---
title: "John Parris Supreme vs Peradon Century: Does Hand Splicing Win?"
url: https://cuesreview.com/john-parris-supreme-vs-peradon-century-does-hand-splicing-win
published: 2026-10-20T09:33:04Z
updated: 2026-10-20T09:33:04Z
summary: "John Parris Supreme offers hand splicing and deep customization. Peradon Century uses machine splicing, lighter weights and faster extension joints."
author: "CuesReview Editorial Team"
categories: ["Comparisons"]
tags: ["Cue Comparisons", "Hand Spliced Cues", "John Parris", "Peradon", "Snooker Cues"]
lang: en
---

# John Parris Supreme vs Peradon Century: Does Hand Splicing Win?

*Both use ash, ebony and Elk Master tips. The real divide is custom craft versus a lighter, ready-specified 3/4 system.*

**Hand splicing doesn't automatically make the John Parris Supreme a better-playing cue than the machine-spliced Peradon Century S1353.** It makes the Supreme more labor-intensive, more decorative, and far more configurable. The Century answers with a lighter available weight range, a practical 3/4 joint position, and Quick Action extension fittings already built into the cue.

The Supreme is the better fit for an experienced player who knows the exact length, weight, tip, ferrule, and extension system wanted. The Century is the easier choice for someone who wants a traditional English snooker cue with clearly defined dimensions and fewer ordering decisions. That distinction matters more than the romance of hand versus machine work.

## Why is this more than a hand-made versus machine-made argument?

Both cues begin with the same broad formula: an ash shaft, an ebony butt, a brass joint, an Elk Master tip, and English manufacture. They aren't opposites in material. They are two ways of organizing a traditional snooker cue.

The [John Parris Supreme](https://www.parriscues.com/supreme-cue.html) uses a hand-spliced ebony butt with an olive-wood facing splice and purple, white, and purple veneers. Its base configuration is 57 inches and 18 to 20 ounces, but the order page invites the buyer to change length, weight, tip diameter, tip brand, ferrule, name disc, and extension hardware.

The [Peradon Century S1353](https://www.peradon.co.uk/century) is a 58-inch, 3/4-jointed cue. Peradon machine-splices selected kiln-dried North American ash to genuine ebony, then adds a rosewood inlay between light-blue veneers. Its published weight bands run from 16.5 to 19 ounces.

One is a configurable build. The other is a defined system.

## How do the official specifications compare?

| Specification | John Parris Supreme | Peradon Century S1353 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Product type | Customizable snooker cue | 3/4-jointed snooker cue |
| Official price | From £714 | Numeric RRP not displayed |
| Standard length | 57 inches | 58 inches |
| Shaft wood | Ash | Selected kiln-dried North American ash |
| Butt wood | Ebony | Genuine ebony |
| Splicing method | Hand spliced | Machine spliced |
| Butt detail | Olive wood, purple/white/purple veneers | Rosewood, two light-blue veneers |
| Main joint position | 16 inches from butt end | 12 inches from butt end |
| Main joint | Precision-fit threaded brass joint | Solid-brass Quick Action joint |
| Shaft section length | Not published separately | 46 inches |
| Standard tip | Elk Master | Elk Master |
| Published tip size | 10 mm standard; selectable | 9.5 to 10 mm |
| Standard ferrule | Brass | Solid brass |
| Ferrule option | Parris Ultimate Titanium | No model-specific option shown |
| Published weight | 18 to 20 oz standard | 16.5 to 19 oz |
| Butt-end extension joint | SD Quick Lock optional | Quick Action included |
| Availability signal | Configurable, add to basket | In stock when checked |

The Supreme's £714 is a base price. Options can raise the total. Peradon's page shows an RRP label but no number, so a defensible price-gap calculation isn't possible from the manufacturers' pages alone.

## What does hand splicing add to the Supreme?

It adds craft, visual character, and production time.

John Parris describes a process in which the shaft is hand-planed and fitted with at least four separate pieces of exotic hardwood. More elaborate designs may use many more pieces. Once shaped, the rounded points and veneers become part of the cue's identity rather than printed decoration.

That work is easy to appreciate on the Supreme. The olive-wood facing splice cuts into the ebony, and the layered purple and white veneers create fine borders around it. Natural grain means two examples won't look perfectly identical.

Parris also says its shafts are hand-selected mature ash or maple, inspected through production, sanded in nine stages, treated with linseed oil, and burnished with wax. Those steps matter to ownership because they affect appearance, surface preparation, and the feel of the finish under the bridge hand.

None of this proves that the Supreme will pot more balls. It proves that more individual handwork goes into selecting and shaping the cue.

## What does machine splicing add to the Century?

Consistency and a lower-cost manufacturing route.

Peradon explains that machine splicing cuts the ebony into four points and glues those points into slots machined in the shaft timber. This creates a clean, repeatable four-point pattern. The company explicitly calls it a less expensive but highly effective method.

That wording is useful. “Machine spliced” shouldn't be read as “cheap cue.” Peradon still selects the ash for straightness and strength, turns the cue to its final taper, carries out multiple sanding and finishing stages, and precision-fits the joint. The machine controls the splice geometry; it doesn't replace timber grading or finishing.

The Century also receives a decorative front splice, rosewood inlay, and light-blue veneers. It looks restrained from a distance and becomes more detailed closer to the butt.

![Peradon Century showing its ash shaft, machine-spliced ebony butt and light-blue veneers](media:7d7a3306c4fab266)

## Does a hand-spliced cue hit better?

There is no independent test here that supports that conclusion.

Splicing method can change construction and appearance, but “hit” is the result of a larger system. Shaft stiffness, taper, grain orientation, ferrule mass, tip condition, cue weight, balance point, joint fit, and the player's delivery all contribute. Natural ash also varies from piece to piece.

The Supreme may feel special because its measurements and front-end parts can be chosen around one player's preferences. That is a customization advantage, not proof that hand-splicing alone produces better feedback or lower cue-ball deflection.

The Century may be more repeatable as a product specification, but machine work doesn't guarantee that every ash shaft will feel identical. Wood is still wood.

If possible, test the exact cue. Sight along the shaft, check the grain, roll it only as one part of the inspection, feel the balance in a normal stance, and play the shots that expose what matters to you: soft stuns, long pots, screw shots, and side-spin recovery shots.

## Which joint position is more practical?

That depends on how the cue will be carried and extended.

The Supreme's ebony butt is 22 inches long, with the main joint positioned 16 inches from the butt end. John Parris uses a precision-fit threaded brass joint in this position. The company says it prefers this established threaded design over quick release for strength and reliability.

The Century puts its Quick Action joint 12 inches from the butt end, leaving a published 46-inch shaft section. Peradon says the solid-brass joint releases in no more than 1.5 turns. That should make assembly quicker without placing the joint at the center of the cue.

Neither position is inherently more accurate. The practical differences are the length of the sections in the case, how the rear section feels when separated, and where an extension can be attached.

Players who already own a 3/4 case should verify internal dimensions. A label such as “3/4 jointed” doesn't tell the whole story when the joint may sit 12, 14, or 16 inches from the butt.

## Which cue gives you better extension options?

The Century is simpler out of the box.

Peradon installs Quick Action fittings at both the 3/4 joint and the butt end. Its compatible screw-on extensions can attach at either position. That gives the owner a built-in route for full extensions and mini butts without adding an optional joint during ordering.

John Parris offers more extension hardware, but the choices must be understood. A traditional telescopic extension can replace the butt section at the main joint. The optional SD Quick Lock fitting at the very end of the butt supports SD telescopic extensions and the six-inch SD short ebony butt. Selecting some SD accessories automatically adds the required SD joint to the order.

The Supreme therefore has the broader menu. The Century has the easier standard setup.

Cross-brand compatibility is unverified. A brass fitting that looks similar can still differ in thread, diameter, shoulder, or depth. Use the extension family specified by the cue maker.

## How important is the weight difference?

It may be more important than the splice.

The Supreme's standard snooker range is 18 to 20 ounces. Parris allows custom length and weight requests, but warns that some combinations aren't physically achievable. A longer wooden cue will normally be heavier, and the maker tries to select a shaft whose natural mass is close to the requested finished weight rather than relying on added weight.

The Century is offered in two bands: 16.5 to 17.5 ounces and 17.5 to 19 ounces. That gives it a clear path for players who prefer a cue below 18 ounces.

A lighter cue isn't automatically faster or more controllable. The same listed weight can also feel different when the balance point moves. Unfortunately, neither product page publishes a measured balance-point range for the cues being compared.

For a buyer who already knows that 17 ounces is comfortable, the Century has the obvious advantage. For someone who wants a specific build near 19 or 20 ounces, Supreme's ordering system is more relevant.

## Do the tip and ferrule options favor the Supreme?

Yes, if the buyer knows what to request.

Both models use an Elk Master tip and brass ferrule in their standard description. The Supreme lists a 10 mm standard tip, while the Century lists a 9.5-to-10 mm range.

Parris lets the buyer select tip diameter and choose among Elk Master, Brunswick Blue Diamond, Talisman, and Kamui for snooker or English pool builds. It also offers its Ultimate Titanium ferrule as an alternative to brass. The manufacturer positions the titanium part as a way to reduce deflection with side spin.

That claim shouldn't be turned into a guaranteed performance result. A lighter ferrule can reduce front-end mass, but the complete shaft construction and final diameter still matter. No controlled Supreme-versus-Century test is published on these pages.

Peradon sells several tip and ferrule products separately, including titanium ferrules, but the Century page doesn't present those as selectable factory options for this model. Buyers wanting a nonstandard front end should ask whether it can be supplied that way or whether later modification would affect support.

## Which cue is easier to order correctly?

The Century asks fewer questions.

Its core dimensions are visible: 58-inch total length, 46-inch shaft section, 12-inch butt plus the protruding joint, 9.5-to-10 mm tip, and two weight bands. The butt-end fitting is already present. The remaining challenge is price, because Peradon directs retail buyers to stockists and does not display a numeric RRP on the product page.

Supreme ordering is more involved. The £714 starting point can change with ferrule, tip, extension, name disc, length, weight, and SD hardware. That freedom is excellent when the player has a reference cue and measured preferences. It is risky when the order is based on guesses.

Before customizing, measure a cue you already like. Record total length, weight, tip diameter, joint position, and balance point. “I want something professional” isn't a specification.

## Who should choose the John Parris Supreme?

Choose the Supreme if you:

- Want genuine hand-spliced construction and distinctive natural woodwork.
- Already know your preferred length, weight, and tip diameter.
- Want a choice of tip brands or a titanium ferrule.
- Need a particular SD extension setup.
- Prefer a traditional precision-threaded main joint.
- Accept that £714 is the starting price, not necessarily the checkout total.

The Supreme rewards an informed order. Its value is the ability to bring craft and specification together in one cue.

## Who should choose the Peradon Century?

Choose the Century if you:

- Want a clearly specified 58-inch, 3/4-jointed cue.
- Prefer a lighter 16.5-to-19-ounce range.
- Want Quick Action fittings at the joint and butt end.
- Value easy access to Peradon's extension system.
- Prefer fewer configuration decisions.
- Are comfortable buying through a Peradon stockist and confirming the current price there.

The Century is the practical choice. Machine splicing helps keep the design repeatable, while the materials and finish remain firmly within the English snooker-cue tradition.

## What is the final verdict?

**Buy the John Parris Supreme for custom specification and hand-spliced character. Buy the Peradon Century for lighter weights, faster joints, and a simpler extension-ready package.**

The Supreme is the more personal object. Its olive wood, veneers, selectable front end, and optional SD hardware let an experienced player define the cue closely. The Century is easier to understand and easier to equip for reach shots without building a long options list.

Hand splicing wins on craft. Machine splicing can win on repeatability and cost. Neither method wins the frame by itself.

:::faq
### Is the John Parris Supreme fully hand made?
John Parris describes the butt as hand spliced and says its shafts are hand selected and inspected through production. The product still involves tools and machining, so “hand spliced” is the precise verified claim.

### Is the Peradon Century made in England?
Yes. Peradon identifies the Century as crafted in England from kiln-dried North American ash and genuine ebony.

### Does hand splicing make a snooker cue more accurate?
No independent evidence cited by either product page proves that splicing method alone improves accuracy. Shaft quality, straightness, taper, tip, ferrule, balance, joint fit, and player delivery all matter.

### Can both cues use an extension?
Yes. The Century has Quick Action fittings at the 3/4 joint and butt end. The Supreme supports extensions at the main joint and offers an optional SD Quick Lock butt-end system.

### Which cue is better for players who prefer less than 18 ounces?
The Peradon Century is the clearer choice because its published range starts at 16.5 ounces. The Supreme's standard snooker range begins at 18 ounces.
:::