

[plshrk22]

When you start throwing Veneers in Spliced cues they are no longer Sneaky Petes, they are known as a Full Splice Wrapless .

 

[ridewiththewind]

When you start throwing Veneers in Spliced cues they are no longer Sneaky Petes, they are known as a Full Splice Wrapless .

In my mind they are known as veneered full splice wrapless. Since there really are very few true sneaky petes these days, those would be non-veneered full splice wrapless. A true sneaky pete is a barstick that has been cut in half, with a joint pin added. No collars, no embellishment whatsoever. They may have a shaft made for them new, or if it was straight, may re-use the original shaft section...which is rare...but that is about it.

I say that as with some makers, the quality and materials are such that they are much more than a sneaky pete...and some might take offense as their work being described as such.

Lisa

 

[DaveK]

A true sneaky pete is a barstick that has been cut in half, with a joint pin added. No collars, no embellishment whatsoever. They may have a shaft made for them new, or if it was straight, may re-use the original shaft section...which is rare...but that is about it.

My Dufferin Phantom is exactly that, a true sneaky pete, a house cue cut in half with a joint added. The grain almost lines up perfectly on mine. My two Schmelke SPs are their full splice butts with a shaft, and they do not quite look like a house cue when screwed together ... the Phantom certainly does, and has been picked off an adjacent table many times as a result :angry: But none have rings or inlays, and I love them :thumbup:

Dave