09 July 2012
Cigar Cutters

Cigar cutters have been utilized for a number of years, in order to remove the cap which is usually at one or both ends of the cigar and must be removed for someone to smoke it. This is much more efficient than being bitten off or cut off with a knife which can damage the cigar and result in either the loss of tobacco or cause the cigar to burn unevenly.
There are three main types of cigar cutters, these include; straight cut, the most common used on cigars with a smaller ring gauge. This cut is quick and straight allowing both ends of the cigar to be exposed. It comes in single blades or double, although double is more popular because it leaves a cleaner cut.
Cigar scissors are exact which is what makes them very popular, however the guillotines are the most practical, the least expensive, and can be easily and safely carried in a shirt or trouser pocket. Most people prefer this cut because the entire cap end is exposed allowing for the maximum smoke to exit with only minimum build up around the edge.
Punch cut; there are three different types of cigar punches, a bullet punch, Havana punch and multi-punch. The bullet punch is a bullet shaped device that fits handily into a key chain, this punch can be twisted to expose a circular blade used to cut a hole in the cigar cap. Some prefer this cut because it exposes less of the fuller and binder and reduces the chance of tobacco ending up in your mouth. However, some people criticize this cut say that this smaller hole doesn’t allow for as much tobacco to be released and the hole is often clogged with saliva or tobacco buildup. One problem associated with these otherwise really handy durable and cheap items is the un-screwable top that can easily be lost and you then have to carry around the cutter with the blade exposed. “Havana Punches” offer some of the convenience along with more safety. Rather than a top that can come off and you can lose, the blade is instead recessed and springs out with the push of a button. Multi-punches offer different sized punch holes for different cigars.
V-cut is the last of the most common types of cutters, these look like guillotine cutters but instead cut a wedge into the cigar cap rather than totally removing it, creating a clean gash. Good V-cutters penetrate even deeper into the filler than straight cutters and some cigar smokers instead prefer them for thicker gauge cigars. However some cheap V cutter can result in an untidy gash which can result in a somewhat unpleasant experience with an uneven burn by cutting in too deep.