.........It did not start out as a collectors item. I was playing in a pool tournament in 1991 in St. Charles, Illinois at the Pheasant Run Resort & saw a black & white cue & liked the look. One of my best friends was Jerry Franklin who started & owned South West Cues here in Las Vegas in 1978. He was one of the premier cue makers in the World. He designed the cue after I told him what I had in mind. It is mascassar ebony with ivory inlays. The butt of the cue is solid ivory with a hand painted desert scene with the South West Cues logo.

I have played tournaments with the cue, but I don't use it in bars. I have 9 cues (7 South Wests) so I can pick & choose what I play with. I also have never played in the Double Down, we just had teams out of there.

What makes this cue worth so much are two things........South West Cues has a waiting list of SIX years to get a cue. They are not mass produced with only about 250 cues being made each year.

The second reason is a very sad reason for me. Jerry Franklin died of a heart attack out at the Lake on May 11th, 1996 at the age of 42. ALL cues that he made himself are now worth more money. His Wife Laurie now runs the business.

Jerry is the 3rd from the left in the bottom photo that was taken when we won the State Championship in May of 1996. Just a few days before he died. I'm glad you brought up the questions! It gave me a chance to talk about my friend who I miss very much. Andy - Las Vegas