Week #24) Ron Haley / Bill Schick Collaboration

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General Cue Description-

Cue #150 from Ron Haley is a 6 point cue with 3 long purpleheart points and 3 short ivory points with 3 veneers and 4 of Ron’s signature paper veneers into an ebony forearm and a purpleheart butt with 3 mitered boxes with ivory centers. The cue is a true hoppe butt with an ivory butt plug in place of a bumper. This cue is a rare collaboration cue where Ron worked hand in hand with HOF cuemaker Bill Schick, Ron built the cue and Bill did all the scrim work in all the ivory right down to the skull head on the butt plug. this is the first and only time that Bill has ever done work on another cuemakers cue. The cue also features 6 barbells made with ivory spearheads, an Ivory joint and a black leather wrap.

Here’s what the experts think- they are limited to 500 characters!

Dick Abbott

Dick Abbott

Ron Haley is an up and coming cuemaker who has made a name for himself with excellent execution and attention to detail. This cue is eye catching with its vibrant colored veneers over purpleheart and ivory prongs into ebony. The veneer work on the prongs and around the windows appears perfectly executed. The silver décor rings are understated and tasteful and the ‘Hoppe’ butt plate with the scrimshawed ivory butt plug is very cool. The scrimshaw theme is not to my liking and the barbells in the forearm and butt sleeve seem to be an afterthought to fill space. Not a monster.

Fred Agnir

Fred Agnir

Every cue Ron Haley makes borders on perfection. The collaboration with HOFer Schick makes this cue possibly his best cue to date. The Purple Heart twist on the Flame Cue, especially with purposefully short points as “little flames” on which Schick is able to continue the scrimshaw in the forearm works for me. The theme is nicely carried and balanced from the bumper-less butt cap to joint protectors. The double spear point barbells however look a bit like an add-in. I’m not ready to call this a monster because there is no doubt that Haley will build cues that will greatly overshadow this one.

Deno J. Andrews

Deno Andrews

Haley’s execution and Schick’s collaboration make this a really valuable and collectible cue. I love the mitered boxes and the unique scrim work. However, many cue makers don’t get the aesthetic awkwardness of framing short points with the same thickness as the long points. Basically, it’s completely wrong and looks bad. Short points inside long points should almost always have thinner framing. This mistake disqualifies the cue in my opinion. Not a monster.

Jimbo- Jim Brennan

JimBo

Ron Haley’s execution is flawless and it’s great to see inlays into purpleheart rather then hidden in ebony as we see so many times. His veneer work and boxes are exceptional. The joint protectors and ivory plug are fantastic. I feel this cue falls a little short in it’s design. The fact that a HOF (Bill Schick) cuemaker did the scrim work adds to it for me where as I normally deduct points when someone else does that work on a cue. For me that collaboration alone makes this a Monster.

Jim Stadum

Jim Stadum

Ron Haley’s work is impeccable as usual. I am not sure I like the color scheme in the overall cue and Bill’s scrimshaw is on the morbid side, but considering that this cue was ordered by Jimbo I think he nailed the assignment. In a strange way I am really starting to like this cue. The Ivory butt plug is very unique and adds a new twist. I like the idea of two cuemakers collaborating on a cue especially when one of them is a member of the HOF. This cue is a perfect fit for Jimbo and if I were him I would consider it a Monster. For me it is very close but just shy of Monster status.

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