By Walt White

Introduction

With such a wide variety of cigar cutters on the market today, it is often difficult to decide which to use. Single-blade, Double-blade, V-cut, Punch, or variations of the above, make the task of choosing a cutter even more difficult. The question of which cutter to use is one of the most common questions new cigars smokers ask during their introduction to cigars.

Many people believe that the type of cut used is a matter of personal preference. While I believe that is true to a large extent, I think that with a bit of additional information, a new cigar smoker could be introduced to a world of options that go beyond the standard single blade guillotine cutter.

Before I begin discussing what cutters perform what type of task, I want you to understand the purpose of such a tool. As you probably know by now, premium hand made cigars are rolled with one open end (the foot) and one closed end (the head), on which rests the cap. 

In this day and age, there seems to be an endless array of tools and techniques for clipping the cap and opening the draw of a cigar. We will begin by discussing the simplest way, which has been around for as long as the cigar itself: using your teeth. This method is simple; just pinch a small portion of cap between your front teeth and give the cigar a slight flick with the wrist. The result is a small opening in the cap of your cigar. It may not be a crisp and clean opening, but it is an efficient opening through which to draw smoke.

While this method may seem a tad archaic in today’s society, it is very effective and will work wonders when you find yourself without a tool to do the job for you. The obvious benefit is that, as long as you leave your home with your teeth, you have an effective cigar cutter, of sorts. The drawback is that it may leave your cigar looking a bit torn and unattractive. You could also pull the cap clean off of the cigar, which could lead to the cigar unraveling right in your hands.

The Punch Cutter

Many cigar smokers will frown on biting off the end of their cigar and opt for a tool instead. One tool that may be considered is the Cigar Punch or, Punch Cutter. The cigar punch comes in many sizes and they all produce the same effect: a circular blade on the end of the punch is used to slice a hole in the cap while being pressed into the filler. When the punch is removed, the result is a perfect circular plug cut from the cap of your cigar. There are many effective ways to use a punch cutter, however I find that I achieve the best result when using the punch cutter as follows:

Take the cigar and place it into the palm of your hand. Slide the cigar down the palm of your hand until the cap meets the webbing between your thumb and index finger. Firmly roll your thumb and index finger around the cigar so that it is held firmly in place with only the cap protruding past your hand. At this point, with your other hand, place the plug cutter onto the cap of the cigar and be sure to center it as best you can. Gently begin pressing the plug cutter into the cigar while twisting the cutter back and forth. As the cutter plunges into the cigar the rotation of the blade will help slice through the tobacco and make a clean cut. You should be left with a little plug of tobacco, which you can then toss deftly into your ashtray.

One major benefit of the punch cutter is that it often comes with a small key ring so that it may be attached to a set of keys. Many people find that the convenience of the punch cutter alone is reason enough to buy one. The drawback of this type of cutter is that some people feel as though the hole created by the cutter is not large enough to produce their preferred draw. The result of such a small opening may also lead to a hot spot on the tip of the tongue due to a concentrated flow of heat and smoke.

I find that with a punch cutter I have an increased chance of developing tar build-up on my cigar (see photo below). Tar build up in most cases is caused by tar, smoke, and nicotine collecting in the tobacco surrounding a small opening through which the smoke is passing. Tar build-up is not very common, however is a possibility with any type of cutter depending on the orientation of the tobacco/opening found at the head of the cigar.

Below: Tar Build-up

These types of cutters can be found at any tobacconist that sells premium cigars or any of the popular mail order companies. The prices range from about $4.00 for a simple key ring punch cutter to about $40.00 for cutters with surgical stainless steel blades and elaborate plug discharging systems.

The Single Blade Guillotine

As new cigar smokers begin to dive deeper into the passion of cigars they often find themselves in the market for the ever-popular Single Blade Guillotine Cutter. This type of cutter is by far the most popular type of cutter, and usually one of the least expensive. The operation of this tool uses a sharp blade combined with a chopping motion to quickly and easily remove the cap of a cigar.

The cigar is inserted into the body of the cutter while the blade is in the open position. When the preferred amount of cap is within the cutting path the blade is closed sharply and quickly to remove the cap in one quick, clean motion. The benefit to this type of cutter rests mainly in the fact that they are economical. The cutters can be had for as little as 99 cents at many cigar shops and mail order companies. Often times these cutters will be given away as a means of advertisement.

The drawback to single blade cutters is that they are often crafted from inexpensive products and will dull or break over a relatively short period of time. As the blade becomes dull after numerous cuts, the blade tends to tear the wrapper leaf rather than cut it as it exits the cigar, which leads to flaky pieces of tobacco sticking to your tongue or lips. In worse cases the dull blade can strike the cigar and crack the wrapper or cap leading to a cigar that may come apart as it is smoked.

As with all tools, you get what you pay for. A cheap cutter will most often times be constructed of less desirable material and fail over a fairly short period of time, while a cutter that costs just a few dollars more may last a few years before needing to be replaced.

The Double Blade Guillotine
As we become more serious about our cigar hobby, we often find ourselves in the market for a nicer-looking, or better quality cutter. For may people, the journey for a quality cutter ends at the Double Blade Guillotine Cutter. The advantage of this type of cutter is that it lessens the possibility of the wrapper being cracked or torn while being cut, due to the second blade. As both blades plunge into the tobacco they meet in the middle then cross paths, this leads to neither blade exiting an unsupported piece of tobacco and creating a tear.

These cutters are operated, for the most part, just like a single blade cutter, which makes them easy to operate. Just like the single blade cutter, the double blade guillotine can be had for as little as a couple dollars, or can be as expensive as you can imagine.

While most if us can only dream of being able to afford an ultra high end, diamond encrusted Double Blade Guillotine Cutter, many of us find ourselves in the market for a nice mid-priced cutter ranging from $30.00 to $50.00. These cutters often come with a very attractive warranty which makes the product much more appealing. The blades are generally constructed of surgical grade stainless steel and are self-sharpening as a result of slight friction between the blades as they pass one another.

The drawback to these cutters is that they may dull over time resulting in cracked wrappers. As the blade dulls, the twin blades close on the cigar at the same time and due to the dull edge these blades begin to squeeze the cigar rather than slice through it. This leads to the cigar becoming squashed and cracking as it is being cut. As this is happening you will hear a low thud as the blades come in contact with the cigar followed by a crack and a pop as the cutter finally comes together in the closed position.

Regardless of your choice between a Single or Double Blade Guillotine Cutter the goal is to remove as little of the cap as possible while maintaining a free flowing draw on the cigar. The depth of cut varies from person to person as their preferences change. I would recommend exposing as little of the cap as possible to the blade(s) of the cutter for Parejo-shaped cigars and about 3/16 of an inch for tapered cigars, such as a Torpedo.

A common method for using a single- or double-blade guillotine is to place the cutter flat on a table (or other flat surface) while placing the cigar inside the cutter and using the flat surface as a stop (See photo below). While this leads a to a very consistent cut, it also may lead to over-cutting. A chart showing some of the more popular cutters, and their depth of cut using this method is pictured (See photo below).

Above: Using a table to gauge cut

Below: Cutting depths of common cutters

The V Cutter

As we grow in our hobby of fine cigars we sometimes feel the need to drift aware from the norm and explore the world for more obscure, or lesser know tools of the trade. Among these cutters is the V-Cutter. This tool functions much like a single blade guillotine cutter but offers the benefit of a fixed depth gauge on the tool itself. When the cigar is inserted into the cutter this depth stop ensures the user that every cut will be both consistent and the correct depth.

The V-Cutter differs from the single blade guillotine in the cutting edge. The cutting surface of a V-Cutter is notched in the shape of a "V". The purpose of this cutter is to slice a trough into the head of the cigar, which will produce more surface area for air and smoke to travel through.  This cut is often preferred on small ring gauge cigars due to their small cap.

The V-cutter is a little more difficult to find and as a result generally costs a little more than the standard single blade guillotine. For a simple, hand-held plastic model found at local cigar shops, expect to pay around $4.00 each. Wood models, more widely available online, will typically range around $20.00. You can also find more expensive and attractive table models.

The Cigar Scissor

In addition to the V-Cutter, as a more obscure, or lesser know tool is the Cigar Scissor. This type of cutter is very basic and straightforward in terms of operation. They are used just like a typical pair of household scissors and function the same way. A shearing action slices away the cap of the cigar exposing an opening in which smoke will pass.

Scissors have a tendency to be widely available, which ultimately means an affordable tool. A large pair of scissors at a local cigar shop can cost as little as $10.00 while the more compact, all Stainless Steel models generally start around $30.00.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the tools used to open you favorite cigar, as well as how they operate, it is time for you to choose a cutter. When choosing a cutter, keep in mind that in most cases you get what you pay for. This does not necessarily mean that the most expensive tool is best, it simply means that paying a few extra dollars for the known quality cutter over the house brand may save a lot of time and frustration in the long haul.

Be sure to research brand names (XiKar and Palió, for example) as they may carry an excellent no nonsense warranty on their products, which is nice to have if you ever find yourself holding a broken or dull cutter.

A cigar cutter is an important and indispensable tool for the cigar smoker. Though you will eventually find a “favorite” cutter, searching for and using many different cutters is part of the joy of the hobby of fine cigars.

Walt White is one of the cofounders of the Stogie Review, a premiere cigar review blog.

Walt can be found on any number of online cigar forums and is constantly pushing the limits of web technology. This is his second contribution to the Stogie Fresh Cigar Journal.