What is the reason behind your collection?

Here is my collection. It's small, but I am proud of it!

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Starting from the top...
  • My main player in my youth, a McDermott E-F3 Cocobolo with leather wrap
    • I have always been a fan of McDermott cues and promised the first serious cue I own would be from them!
  • My current main player, Mezz EC-7K Ebony with black linen wrap
  • My first "custom" cue, Jerico Sneaky Pete with Ebony handle and Curly Maple forearm
    • With Jerry Powers having had a few collaborations with McDermott, I knew I wanted to own a cue from him. I commissioned an Ebony Sneaky from him to take to less nice bars so it might attract less attention.
  • Lucky Death by Bob Owen
    • I wanted a cue with some more unique inlays and Bob's inlay work have always been impeccable IMO.
    • This cue incorporates various elements that in Chinese culture symbolizes luck, wealth, longevity, and strength. The 4 points serve as the meaning Death, but directed towards my target.
  • Purity by Eddie O'Bryant (Studiotronics)
    • I have been a fan of Eddie's cues every since I saw his first YT video making a cue and approached him about making one with a lotus motif which quickly evolved into a portable Zen garden.
    • This cue has over 300 inlays and is an absolute work of art!
    • He is also a local cuemaker for me and I 100% wanted to become an early patron and supporter of his.
  • Dark Knight by Chris Nitti
    • This is currently my favorite player!
    • Every since I laid eyes on Chris's cues, I knew I wanted one. I commissioned him for one with a medieval Batman type motif and feel it turned out amazing.
    • This was my 2nd commission but it took the longest to make
 
chenjy9 said:
Here is my collection. It's small, but I am proud of it!

View attachment 738496

Starting from the top...
  • My main player in my youth, a McDermott E-F3 Cocobolo with leather wrap
    • I have always been a fan of McDermott cues and promised the first serious cue I own would be from them!
  • My current main player, Mezz EC-7K Ebony with black linen wrap
  • My first "custom" cue, Jerico Sneaky Pete with Ebony handle and Curly Maple forearm
    • With Jerry Powers having had a few collaborations with McDermott, I knew I wanted to own a cue from him. I commissioned an Ebony Sneaky from him to take to less nice bars so it might attract less attention.
  • Lucky Death by Bob Owen
    • I wanted a cue with some more unique inlays and Bob's inlay work have always been impeccable IMO.
    • This cue incorporates various elements that in Chinese culture symbolizes luck, wealth, longevity, and strength. The 4 points serve as the meaning Death, but directed towards my target.
  • Purity by Eddie O'Bryant (Studiotronics)
    • I have been a fan of Eddie's cues every since I saw his first YT video making a cue and approached him about making one with a lotus motif which quickly evolved into a portable Zen garden.
    • This cue has over 300 inlays and is an absolute work of art!
    • He is also a local cuemaker for me and I 100% wanted to become an early patron and supporter of his.
  • Dark Knight by Chris Nitti
    • This is currently my favorite player!
    • Every since I laid eyes on Chris's cues, I knew I wanted one. I commissioned him for one with a medieval Batman type motif and feel it turned out amazing.
    • This was my 2nd commission but it took the longest to make
Click to expand...
your design choices are very diverse.....(y)
 
bbb said:
your design choices are very diverse.....(y)
Click to expand...
Haha thanks! I usually start with an idea or vision I can’t get out of my head and then find from the list of cue makers I really like to see who might have the equipment to take on the project. Then once they agree, I completely hand off design decisions and let the pros do their thing.
 
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Ken_4fun said:
I collect what I like. I was a cue flipper for years and made enough to fund the collection I own now. I have widdled it down to what I call my "keepers". The BHQ was a cue made by my friend Brent. The Pfd I have was one I got for free because I worked on Pool Book doing some writing. I like them and if I wanted to sell any of them, I think they wouldnt be hard to sell. Neither of my daughters want them, so if my grandsons dont want them I will pass them along to friends.
Click to expand...
Please put me on your 'friends' list!!😂
 
I have more cues than I need but not nearly as many as I’d otherwise like to own.
The cues that I pride most are the ones I currently play with. I don’t use my Schon
any longer because it weighs 2 ozs. heavier than the cues I now play with. But Bob
Runde built my cue, more than once I might add, in ‘84 & heavier cues were common.

I also have two Palmer cues from the early 70’s that have become closet queens since
I switched to a different type cue joint 20 years. A few of my cues have more than two
shafts. One of my Owen cues has 3 original shafts with fancy collars and my Schon
has 4 shafts. The crazy part is I’ve only played with one shaft so I wound up with a
lot of extra shafts than I require which I suppose can be said about my cue collection.

Let’s face .the stark truth. A pool player only needs one cue so I say make it the one
you want the most. Thereafter, everything else is a way of rationalizing the expenditure.
You can break using a house cue. As far as jumping, some pool halls forbid the practice.

As you progress in your pool skills and develop a desire for another cue, just realize that
if you are just adding another cue, keep in mind that’s how myself and other cue collectors
started. Once you open that doorway, it’s hard to close it which leads to the itch that needs
to be scratched. But I will say that seeing your cue design come to life thru progress photos
from the cue maker makes it a thrilling experience. And when it finally arrives, it is so exciting.

But you can also just add a cue you spotted and fell in love with. You derive a similar sense of
excitement because it is new, different and hopefully fits your preferences better than any cue
that you’ve owned. Collecting cues is as addictive as collecting guns or knives and just as every
bit as expensive. However, if if you can handle the tab, it is really enjoyable to add cues over time.
There are 6 custom cues I carry in a 6x12 lizard case Gil Castillo made and it fits the bill perfectly.

If I play in a tournament and just can’t catch a gear, I’ll just switch cues and surprisingly, that helps.
My break isn’t what it was but I still use a break cue because it does a better job than a house cue.

I enjoy switching cues because every cue has its own distinct feel despite having closely matched
specifications which I intentionally did. I never added another cue if it didn’t match the specs of my
other cues. I had to pass up a few Hercek cues because the cues were heavier than my other cues.

Alas, it’s now all academic since I had to curtail my cue collecting because ivory is so tightly controlled
and for very good, understandable reasons. The slaughter of elephants for ivory or rhinos for their horns
and all of the other endangered species needs to be stopped. Although ivory that’s been in the USA for
75 years and longer, way before adoption of the 1978 worldwide banning of elephant ivory, is legal to
use, it contributes to the demand for ivory which is connected with poaching that is decimating animal
populations. So I feel fortunate to have acquired my cues prior to massive curtailment on the use of ivory
by cue makers in building custom pool cues. IMO, there is nothing better than ivory as a ferrule material.
 
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I had 2 cues. A Doc Frye and Meucci MO4 from around 1980. More than I needed. My buddy wanted to go to the first SBE. He says we’ll buy cues .. I say why.. he says they look great on the wall …a form of artwork. Fast forward … I started getting catalogs from Muellers. Eventually from various suppliers. Could not resist the beauty of certain cues. Bought them to enjoy the look. I only play with 2 or 3. The rest are queens or on the wall rack. Never bought anything for investment.
 
Bavafongoul said:
I have more cues than I need but not nearly as many as I’d otherwise like to own.
The cues that I pride most are the ones I currently play with. I don’t use my Schon
any longer because it weighs 2 ozs. heavier than the cues I now play with. But Bob
Runde built my cue, more than once I might add, in ‘84 & heavier cues were common.

I also have two Palmer cues from the early 70’s that have become closet queens since
I switched to a different type cue joint 20 years. A few of my cues have more than two
shafts. One of my Owen cues has 3 original shafts with fancy collars and my Schon
has 4 shafts. The crazy part is I’ve only played with one shaft so I wound up with a
lot of extra shafts than I require which I suppose can be said about my cue collection.

Let’s face .the stark truth. A pool player only needs one cue so I say make it the one
you want the most. Thereafter, everything else is a way of rationalizing the expenditure.
You can break using a house cue. As far as jumping, some pool halls forbid the practice.

As you progress in your pool skills and develop a desire for another cue, just realize that
if you are just adding another cue, keep in mind that’s how myself and other cue collectors
started. Once you open that doorway, it’s hard to close it which leads to the itch that needs
to be scratched. But I will say that seeing your cue design come to life thru progress photos
from the cue maker makes it a thrilling experience. And when it finally arrives, it is so exciting.

But you can also just add a cue you spotted and fell in love with. You derive a similar sense of
excitement because it is new, different and hopefully fits your preferences better than any cue
that you’ve owned. Collecting cues is as addictive as collecting guns or knives and just as every
bit as expensive. However, if if you can handle the tab, it is really enjoyable to add cues over time.
There are 6 custom cues I carry in a 6x12 lizard case Gil Castillo made and it fits the bill perfectly.

If I play in a tournament, I’ll replace one of the 6 cues with my McDermott Stinger break/ jump cue.
My break isn’t what it was but I still use the Stinger because it does a better job than a house cue.

I enjoy switching cues because every cue has its own distinct feel despite having closely matched
specifications which I intentionally did. I never added another cue if it didn’t match the specs of my
other cues. I had to pass up a few Hercek cues because the cues were heavier than my other cues.

Alas, it’s now all academic since I had to curtail my cue collecting because ivory is so tightly controlled
and for very good, understandable reasons. The slaughter of elephants for ivory or rhinos for their horns
and all of the other endangered species needs to be stopped. Although ivory that’s been in the USA for
75 years and longer, way before adoption of the 1978 worldwide banning of elephant ivory, is legal to
use, it contributes to the demand for ivory which is connected with poaching that is decimating animal
populations. So I feel fortunate to have acquired my cues prior to massive curtailment on the use of ivory
by cue makers in building custom pool cues. IMO, there is nothing better than ivory as a ferrule material.
Click to expand...
Can't argue w that!!👍🏻
 
I have only 2 now
Steve Dunkel- cocus wood forget the point wood, leather wrap.

Mike Bender- Ebony and Red Mallee points
 
I just like cues. I’ve sold a few, have a few that I won’t sell, but only play with one. I’ve had sneakies, fancy sneakies, full splice, steel joint, merry widows, bridge points, 4 points, more points, butterfly….Current player is a Treadway ebony merry widow with a black lizard wrap. I like it, dings and all…
 
The reason behind my collection is I can't help myself!! :)

I will be whittling it all down to one player, one breaker & one jumper.
 
Fore Rail said:
The reason behind my collection is I can't help myself!! :)

I will be whittling it all down to one player, one breaker & one jumper.
Click to expand...
Famous last words " i will be whittling it down to one player, one breaker, and one jumper", lol.
 
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My collection. Bought my McD C3 in 1980. Could not afford anything fancy. Got into cue collecting around 2006 after getting the Lucasi, no turning back. Although have not bought another since 2012. I like to get cues with different woods. Or something unique about the cue.
 
AK-Stick said:
I have only 2 now
Steve Dunkel- cocus wood forget the point wood, leather wrap.

Mike Bender- Ebony and Red Mallee points
Click to expand...
I just started getting back into playing again after an almost 20 year layoff. I bought a Steve Dunkel cue and I am loving the living crap out of it!
 

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