Who likes a good mystery??

our_auctionguy

our_auctionguy

The Wall.....
Silver Member
recently won on ebay purported to be made by Greg Kucharski. I received it today and was shocked that not only did it not have the 'GK" logo on it as I was told in writing by the seller which she even posted ion the auction, but she insists it is the same cue listed on his website and in the bluebook. I say not.

This links shows the cue she says it is and you can compare the points in the auction as I have compared them with the actual cue in hand and cannot see the birdseye markings in comparison to the points as seen on his site on any point. One look at the butt will tell you they are different and the wrap isn't the same. The Hoppe ring is not the same. The ring on this cue is a dingey grey not like white ivory. The obvious non-bumper on the cue in the auction and the actual end of the butt as well are obvious differences and would have to have been cut off making this cue shorter, which it is not. It is a standard 29.25". I have to admit this cue is straight arrow. The problem is I don't know what I have at this time. No markings and not the same cue she says is pictured on his website.
I emailed Greg Kucharski regarding this and am waiting to see his response. I just do not see any similarities between this cue and the one she says it is on his website. What do you guys think?


http://www.gregskues.com/gallery.php?gallery_id=34

http://cgi.ebay.com:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250236337278&ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:US:1123
 
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The wrap is definatly a different color, and no rubber bumper verses a rubber bumper....??? Seems fishy. Have you contacted the seller yet?You can file a claim with Ebay, not that they'll be a big help, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Good luck,
Dave
 
On gk website it has a cork wrap and he makes 10-15 cues a year. He should be able to Id the cue or tell you were the balance point should be if not tell you who bought it. The other would be maybe a refinish with a new wrap. Call him and then call ebay for a possibly red flag on a deal...on his other picture he does use a flush wieght bolt with a thin rubber bumper so alot of it does check out - the logo....hence the refinish ?????
 
I got a reply from Greg

The seller said the butt had a chip in it and had been repaired and the GK logo was lost during the finish of the butt sleeve. Greg looked at the pics and said it was one of his cues, but someone else had repaired it. He offered to do a complete refinish and add back the logo for a very reasonable price. I am going to check out how it hits and likely send it to him for refinish and hopefully some inlay work at the same time. I appreciate everyone's time and input. The cue is very nice, I was mainly concerned about the inconsistencies and it being a GK.

Thanks again.

Larry
 
Doesn't Look Like The Same Cue To Me.....

Send It To Greg And See What He Says Once He Has It In His Hands.

P.s. For The Auction Price, You Got A Nice Deal, Almost No Matter Who Made It. I Like That Cue Alot.
 
FAST_N_LOOSE said:
Doesn't Look Like The Same Cue To Me.....

Send It To Greg And See What He Says Once He Has It In His Hands.

P.s. For The Auction Price, You Got A Nice Deal, Almost No Matter Who Made It. I Like That Cue Alot.
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly. haven't hit a ball with it yet, but will Monday. Then it is getting sent off to Greg. If he takes full claim to it then, I am going to discuss the possibility of adding some matching color veneered gunsights to the points and barbells to the butt sleeve. Nothing heavy. What is your take on that? Leave her be or dress her up a tiny bit prior to refinsh and re-wrap?
 
our_auctionguy said:
My thoughts exactly. haven't hit a ball with it yet, but will Monday. Then it is getting sent off to Greg. If he takes full claim to it then, I am going to discuss the possibility of adding some matching color veneered gunsights to the points and barbells to the butt sleeve. Nothing heavy. What is your take on that? Leave her be or dress her up a tiny bit prior to refinsh and re-wrap?
Click to expand...

I LIKE FANCY, CLASSIC STYLE CUES, SO IT WOULD BE RIGHT UP MY ALLEY WITH THE GUNSIGHTS AND SOME INLAYS
 
our_auctionguy said:
My thoughts exactly. haven't hit a ball with it yet, but will Monday. Then it is getting sent off to Greg. If he takes full claim to it then, I am going to discuss the possibility of adding some matching color veneered gunsights to the points and barbells to the butt sleeve. Nothing heavy. What is your take on that? Leave her be or dress her up a tiny bit prior to refinsh and re-wrap?
Click to expand...

i know Greg from living in Connecticut and he will take care of you - nice guy and beautiful cues for the $$$$. i have one of my own and enjoy it immensely.
 
Well, the first verdict is in

greg has the cue in hand and says......................... drumroll, please ............



It is NOT made by him!

My first major burn on ebay. I have emails from the seller before I ever bid, guaranteeing it is a GK cue and more emails after I received it and told her I didn't see the similarities in the pictures on his website of the cue she stated it was.

Now what to do??

Greg can't rightfully put his mark on it, and the cue is a bastard child with no parents to claim him.

The cue is very forward balance at 19.5", where I prefer right at 19" balance points, hits very solid but has nowhere near the feel of my Blevins playing cue or a Mottey, and is actually really straight at 19.2 and 19.5 oz. with 13 mm shafts.

It has a couple slight ding impressions in the forearm and a filthy wrap.

What would you do? I have $450 in the cue before all of the shipping.

I have many options.

Have Greg refinish it for $80 and just keep to play with on occasion, or sell it as a bastard step child and probably take a loss.

Make the seller take it back under the threat of fraud.

Inlay the crap out of it and tell everyone it is the long lost Gus Hoppe that no one ever knew about and sell it for 10k on ebay. ( just kidding)

Tell the seller, I just found out it is an original Balabushkla and I am willing to sell it back to them for $2000, since they didn't know. (maybe NOT kidding)

Oh, What should I do? :confused:
 
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New to the forum but not ebay.

The seller clearly misrepresented OR simply was "wrong"...but it sounds like you didn't even get what was in the photos?

SO...either way, you didn't get what was represented either verbally or physically

Did you pay with paypal? If so, you should immediately file a claim with them, and ebay, AND let the seller know that you will leave a neg.

Me, personally, I would write to the seller and say "this is not what you represented, and NOT a GK. I want my money back, or..."

maybe if they offered a partial refund?

Think about what would satisfy you, and ask for it.
 
the story now has an ending.

As it turns out it is a cue originally made by Greg quite a while back. He just removed the wrap and it had his identifying marks and laminated handle. The mods to the cue threw him way off along with a shaft that he says doesn't conform to his style.

As it turns out the seller is the one who performed the mods and repairs which included changing the weight bolt and butt configuration to be a bumperless Hoppe. Greg said aluminum screw in the end of the butt was not to his thread dimensions and that really made the cue suspect.

So.. The mystery cue is now authenticated as an original older GK. The veeneers on this cue are very thin veneers and he verified that is his pointwork and veneers from a while ago. He no longer does thin veneers like this, so this is an oldie.

Still PERFECTLY STRAIGHT which should be a testament to Greg's cue quality.
Amazing how a few modifications can throw even the original maker into reverse scratching their head.

Thanks for everyone's participation. Looks like I can rest easier on this now.

Hope this was a little informative. I sure learned something.
 
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Greg is sending cue back with custom added inlays and refinish

Greg has had the cue since shortly after I started this thread. I requested he inlay gunsights in the points and barbells and MOP inlays in the buttsleeve. He notified me the cue is done and shipped Tuesday. I didn't request pictures because i wanted it tobe a surprise. There will be a total of 16 MOP inlays and 8 veneer inlays in the design. Plus, he replaced the Hoppe ring with a real Ivory ring because the person who had performed the previous repair modification replaced the ivory hoppe with a synthetic probably because it ws damaged.

I hope to be posting pics this weekend and maybe putting it in the gallery as an example of Greg Kucharski's work.

Have a great day.
 
WOW!
I just received my GK back and I ws wrong. The nmber of MOP inlays and veneers went up by 6. He made a custom joint protector with 6 MOP matching dots around it joined by a ring of orange veneer matching the rest of the cue. That was HUGE of him. The rest of the cue inlays, wrap, and finish are impeccable and exactly to the specs I asked for. I definitely will be putting this up in the gallery. He exceeded my expectations. BIG THANKS to Greg Kucharski!!!! Great Guy!
 
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