The guillotine style cigar cutter is most likely the most popular type of cigar cutter available.  Featuring either a single or double-blade the guillotine cutter is designed to remove a thin sliver of wrapper from the cap of the cigar creating a wide opening and an ample draw.

To ensure a good cut with a guillotine style cigar cutter, just follow these simple instructions:

1.  Begin by placing your thumb and index or middle finger into the finger holes of the cutter.

2.  Open the guillotine cutter by pulling apart your fingers.  Ensure that the cutter is fully opened before inserting a cigar.

3.  With a firm grip on your cigar, introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the guillotine cutter, only until the very tip of the head is within the cutting path of the blades.  Remember, you only want to remove a thin slice from the head of the cigar.  DO NOT REMOVE THE ENTIRE CAP OF THE CIGAR.

4.  With gentle pressure, bring the blades of the guillotine cutter into contact with the wrapper of the cigar and with a slight twist of the hand, score the wrapper leaf where you intend to cut.

5.  Once the wrapper leaf at the head of the cigar has been scored, apply swift, firm pressure to complete your cut.

With practice, you will become expert using your guillotine cutter to prepare your favorite premium cigars for enjoyment.  Just remember, don’t remove the entire cap of your cigar or it will unroll; score the wrapper at the head and apply quick, decisive pressure for a perfect cut every time.

Good smoking!

The grip style cigar cutter is a relatively new invention and is based on the same principle as the guillotine cigar cutter.  Featuring a double-blade system, the grip cutter is designed to remove a thin sliver of wrapper from the cap of the cigar creating a wide opening and an ample draw similar to a guillotine cutter.

To ensure a good cut with a grip style cigar cutter, just follow these simple instructions:

1.  Begin by opening the blades of the cutter and holding the cutter as shown in the photo below.

2.  With a firm grip on the cigar, line the head of the cigar up with the opening of the cutter.

3.  Introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the cutter only up to the very end of the cigar’s head and bring the blades of the cutter into contact with the wrapper leaf.  With a slight twist of the hand, score the wrapper leaf where you intend to cut.

4.  Without releasing pressure on the blades, apply swift, firm pressure to complete the cut.

The opening created by a proper cut with a grip cutter rivals that of any other cutter.

Once are comfortable with the feel and function of the grip style cigar cutter, you may just find, as I did, that it will become a favorite.  As always, remember not to remove the entire cap of your cigar or the wrapper will unroll; score the wrapper at the head and use quick and decisive pressure for a perfect cut every time.

Good smoking!

The “V-cutter” style cigar tool has been around for years and years.  The blade of a v-cutter is bent to about a 30 degree angle which creates a wedge-shaped cutting surface.  This blade is held in a frame and spring loaded so that one can plunge the blade down, through the cap of a cigar and allow the blade to return.  The cut left by a v-cutter resembles a missing piece of pie.

To properly cut a premium cigar with a V-cutter, you must start with a sharp instrument then follow these simple instructions. (Note: if you have a guillotine style V-cutter such as the Colibri V-Cut cutter black, follow the basic  instructions for using a guillotine cutter here.)

Caution:  V-cutters do not usually do a good job cutting pointed head cigars, proceed at your own risk!

Begin with a firm grasp of the cigar in one hand.  Grip the V-cutter with the other as illustrated in the photo below.

Line the head of the cigar up with the opening at the end of the cutter, not he side holes.  (The holes on the sides are designed to cut pointed head cigars, but usually tear the wrappers.  Again, proceed here at your own risk!)

Introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the V-cutter as far as it will go, gently.

When using a V-cutter, unlike other cutters, scoring the wrapper leaf with the blades is not possible.  To make a proper cut, always apply swift, firm pressure with follow through to complete the cut.

Finally, release the blade and allow the plug of cut tobacco to fall free.  Blowing over the cut surface gently will help dislodge any tobacco fragments left by the cutting blade.

When sharp, the V-cutter creates a more than adequate opening in most cigars.  For those cigar aficionados who prefer this style cutter, there is no equal.  Many smokers are discovering the “Cross-cut” method, which creates an “X” shaped opening in the head of a cigar using two perpendicular slices with a good, quality V-cutter.  This cut is especially effective with some of today’s 60+ ring gauge cigars!

As always, remember not to cut below the shoulder of your cigar or the wrapper will unroll; use quick and decisive pressure and follow through the cut for a perfect V-cut every time.

Good smoking!

Using a cigar scissors is, without doubt, the most elegant method of removing the cap from a premium, handmade cigar.  With models ranging in price from a few dollars to hundreds, cigar scissors come in a wide selection of models, but the basic principles for their use are universal.

Cigar scissors can be used to open any vitola, rounded or pointed head, with ease.  Most cigar scissors can accommodate any ring gauge cigar further increasing their utility.  These capabilities make the cigar scissors one of the most useful tools any cigar aficionado can own.

Using a cigar scissors does take practice.  However, once you’ve mastered these simple steps, you will be able to open your cigars with flair and dazzle your cigar smoking friends.

To make a proper cut using a cigar scissors, just follow these simple steps:

Begin by placing the scissors comfortably on your hand as you would any other scissors.  Open the scissors completely.

With a firm grip on the cigar, introduce the head of the cigar into the opening of the scissors until only the very end is in the cutting path of the blades.  Remember, you only want to remove a thin slice of the wrapper leaf from the head of the cigar!

Bring the blades of the scissors into contact with the wrapper leaf covering the head of the cigar and with gentle pressure and a slight twist of the wrist, score the leaf with the blades of the scissors.

Without releasing pressure on the blades, snap the cigar scissors closed completing the cut.

Open the cigar scissors and allow the cut end to fall away.  The cut from a cigar scissors should leave a wide opening in the head of the cigar and an ample draw.

With practice, with a cigar scissors you will be able to perform surgically precise cuts when opening your premium cigars.  Like Tom Cruise in “Cocktail,” you can swing your scissors from your fingertips, spin them in dazzling circles, and even flip them from hand to hand, creating an almost mystic air to your opening efforts.

Keep in mind the basics when using a cigar scissors; do not cut below the shoulder of the cigar as this will cause the wrapper to unravel ruining your smoke, score the leaf at the head prior to cutting to prevent tearing, and use a quick, firm snap when you close your scissors to complete the cut.

Good smoking!

The cigar punch is the most basic of cigar cutting tools.  Made up of a cylindrical cutting tube with a sharpened end, the cigar punch creates a clean, uniform circular opening in the head of the cigar for smoking.

To ensure a proper cut with a cigar punch, just follow these simple instructions:

1.   Open the punch revealing the cutting portion of the tool.

2.  Align the punches cutting edge with the center of the cigar’s head.  (Note: cigar punches should not be used on pointed head cigars.)

3.  With a slight twisting motion, press the cigar punch into and through the cigar’s wrapper.

4.  With continued pressure, push the cigar punch into the cigar up to the collar of the punch.

5.  While continuing to twist the punch, pull back on the tool to remove the cut portion of the cap.

6.  Replace the cigar punches cover releasing the cut piece of wrapper and covering the cutting blade for safety and protection.

Now all that’s left is to light up and enjoy!

Good smoking!

In Part One of our two part series on cigar cutters we looked at two of the most popular tools available to the smoker of premium cigars:  the cigar punch and the guillotine cutter.

This week we conclude our survey of cigar cutting tools with the grip cutter, the “V-cutter,” and the cigar scissors and discuss the pros and cons of each.

To begin, let’s review the basic types of cutters.  Cutters can be divided into the following categories:

–          Cigar punches

–          Guillotine cutters

–          Grip cutters

–          V-cutters

–          Cigar Scissors

Grip cutter:

The grip style cigar cutter is a relatively new addition to the world of premium cigars.  Functioning on the same basic principle as a double bladed guillotine cutter, the grip cutter features two blades contained within a housing and connected at their bases by a pivot point.

As with the guillotine cutter one uses a grip cutter by starting with a firm grip on the cigar in one hand and the opened grip cutter in the other.  Most grip cutters have a locking mechanism which, when released, opens the blades fully.

The head of the cigar is advanced into the aperture of the cutter and the blades are brought into contact with the cigar.  As with most cutters, the blades should be twisted slightly to score the wrapper leaf at the cap.  Once the wrapper is scored, a quick and decisive snap will close the blades and complete the cut.

On a personal note, my go to cutter is a Xikar XI1 grip cutter… I prefer my Platinum finish model, just saying.

[For step-by-step instructions on using a grip cutter click here]

V-cutter:

Certainly the most interesting type of cigar cutter is the “V-cutter.”  The V-cutter works by removing a wedge shaped chunk of tobacco from the head of the cigar.  The resulting cut should allow ample draw through the slit shaped opening.

There are three basic styles of V-cutter: the bench style cutter often found on the counter of brick and mortar cigar shops; the plunger style (shown below); and those with a guillotine-style frame and function such as the Colibri V-cutter.

Some cigar smokers shun the V-cutter as they find that the shape of the cut can lead to a build-up of tar as the cigar is smoked causing a bad taste to develop.  On the other hand, many smokers swear by the “Cross cut” that can be created by making two perpendicular cuts with a V-cutter, resulting in an X-shaped opening.

The biggest problem with V-cutter type cigar cutters is that the blade is usually fixed and as such, impossible to sharpen.  Speaking from personal experience, a dull V-cutter will not cut, and will tear the cap of the cigar rather than neatly slicing.  This will invariably result in a less than enjoyable smoke.

Finally, V-cutters can be used to open a pointed end cigar such as a torpedo, but I don’t recommend it…

[For step-by-step instructions on using a V-cutter click here]

Cigar scissors:

Without doubt the most elegant method of cutting a cigar is with an exquisite pair of cigar scissors.  The drama that can be created using this cigar cutting tool and the flair with which they are used can create a mystique that other cutters simply cannot replicate.

Cigar scissors are tools that are designed for the sole purpose of opening the heads of premium, handmade cigars.  With extremely sharp, curved blades the cigar scissors should be used to remove only a thin slice of tobacco from the head of round headed cigars or a small portion of the head of pointed cigars.

As with the guillotine cutter and grip cutter, the blades of the cigar scissors should be opened fully before the cigar head is introduced.  Gentle contact between the blades and the cigar followed by a slight twist will score the wrapper leaf of the cigar.  Follow the scoring, without releasing pressure on the blades, use a quick clipping to remove the remaining cap.

Cigar scissors can be sharpened either at home or by a decent hardware store.  A high quality pair of cigar scissors is an heirloom that can be used and enjoyed by generations!

[For step-by-step instructions on using a cigar scissors click here]

I hope that these articles have helped you gain some insight into which type of cigar cutter most likely fits your personal style and how to properly use these tools to enjoy your premium cigars.  Odds are that over your cigar smoking career you will end up with more than one cutter; always remember that a sharp blade is needed for a perfect cut.  If your cutter isn’t up to snuff, you can find a huge selection of all types of cutters at Mike’s Cigars!

Good smoking!