Author：Jake | TIME：July 25,2019 1624
Very much unlike cigarettes that you can directly smoke after you get them from the store, cigars require an additional process before smoking - cutting the cigar cap. The cigar’s cap is just a small piece of tobacco that covers the end and keeps the whole thing together. And it needs to be precisely cut open before you start smoking. So how to cut a cigar? There are various ways and tools that you can make use of, for example, cigar cutters and cigar scissors.
Just like you need a lighter to light your cigars, you also need a cigar cutter or knife to cut your cigars with precision. Having the cigar cap cut cleanly will give you a better smoking experience; otherwise, it could turn this relaxing leisure activity into a disaster. For example: it could tear or compact the filler leaves, which reduces airflow; and it might loosen the outer wrapper of the cigar and thus the filler leaves will spill out in your mouth.
So it is very important to have a high quality cigar cutter in hand. But with so many options on the market, how can you tell which is the best cigar cutter for you? While some passionate smokers think highly of material and style, it is also important to take into consideration of cigar cutter type, size, ring gauge, etc.
And in the following comparison chart, we’ve assembled 5 best cigar cutters based on above buying considerations. Of course, we also give a detailed review of each cutter.
| Image | Product | Style | Ring Gauge | Material | Editor's Rating | Price |
 | YUC Dual Blade Cigar Cutter | Guillotine Cut | Up to 50 | Stainless Steel | ★★★★★ |  |
 | Xikar Xi2 Cigar Cutter | Guillotine Cut | Up to 58 | Plastic, Stainless Steel | ★★★★ |  |
 | Colibri V-Cut | V-Cut | Up to 60 | Zinc | ★★★★ | |
 | Alaska Bear Double Cut | Guillotine Cut | Up to 60 | Stainless Steel | ★★★★ | |
 | GALINER Lock System | Guillotine Cut | Up to 55 | Stainless Steel, zebra wood | ★★★★ | |
1. YUC Stainless Steel Double Blade Guillotine Cigar CutterMade of premium brushed stainless steel, the YUC cigar cutter features dual self-sharpening blades that can deliver clean cuts of thousands of times. The wide-mouth opening of 0.79 inches enables it to cut 50 ring gauge cigars without any difficulty.
Meassured in 3.35x1.61 inches and weighted 56g, this item is the perfect cigar cutter to put into your pocket. Beisdes, this product doesn’t come in alone, but in an elegant gift box. So this gold cigar cutter can also be a great gift for cigar lovers.
Specifications:
Color: Brushed gold
Item Weight: 56g
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 4.1 x 0.35 cm
Material: Stainless Steel
Lightweight and portable
Self-sharpening double-edge blades for clean cuts
Durable construction in ergonomic design makes easy of use
Includes a premium gift box
Gold brushed stainless steel makes it look elegant
50 Ring gauge might not be large enough for some users
2. Xikar Xi2 Cigar Cutter - Multiple Color ChoicesXikar Xi2 should be the best choice if you want something lightweight and portable. Weighing only 81.6g, you can put it in your pocket as if nothing there. Compact in size, yet Xi2 is powerful enough to give a clean and precise cut for cigars of various sizes as it allows for a 58 ring gauge cigar.
It has sharp stainless blades and features a lightweight nylon fiberglass composite in metallic colors(white, blue, bloodstone, carbon look, malachite, noir black, silver granite). You will love its overall outlook for stylish design. I did not spare my appreciation the moment I saw this cigar clipper.
Specifications:
Color: Black
Item Weight: 81.6g
Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.6 x 0.5 cm
Material: Plastic, Stainless Steel
Lightweight and portable
Made of 440 stainless steel
Boasts a 57 Rockwell C rating
Provides a variety of metallic colors
Allows for cutting up to 58-gauge cigar
A little expensive
A little small to hold comfortably by people with large hands
3. Colibri V-Cut Cigar CutterIf V-cut is what you are looking for, we would love to recommend you the Colibri V-Cut cigar cutter. This cutter features a single curved blade that makes a V-shape hole on the cap of the cigar. And the sharp stainless blade is spring-loaded, so it can make quick and clean cuts on the cigar. You can have a lot of fine V cuts for years with this cutting tool.
While the V-shaped blade effectively prevent damage to the cigar, its ergonomic design makes it easy and comfortable to use. Allowing for a 60-ring gauge, this V cut cigar cutter enales you to cut up to 7 millimeters in depth.
Specifications:
Color: Black
Item Weight: 118g
Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.1 x 1.3 cm
Material: Zinc
Delivers deep V-shaped cuts
Features easily-activated spring-loaded release
Durable construction in ergonomic design
Includes stylish Colibri gift box
Two-year warranty
Blade needs to be sharpened from time to time
May become a little loose when you extend it
4. Alaska Bear Double Cut Stainless Steel Cigar CutterAlaska Bear is the ideal choice if guillotine cigar cutter is more of your style. This cool cigar cutter features dual self-sharpening guillotine blades that can deliver numberless clean and precise cuts. And the excellent craftsmanship and solid construction will just allow you to cut for many years.
The classic design in reasonable size just fits good in your hand. You can easily cut the cigar cap with the two handles. The hole diameter meassures 0.892 in (22.66 mm), which enables it to cut all sizes up to 60 gauge.
Specifications:
Color: Classic Stainless Steel Color
Item Weight: 40g
Product Dimensions: 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.1 inches
Material: Stainless Steel
Delivers clean and precise cap cutting
Allows to cut all cigar sizes up to 60-ring gauge
Comes inside a protective box
Classi design & durable material ensure long time use
Affordable price
Portable and easy to use
The blades are a little loose
Over pressure on handles will cause unraveling of the cigar
5. GALINER Lock System Double Cut Blade Guillotine Cigar CutterThe perfect combination of stainless steel and zebra wood with a smooth finish make this GALINER item a luxury cigar cutter. Along with a gift box, this can be a great gift idea. The overall design is solid and durable to cut for many years, while the 0.86-inch hole diameter with double cut blades can do a lot of clean cuts up to 55 ring gauge.
Ox Horns shaped body, ergonomic shape for easy to handle and give great grip. The spring-load system makes it rather easy to open and close the blades. And this can avoid any accident of cutting your fingers. I would say the 30-day money back is a great value.
Specifications:
Color: Silver & wood color
Item Weight: 90.7g
Product Dimensions: 2.99 x 2.24 x 0.27 inches (76*57*7 mm)
Material: Stainless steel & zebra wood
Easy to handle and cut with good grip
Spring-load lock system for protection
Overall luxury design with noticeable zebra wood
Come with a flocking bag and a box
The 2 “horns” can be kind of user-friendly for some people
Before you do a cut, you should first have an understanding of the main component of a cigar. A cigar is consist of 4 parts: cap, foot, band, and wrapper.
Cap: The cigar cap is the end of the cigar that is not open. And you need to cut that cap off the cigar before smoking.
Foot: The foot is another end of the cigar, opposite to the cap. This is the part where you light up the cigar for smoking.
Band: Cigars usually have bands that are wrapped around them. The band is closest to the cap and it usually shows the cigar brand and other info such as cigar type and place of origin.
Wrapper: The wrapper is the leaf that wraps up the contents of a cigar. Not like a cigarette that uses a paper wrapper, a cigar uses a large tobacco leaf to wrap.
Depending on the shape of cigar end, cigar cut can be classified into 3 major types: straight cut, V cut, and punch cut.
- Straight cut: The most common type among cigar smokers. The straight cut is a typically angular and straightforward cut. This cut type offers more surface volume on the cigar end in your mouth, letting the cigar give out more smoke at every single puff. However, this type of cigar cut is not easy to make and it can ruin the cigar without a high quality cigar cutter like a guillotine cutter or a double blade cutter. If you want to give this cut a shot, just don’t try with cigar scissors or cigar knife.
- V cut: For cigars with a large ring gauge, V cut is your best choice. This cut type can reduce the surface volume, so you are less likely to get small pieces in your mouth. Yet, this type of cigar cut is the most difficult to execute; therefore it is not recommended if you are not experienced in cutting a cigar. But if you are going for this, a wedge cigar cutter will be your choice.
- Punch cut: Just as its name indicates, the punch cut can get the cigar end a small hole. This can reduce the opportunity of getting small pieces of tobacco in your mouth. Yet, on the contrary, this cut type can also result in the cigar’s clogging caused by the combination of tobacco and saliva. Below are some great cigar punch cutter options if you feel like cutting with this type.
| Image | Product | Material | Editor's Rating | Price |
 | Mrs.Brog Cigar Punch | Stainless Steel | ★★★★ | |
 | Proper Materials Cigar Punch | Stainless Steel | ★★★★ | |
 | Select Draw Cigar Punch | Aluminum, Steel | ★★★★ | |
In addition to above cigar cutters, there are some other tools that you can use to cut your cigars. Cigar scissors and knives are two alternative cigar cutting tools many cigar enthusiasts often use.
As for the result, a scissor cigar cutter is kind of similar to a guillotine cutter because it can also deliver a straightforward cut. But it is a pair of scissors in shape. This type of cutting tool is great for thicker cigars because it can “open its mouth” to cut cigars of all size. If you smoke thick cigars, then the cigar scissors should top your list. But just make sure you get the high quality pair - most of the best cigar scissors are made of stainless steel.
| Image | Product | Material | Editor's Rating | Price |
 | Felice Cigar Scissors | Stainless Steel | ★★★★ | |
 | JIFENG Cigar Scissors | Copper | ★★★★ | |
 | Quality Importers Trading Cigar Scissors | Stainless Steel | ★★★★ | |
Cigar knife should be the cutting tool I would not like to recommend to any cigar smoker because it is the most difficult tool to operate for a clean cut. Not doing well, it could turn your cigar into a waste of money. Even many skilled cigar aficionados could not make a solid cut. So, unless you have confidence in your skills or don’t care how it may become, don’t go for a cigar knife cutter.
| Image | Product | Material | Editor's Rating | Price |
 | YUC Dual Blade Cigar Cutter | Stainless Steel | ★★★ | |
 | Xikar Xi2 Cigar Cutter | Stainless Steel | ★★★★ | |
 | Colibri V-Cut | Stainless Steel | ★★★★ | |
Now you should probably have a good knowledge of cigar cutter, you may likely be looking for the best cigar cutter. So what do you need to think about while buying a good cutter?
Type of Cutter: Since there are various types of cigar cutters, you should first identify which suits you the best. Guillotine cutter, V-cutter, punch, scissors, or knife, that depends on your needs. We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each types above. So I think this won’t be too difficult for you to make the right call.
Gauge Capacity: Cigars come in many different shapes and sizes, and you may have a particular preference. So while choosing the cigar cutter, make sure its cutting capacity can handle the thickness of your preferred cigars.
Quality & Construction: Quality is one of the most important things to consider if you want consistent clean cuts for long. The materials and ergonomic design of the product can make a big difference. Stainless steel is always considered to be great.
Ease of Use: You need a powerful tool to make clean and precise cuts. So whether it is easy to operate has an impact on the end result, and thus your smoking experience. How do you know if it’s easy to use or not before you buy it? My suggestion is take a look at what its customers say about it.
Size & Lightweight: As one of the common cigar accessories, the cutter should be portable, meaning you should get one in small size. I mean something that you can put into your pocket. And also take weight into consideration so it won’t be a burden in your pocket.
Design & Outlook: If cutting cigars is more than what you expect, you should be probably looking for a good-looking cutter. For example, you buy the cigar cutter as a gift. So the stylish design and color options can be favorable factors.
Additional Value: You may also check if the package comes with a protective bag or a gift box. And a warranty of 30-day money back can eliminte the incident of getting a unsatisfactory item.
Now you have a cigar cutter in hand, you can start cutting the cigar. But how to cut a cigar properly? Though the cutting process is similar, there is a slight difference using different types of cutting tools. Below we will show you how to make a clean cut with different cigar cutters as well as other tools like cigar scissors.
We’ve talked about 3 types of cigar cuts as well as cutters in Part II. And below we will give detailed steps on how to use a cigar cutter according to the cutting type you want.
To get a clean straight cut, we suggest you use a guillotine cigar cutter. Here is how:
1. Put the cigar close to the head.
2. Place the guillotine cigar cutter over the cutting area.
3. Slowly close the blade towards the cigar.
4. Close the blade completely in a quick movement.
5. Lightly brush the cut area to remove any dust.
1. Hold the guillotine cigar cutter firmly in your hand.
2. Bring the cigar towards the opening.
3. Close the blade slowly and make sure the wedge won’t cut the beyond the cap.
4. Firmly close the blade completely to cut into the tobacco.
5. Blow on the opening to remove any traces of dust.
1. Hold the cigar firmly near the head.
2. Put the punch cutter over the centre of the cap.
3. Slowly twist back and forth while pressing.
4. Once broken through the cap, press again until a few millimetres deep.
5. Gently pull the punch away.
6. Blow on the hole to remove any dust.
If you don’t want to cut your cigars with a typical cigar cutter, you can use an alternative - cigar scissors or pocket knife. Here is how to cut a cigar without a cigar cutter:
1. Slightly open scissors and press against the head of your cigar.
2. Press downwards on the cigar and close the scissors.
3. Once a slight bit of tobacco is removed, repeat the shearing action as you move around the head.
4. Shape the head to your hearts content, and make sure to stay on the flat and not to go beyond the shoulder.
Once again, this is the most unwanted option I would talk about. But if you have a pocket knife in hand and don’t want to buy another cutter, just make sure your knife is sharp enough. A dull blade could unravel your cigar and get small pieces of tobacco into your mouth. Also, do not use a thick knife.
