Joe Gold began making cues in the early 1990s. Before Joe began using a CNC, inlays were created using a pantagraph. This machine which is an overhead pin router with a tracing capability whereas a scribe can follow a design cut out of metal or wood and replicate that design to scale on the cue stick. The entire inlay process was done by hand. It was a long and laborious process to inlay cues. Achieving perfection was challenging. This cue was built early in Joe's career and is an important early example. At the time this cue was built, it was one of the fanciest Cognoscenti cues produced. It was also one of the first cues to feature the silver stitched rings.
The cue is ebony with a highly figured birds-eye maple handle. The inlays are silver and pre-treaty ivory, with small ebony dots nestled inside a sterling circle, inside the ivory points. Inlaying the silver skeleton points was a tedious process for Joe. To complete such a task, a number of jeweler's tools for filing and curving the silver are needed. Contrary to popular belief, silver is not very soft and easy with which to work. Each curve had to be radiused using jeweler's pliars. The ivory points are pretty thin at the top and were very delicate.
Cue stick is all original and has wear and use commensurate with the tournament play in which this cue was used. The cue has two shafts, one for pool and one for billiards. Joe Gold is available to refinish the cue to new condition, but many collectors prefer the originality. So we are leaving the choice to you!