Best cigar cutters according to redditors

The briefcases are Solo Grand Central Attaché Cases.
On the outside each one got an Engraved Plaque with the groomsman's name and nickname.
The axe is a Columbia River CRKT Birler Compact Axe.
The liqueur is a small bottle of JW Black Label 200ml.
The little silver oval is a collapsible shot glass.
Vintage Bicycle Cards.
The inside is cut EVA foam stacked three high, carved to hold the items, glued together, covered in red velvet cloth from Hobby Lobby, adhered with Gorilla spray adhesive.
The straps are leather bracelets (also from Hobby Lobby) dyed black using Fiebing's Leather Dye, with a bronze topper (brads?) to cover the screw anchoring them in place.
I don't have a good shot of the inside top, but there is a cigar (I forget which brand, I'm not really a cigar guy). They were rectangular. You can see it at the top of the third shot.
Also a silver pen, a cigar cutter, a small survival tool, a credit card knife, and an Oz-Kurt engraved flip knife.
I also wrapped the axe handle in a Leather strapping to give it some extra texture.

Whelp, I THINK that's everything. Thanks for taking interest in my post!

OH! And the Kikkerland Chemistry 101 Flask Book

So here's my crash course advice on how to go from no experience to having a good time with cigars, as well as a few pro tips at the end. I'm going to shotgun out exactly enough information so you can avoid common pitfalls, have some cigars on hand for friends, and spend very little money doing it. I'll break things up into sections.

Storage

First, things first. Don't even think about buying some fancy Spanish cedar humidor yet (or, maybe, ever). The cheap ones are shit, even if they look pretty. Often times the expensive ones are just as shitty. You have to season them, you have to check them for leaks (and fix them if they do leak), etc. etc. They have a place, but not in a newbie's arsenal.

Instead, get a Tupperware container with a good tight seal and buy a couple "Boveda" brand two-way humidification packs. You can get a big 60-gram pack for around $5, or a 4 pack for $15 or so on Amazon. They come in 62%, 65%, 69%, and 72%, based on what Relative Humidity (RH) they sync to. Why the different percentages? Some guys like their cigars drier, some guys like them moister. I, personally, prefer drier cigars and keep my own humidor at 65% and as a newbie I'd recommend you do the same because it gives you wiggle room--if things swing up or down a few percentage points you're smack in the middle of the golden zone. (Why is it the golden zone, you might ask? Too dry and your cigars will start to lose flavor and eventually dry out like the bundle of leaves they are, too wet and they will mold and/or get infested with pests.)

These packs are the magical devices that will keep the inside of your airtight container at the right humidity for your cigars. They suck moisture in when it is too humid and release moisture when it is too arrid. They are the gold standard for simple cigar humidification. Don't mess with tubes or tubs of gel, don't mess with sponges, and for god sake don't soak a paper towel with water and shove it in there--unless you like mold.

Tupperware + Boveda Packs = fool proof cigar storage. Keep the container in a cool place (ideally at 60-72F or so) where the temperature doesn't swing (no direct sunlight, not in a room that is scorching hot by day but freezing by night, etc.). With this setup you really can't go wrong. Put the packs in, put the cigars in, make sure to open the container once a week or so to exchange some air and let any outgassed gases from the cigars escape (young tobacco can outgas ammonia) and you've got nothing else to worry about.

Oh, a finally word about Boveda Packs. They say they're disposable and will eventually dry out (if you feel the pack and instead of feeling soft and squishy it feels gravely then it is drying out), so you have to buy new ones. That's bullshit. You can throw them in a ziplock bag with distilled water for a few hours and they plump right back up. I've had some that I've been recharging for years and they work good as new.

Cigars

Life is too short for shitty cigars. Note that I didn't say cheap (you can get really good deals on cigars if you know where to look). Gas stations sell shitty cigars. Don't smoke Swiffers or any other shit ass cigars that are really meant just to be blunt wrappers.

Try to find a cigar shop with a lounge nearby. Stop buy. Ask to talk to the owner or a knowledgeable staff member and tell them you're new to cigars and would like to pick out a few to try. While there are some dicks out there running cigar shops, 99% of the time you'll find a cool dude that is happy somebody new is getting into cigars.

Some things to keep in mind when talking the cigar lingo and shopping for cigars. The flavor of a cigar is totally separate from the nicotine level of the cigar. Just because a cigar has a dark wrapper and a spicier flavor doesn't mean it's going to knock you on your ass.

The terms to be aware of here are body, flavor, and strength. When people talk about cigar body they mean the overall experience of smoking the cigar and the effect it has on your palate. This particular word is pretty variable in the cigar industry but suffice to say it's pretty much like asking what the whole package of the cigar is--a full bodied cigar is typically going to deliver a lot on the next two items: flavor and strength.

Strength is the nicotine level. Some cigars have so little nicotine you barely feel any effect of it at all. Other cigars are so strong that if you smoke them too fast you might find yourself getting nauseous.

Flavor is just like it sounds. Cigars have a wonderful range of flavors. Spices, woody notes, leather, chocolate, earthy flavors, you'll find them all in cigars. When I first got into cigars I thought people who used words like "toasted", "licorice", or "mossy" to describe flavors were full of shit--but now I taste (and love) them too.

Before we get too far on a tangent, however, back to actually buying the cigars. Buy a few from your local guy. Be ware that the prices will probably be relatively high--local guys have to slap on state taxes and the overhead of doing business. A cigar that might cost $5 at the local shop might be had for $3 online. A cigar that costs $13 at the shop might only be $5 online.

Which brings us to online shopping. CigarsInternational.com is the biggest cigar seller in the U.S. Cigarbid.com is their auction division (where they auction off surplus at stupid good prices). I've probably spent $2,000-$3,000 on cigars there over the years... but if I'd bought the same cigars all locally it would have been $10,000+ easy.

Once you get a sense of what you like via local purchases, still throw the local guy some money now and then but definitely buy online to save money in the long run.

Smoking the damn things

Before all else. Smoke slow. Slower. Slower than that, god damn it. Newbies smoke their cigars too damn fast. It ruins the cigar. Remember what I just said about flavor? Every cigar on earth tastes like a big hot burning ball of tree leaves if you smoke it too fast. You should puff the cigar every minute or so. Don't puff-puff-puff-puff say two words to your buddy and then puff-puff-puff-puff again. It'll get so fucking hot it'll feel like you're inhaling from a blast furnace. Don't do it. Slow. One puff a minute. The smoke should almsot feel cool as it enters your mouth, not even really heating up until you get down to the last nub of the cigar.

Cutting the cigar. Important. Do not bite the end off. This makes Baby Jesus cry. Use a cutter. Don't use the super cheap freebie cutter they may have given you at the cigar shop. It's shit. You can pick up a low-end but perfectly serviceable cigar cutter off Amazon for $10. That's a great starter cutter. It's sharp, it has a backstop so you can't cut too deep, and it'll serve you well. The end of the cigar has a little cap made from a little scrap of leave, designed to seal it up. You just need to cut that ever so slightly to open the end of the cigar. Cut too deep and the wrapper starts unraveling and you have a bad time.

Lighting the cigar. Gentle. Gentle, gentle, gentle. You can fire off a quad-flame jet lighter at the thing until it's glowing red hot in under 10 seconds, but the first few minutes of your smoke will be shitty because it was burning so hot. I've lit plenty of cigars that fast, mind you, but it's not the right way to do it if you want the most pleasant experience possible. The best way to light a cigar is to essentially toast it. Put the end of the cigar near the flame (always butane or a wood match, never a fluid-loaded lighter like a Zippo as it'll impart a nasty taste) and toast the end until the heat of the flame begins to burn it. Rotate to ensure even coverage. Puff gently, check the end. You want the end to be evenly reddened. Toast more if need be. Rotate. Enjoy the cigar, remember, puff slowly. One puff a minute or so. Don't puff on it like you're trying to fan the flames of a camp fire.

The secret recipe summary

Store the cigars in Tupperware with Boveda packs. Buy cigars from a local guy to find the ones you like, shop online to save serious cash. Buy a decent but cheap cutter. Light carefully by toasting the end. Puff slowly. Smoke with friends and drink good booze.

This cutter will make your life much easier, trust me. Also, watch this for some basics on cutting and lighting.

Here's my advice since I literally just started a few weeks ago. This is exactly what I wished I knew before I spent money on random cigars from various sites.

1. Depending on how many sticks you plan on getting at a time, invest in a tuppedor. Don't waste your time with a wooden humidor (at least right now). I picked up these from amazon and all my ~40-50 sticks sit comfortably in there.
   

• Plastic "humidor"
  
• Hygrometer
  
• Boveda Packs, although I might lean towards the 65% next time. Also, you only need 1 pack in a tuppedor, 2 is overkill. They can also be recharged, so don't throw them away when they dry out.
  
  

2. If you have a nice brick and mortar tobacco store (not a hole in the wall place that caters only to e-cigs and accessories) near you, visit them and ask questions. If they are worth their salt, they should be fairly knowledgeable about cigars. They will point you in the right direction. I stupidly didn't do this and just kind of bought random shit online and have had mixed results with what I bought. The stuff I've bought at the store has been much, much fresher too. However, you will be spending 30-40% above what you'll pay online. I found it worth it for how much time and effort the staff spent helping me, but it is quite a bit more expensive.
   
   
3. If that's not an option, look for sampler packs online. You can find cheap options that include a bunch of different sticks so you can sample a variety. I would suggest looking at smallbatch mixes find a price you're comfortable with spending (30 to 40 should be plenty, maybe buy 2 of the $30 to $40 packs so you end with ~10 cigars) and in the comment section of your order mention that you're brand new to cigars. He should be able to make an excellent mix for a new smoker. Use code "rcigars" for 10% off (without the "", not sure if valid for the mix).
   
   
4. Also, if you don't come from a background of smoking cigarettes, stick with the mild to medium strength cigars. I smoked a few full strength ones from the samplers I got and they kicked my ass. It was unpleasant to say the least. If you DO plan on smoking a full strength cigar, smoke on a full stomach and drink something sweet with it. Sweet tea or a pop of some sort works well to quell the nicotine content.
   
   
5. Accessories. All you really need is a decent cutter and a torch lighter and you're all set.
   

• A cutter
  
• A butane lighter
  
• Fuel [Note, you can use cheaper fuel, but your lighter may get clogged with shitty zippo butane fuel.]
  
• Some sort of ashtray. You don't realize how nice it is to have one until you don't have one and have no place to rest your cigar.
  
  

6. If you do find a cigar you enjoy, try buying a 5 pack of it. Let it rest for a week or so and try them out over the course of a month or several months and see if you enjoy them as much as you did the first time. See if they get better with age. I have far too many 1 offs that I enjoyed, but would I still enjoy them a month from now? 2 months from now?
   
   
7. Oh, and generally stay away from infused cigars. They use shittier tobacco since they can mask it with flavors. The girlfriend still likes these, but I think she's starting to come around to a natural sweetness/chocolate taste instead of an artificially infused one. Plus they stink up your humidor and can potentially ruin the taste of your other cigars in them if they are in close contact.
   
   
8. Online sites that I've enjoyed purchasing from and ship quickly:
   

• http://store.cigarfederation.com/
  
• http://www.smallbatchcigar.com
  
• http://www.holts.com
  
• Stay away from Thompson Cigars. I've also had issues with jrcigars. They held my order for no reason and I had to contact them to ship it out. I ordered it over 10 days ago and still haven't seen anything, although it's supposed to be here on Tuesday.
  
  

9. Look up retrohaling. You'll taste more of your cigar this way. Warning, it does burn the hell out of your nose the first handful of times you do it. Start with a mild cigar instead of a full strength one like I stupidly decided to do. :P
   
   Hopefully this helps.
   
   Edit: Many edits to fix errors and add additional info.

I have been using the Cuban Crafters cutter for years. Cuts the perfect amount, self sharpening and life time warranty. I've tried many V cutters and can't find one I like as much as the Colibri. I actually prefer a V cut unless the cigar is under 45 ring. In most cases I personally think it allows better airflow. Although (for me) punches are OK in a pinch, I find the cigar has a tendency to build up oils around the hole which leaves a bitter taste on my tongue. Like everything else it's all personal preference...you just have to try them all!

This is hands down my favorite cutter
And a steal at $20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MAZ9YW

I have this Colibri in black/gold and its been flawless. Excellent chioce. No experience with the Xikar V cut, though

(https://www.amazon.com/Colibri-V-Cut-Cigar-Cutter-Ocean/dp/B01MDKOJQG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499315994&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=colibri+v+cutter&psc=1)

Snatch one of these up, you'll be able to cut a cigar perfectly blind folded.

I got this cheap V-cutter a while back, just to give V-cuts a try. It has slowly become my go to cutter, for most cigars.

Cuban Crafters perfect cutter - Lifetime warranty. I've had one for years. $19 or $22 for the one that does 80 ring.

My favorite B&M ever uses these. They're excellent and if I ever buy a place where I can build an indoor smoking room I'll buy one immediately.

http://www.amazon.com/Large-Table-Guillotine-Cigar-Cutter/dp/B001CZH8H0

I recommend the Perfect Cutter Lifetime warranty and at only $17 it's reasonably priced.

I'm a cigar lover so I'd suggest cigars. $100 can buy you a 5 count travel humidor, 5 good cigars, a cutter, and a lighter.

My personal recommendation on the 5 cigars are:

• AJ Fernandez New World
  
• Drew Estate Undercrown
  
• Camacho Ecuador
  
• Alec Bradley Nico Puro
  
• AJ Fernandez New World Connecticut
  
  These cigars are very good quality and tasting. They cover a range of flavors and are cigars I always recommend to new smokers, nothing here is strong and over powering. Depending on how many groomsmen you have, you can cut some of these away and double down on the others. All of these cigars are available in 5 packs. I would buy them from JR Cigars or Small Batch. The JR Cigars Reddit coupon code is "RCIGARS15" for 15% off (some brand exclusions). The SmallBatch Reddit coupon code is "rcigars" for 10% off.
  
  The Travel Humidor
  
  The Lighter
  
  The Cutter
  
  You should also order these to put one in each travel humidor to keep the cigars in perfect condition. Otherwise, they'll dry out on you.
  
  Let me know if you have questions.
  
  EDIT: You'll also need a can of butane. To you know, fill the lighters with fluid to actually light the cigars :)

No. This one: https://www.amazon.com/Cigar-Cutter-Cuban-Crafters-Perfect/dp/B003MAZ9YW/

I have the large. Worth the extra 2 bucks.

You are far better off with a cigar cutter. Anything else and you are likely to get a tear in your cut which can cause the wrapper to come loose and come off as you are smoking. It needs to be razor sharp to get a clean cut. You can get some pretty cheap. This three pack on Amazon has a regular cutter, a V-cut, and a punch. If you get more into cigars, you can find what cut you prefer and upgrade to something better.

https://www.amazon.com/Mantello-Piece-Cigar-Guillotine-Cutter/dp/B017C2UUIA/

ALASKA BEAR® - Cigar Cutter Stainless Steel Guillotine Double Cut Blade in Black Gift Pouch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JUERWT4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0s5TCb4KB8GT6

I’ve been using this guy for a year. As a cheap approach, it’s pretty good. No complaints thus far after 50 odd cuts.

Cuban Crafters Perfect Cutter

Can't wait to get my own, I'm stealing my girlfriend's dad's at the moment. Best cutter I've used, perfect cut every time and it's like cutting warm butter.

Best cutter I have ever used and comes with a life time warenty!
http://www.amazon.com/Cuban-Crafters-Stainless-Perfect-Cutter/dp/B003MAZ9YW/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380868309&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=cuben+crafters

I'm fairly certain these are what a lot of B&M's have or something very similar.

honestly, your favorite vendor probably sells at least one kind of v-cutter. I didn't want to single out any particular vendor, but you can probably do a little bit of comparison shopping to save a buck or two. Also, I actually have this one, and it works just fine for me.

How many groomsmen?


If you're just buying a cutter for this event no need to be fancy, just buy a cheap straight guillotine cutter, something like this. Unless you're trying to get a cutter for each groomsmen as well?

Cuban Crafters makes the best cutter I’ve ever owned. Guaranteed for life. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DPYR4TC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_67CjDb94HW5K3

And this quad-torch lighter hasn’t let me down yet. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074JCJ3RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_h9CjDb1ZMYE6H

This is awesome and free shipping!

This should go to Alkyl35 because stained glass is awesome and their posts sucked me into a world of google images stained glass last night. =)

I found you !

came here to say this http://www.amazon.com/Xikar-VX-V-Cut-Cutter-Black/dp/B008X8E52K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427482217&sr=8-1&keywords=xikar+v+cutter

Yes

They're actually pretty cheap

I had some issues with a cheap DE guillotine and bought a Cuban Cutter

It cuts true every time. No guessing unless I'm working with a small ring gauge (<32).

Similar to the others, I've been using this and has certainly paid for itself

https://www.amazon.com/Modus-Cigar-Tool-Nubber-Maduro/dp/B01GVW4A5G/

Wow, they're not available anywhere

edit: found some (rip off?) on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Revolutionary-Cigar-Scissor-Cutter-Revolucion/dp/B0774YZS4J/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=cigar+scissors&qid=1562883078&s=gateway&sr=8-6

Dang, that sucks.. I would first try to get a replacement through CBid. If no good, get yourself a barbed cigar tool. Way better than a bamboo skewer. My wife got me this Modus Cigar Tool for Christmas, it has already paid for itself in the two expensive cigars it has completely saved: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GVW4A5G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pPSDybXF5MMT5

The barbed rod is pretty thin and doesn't crack the wrapper like a bamboo skewer does. Stick it in, turn it a bit, pull it out, and it tears tiny bits of tobacco out from the cigar and so far completely unplugs a cigar in one go.

I've used xikar cutters and they're fine, I just don't care for the style.

Personally I can't recommend these highly enough. Cheap and free amazon shipping. Tack one onto your next order. Also has a lifetime warrantee.

Ladies look at this brand new device to help you pleasure your husband!

Mine was an ebay find. Here's one but I'm sure you can find one cheaper.

Here is a quick primer on lighting and cutting methods

Lighting

Matches

Let the sulfur burn off for a few seconds before attempting a light

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MBHFJG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_f4aYAb3ZHW2YM

Lighter

A Bic works, so does your Zippo. Butane is the favorite as it avoids imparting fuel flavor.

Here is that insert: http://r.ebay.com/fAryec

Here is the fuel. Cheaper stuff works, but this won't clog your lighter: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G5IPKIS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0QaYAbF4CSGG8

Cedar Spills

This is the purist's prefered lighting method. You look and feel cool doing it, and the cedar provides a pleasant aroma.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XTWNWYW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9YaYAbTGKC6DR

Cutting

Guillotine/Straight Cutter

Most popular method, don't skip out on cutters so you don't destroy your cigar with dull blades. Anything $5 and up is great.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RPOEMJY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_d6aYAb4481ZS9

Punch Cutter

Provides a tighter draw and focuses the smoke to a smaller area. Not for everyone, preferred by some.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0141KENXE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_x7aYAbAXG2QHG

V Cutter

Cuts a valley straight across the head of the cigar. Tighter draw than a straight cutter, more open than a punch.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H9HTXHS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_R8aYAbWE8SEE4

All 3

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017C2UUIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_G9aYAbNY4KTRT

Cigar Scissors

This method (arguably) gives the most accurate cut since you can see what you're doing easier.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074K2WZH4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_n.aYAbADYBXRS

My fave

Not quite what you are looking for, but this looks pretty cool.

Get a cigar cutter and save roaches to combine in a bowl for a roulette of highs.

Has anybody tried this cutter or something similar?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001CZH8H0/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_236_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41TLA5vYzwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL390_SR390%2C390_&refRID=1CTC4DS9EJZT7P6VD1XN

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JUERWT4/ref=mp_s_a_1_16_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1527721281&sr=8-16&keywords=xikar+cutter

This is the only one that is recommended for longevity.

https://www.amazon.com/Cigar-Cutter-Cuban-Crafters-Perfect/dp/B003MAZ9YW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493667495&sr=8-1&keywords=cuban+crafters+perfect+cutter

Obviously if you don't like the back, then it isn't for you. But I really enjoy it.

Cuban Crafters Cutters are affordable and work well. http://www.amazon.com/Guillotine-Cigar-Cutter-Stainless-Tarnish/dp/B000W0NEJC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1320282233&sr=8-4

I think I have the next up in the line:

http://www.amazon.com/Cuban-Crafters-Perfecto-Cigar-Cutter/dp/B0046JYQYC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1408550382&sr=8-11&keywords=cuban+crafter+cigar+cutter

But definitely a fantastic cutter.

Cuban Crafters is frequently recommended. I bought one a couple weeks ago and like it a lot.

https://www.amazon.com/Cuban-Crafters-Perfect-Cutter-Chabetas/dp/B01DPYR4TC/ was the one I bought. The large does up to an 80 ring gauge and the medium does up to a 54. While I don't often go above 54, I went with the large.

Given the shoddiness of the Colinri lighters I have owned and replaced ( calling you out Monza 3!)I went with the xikar brand https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008X8E52K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wSExzbZ1DVSKE

Cut is as expected.

Nice extra touch - doubles as cigar holder (which is nice for the frequent trips away from the home set up/ full ashtray etc)

There’s an amazon listing but it’s 5 dollars more and shipping was 5-10 depending on speed

CiGuru CP039 Metal Cigar Punch Triple Punches Multiple Punches With Stainless Steel Blades Cigar Cutter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077C7DDLJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_p1r1CbM5SBN97

To follow what others have said and with a little extra I recommend the Colibri V-Cutter as well

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ML2QJ8Z?ref=myi_title_dp

If your looking for a new cutter or tired of cheap plastic cigar cutters, check this one out! Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

this will take the guesswork out of cutting and you'll never over cut again!

A couple of years ago I had issues with cutting my cigar without enough light to see what I was cutting. I fixed the problem by getting a Cuban Crafter's Perfect Cigar cutter - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003MAZ9YW

It's really hard to screw up.