Xikar cutter

[Robusto]

I bought a pair of swish-looking blade cutters made by Carlin from the only cigar shop I can find in the Bluewater shopping centre. (It's actually a paper shop that sells Havanas from a Humidor. A bit crap. Anyone fancy opening a decent one there?...).

I was bored. I needed to buy something.

Well these cutters are pretty hopeless. I get a grip on the cigar and then have to exert so much pressure that ther e's a danger of the blades plus in flagrante cigar flying across the room.

I've also got into the habit of putting the cut-off cap and a bit of the cut-off cigar into my mouth as a sort of taste pre-amble to the cigar.

I love it. I do it behind closed doors, and you're the first to know.

A small plug of D4 tobacco gets me going before I light up. There's a real zing about this two-minute ritual. Magic.

[Drewmidorn]

I have a Xikar....I swear by it and would buy another if i lost this one.

[TJCoro]

[quote=Robusto;6998]Rok. Larry.
TJ - I've never got on with a punch cutter.

The key to the punch is the quality and sharpness of the blade. The one I use is extremely sharp and requires only the lightest touch and twist to remove the slighest layer of the cap and expose the filler.

Don't get me wrong, I still use a cutter from time to time, depending on the cigar and the condition of the cap. My preference for the punch is because it leaves most of the cap intact and a clean finish on the head of the cigar.

At lunch the other day I watched in horror as I observed a friend use a punch on a very expensive cigar (GOF) as if he was drilling for oil. As a consequence, he damaged the wrapper and had to use a cutter to correct his mistake.

Having said all this, I think I will order the cutter from the link you kindly provided and give it a go.

After all...

Variety is the spice to the full ejoyment of a fine cigar.

[Garibaldi]

That Cuban Crafters cutter looks excellent, just the kind of thing I'm after. Pity I couldn't find anywhere online in the U.K to order it from though, I'm no stranger to ordering stuff from America but the uncertain delivery date is always a pain.

Is it just me or are U.K cigar websites a bit duff for accessories, lighters and the like? I'll hear about some great product, go looking, and they inevitably don't have it.

[Robusto]

We were paid extra in my band last night at a gig because our hirers were pleased to have booked a fine band for their fundraising function. ?2k raised at a rugby club for underprivileged kids to go on a rugby tour to to Luxembourg and Belgium.

I love to see women dressed up and looking fine and blokes in dinner suits grooving on a dance floor. It tickles me as we play relentlessly and keep them moving.

I diverted a few quid from my Cuba visit funds to try a new cutter because of this lavish bonus lol.

TJ - I'm not against 'plug' cutters at all, mate. I agree with you that variety is the spice of life.

One day I might get one... One day...

[TJCoro]

TJ - I'm not against 'plug' cutters at all, mate. I agree with you that variety is the spice of life.

One day I might get one... One day...

TJ's Response -

[Robusto]

[Gary]

Robusto, I've one off these Xikar cutters, a nice silver one with rich wooden sides, it's great, but I've used it probably less than 5 times, which is a disgrace since it cost me ?80 in the Davidoff shop in London a couple of years ago.

For some reason I always use a cheaper cutter (but not one of those plastic ones that cigar shops usually give away free), I picked up at the Decent Cigar Emporium in Dublin, it was about 20-30 Euro and works a treat everytime.

But to answer you question Bryan yeah it's a great cutter and looks great, I prefer the "rich" looking versions rather than the jazzed up version in your picture.

[Robusto]

Hi Gary

That's the shop I bought my humidor from.

I think mine will be a tad more up-market as I bought it from a different link and it looks different.

I just want to get away from treating my cigar between blades like it was between dumb-bells. Our beauties are too expensive to play weights with.

[larrysputnik]

Rok. Larry.

Is this the one you both raved about?
I can't get your link to open, Rok.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cuban-Crafters-CC-24-Perfect-Cut-Cutter-NIB_W0QQitemZ280136619833QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCollectibles_Tobacciana?hash=item280136619833&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

TJ - I've never got on with a punch cutter.
SC - How many cutters have you got, then? lol

Cutters add to the BAD in me, I think.
Scissors (I have some) make me feel bizarre!

That's the one

[Gary]

Bryan I take it your talking about the Davidoff shop in London and not the Decent Cigar Emporium in Dublin?

Hi Gary

That's the shop I bought my humidor from.

I think mine will be a tad more up-market as I bought it from a different link and it looks different.

I just want to get away from treating my cigar between blades like it was between dumb-bells. Our beauties are too expensive to play weights with.

[Robusto]

Gary.

The Davidoff store in London is where I bought my humidor. I hope to visit Dublin one day.

[TJCoro]

A few years ago a friend gave my what looked like a small deep-red wooden box that when opened (unfolded actually) it becomes an ashtray on one half and the other half containes a punch and a single-blade cutter held in place magnetically. It's a little hard to explain how it works and I will post some pictures when I figure out how to do it, but it is very unique and works well.

But the point of all this is that the cutter is the sharpest single blade I have ever used. Easily as good, if not better, the the Xikar. I believe it was made by Davidoff.

[TJCoro]

I tried out one of the Cuban Crafters cutters on an Trinidad Robusto Extra tonight. Worked pretty well - took off just enought of the head to expose the filler while leaving the cap intact. The Xikar has sharper blades, in my opinion. Both work well.

The Cuban Crafters cutter is a good choice, however, for those who have trouble with the depth of the cut.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I have both the Xikar and the palio. They are both quality cutters, but I must admit the Palio is the better cutter. I don't know if the Palio is available in the UK, but if it is ya got to get one. When I'm at home I always use my Palio. I do find that the Xikar does travel in my pocket a little better than the Palio, so if I'm on the road i go with the Xikar. They both give great cuts. The Xikar's cut is a 9 and the Palio's cut is a 10. If you are in the market for a new cutter you can't go wrong with either one.