XI1 Cutter, Silver

Cutters perform a simple and yet essential function in the world of smoking a cigar...They cut the head in such a way to allow for a good draw while leaving the cap structure intact. Not that easy a task, really.

Cigars are thick and packed and yet made from a very compressible material. How to snip the tip without distorting the shape or crushing the bunch inside?

Scissors were the first try. They compress the cigar while cutting - No.
Sometime after the French Revolution (I assume) someone had the initiative to see a peaceful use for the guillotine. A cigar cutter. Et voila.

For about $5 and up there are a myriad of cutters for sale. Most consist of two semi circular blades with a finger hold attached to each end. You insert your thumb in one hold and your middle finger in the other. Insert the cigar the desired length and compress your fingers to cleanly cut the tip without any compression to the body of the smoke.
Since my initial encounter with Xikar was a very favorable one I decided to pursue it to the rest of their line of accessories.
They make one sort of shape for the cutters and then use a variety of materials for the handles. Anything from redwood handles to carbon fiber.

The Xi-1 series have screws holding them together and a one finger opening latch. Other models...the 2 and 3 lines have solid bodies or images printed upon them.
Pull the latch down and the blades open. Insert your smoke the desired length and close the wings. It's now locked and ready to go back into your pocket et cetera.

The blades are touted to be 440 carbon steel. The slicing action is far and away superior to trying to close your thumb and middle finger simultaneously. With this you just  - close the blades back into the locked position.

The only downside I have noticed is that it tends to collect bits of tobacco at the edges of the blades - not a place you want to be wiping off with a finger.

Everything Xikar makes is backed with a lifetime warranty. I read of one person sending the cutter back for sharpening and receiving a new one instead. Xikar does customer service very well.

Post Script - I contacted Xikar about becoming a reseller of their products and was told they are seeking Brick & Mortar locations only as they are having issues with price cutting.
Unfortunate indeed.
Ah well.
Exhale.