Cutters

[onepyrotec]

I have a ton of el'Cheapo cutters that collect dust & rust.  Seldom use a pocket knife and I haven't use my teeth in many years.  (was down on the river with a bic lighter and no cutter)

Looking at my "good" cutters I realized my old trusty I have had since the mid '90's.  It is the basic metallic navy blue X1 from XiKAR.  Still sharp as the day I got it.  It has cut hundreds if not thousands of cigars over the last 18-19 years.
Next up I was given a Palio cutter from Jack when he bought the company.  HUNDREDS of cigars cut, still sharp.
I purchased a Colibri Providence a couple years ago and it has a punch cutter...it works OK but I have only used it a few times.  I never remember it is integrated into the lighter.
Early this year when I was buying a box of Illusione cigars from Fumare in Reno, I picked up a "V" cut XiKAR.  I love it!  I even use it for figurado cigars and I haven't had an unravel from cutting too deep on the cap since.

[DsrtEgl50]

I tend to keep a XiKar or Palio in a travel box with a lighter, for when I remember to grab the box on the way out. I prefer the Palio, because I can shake it out without having to unlock it several times. It's the stupid simple reasons that make the difference over time.

The last few I've cut were with a knife. Twist of the fingers gets a perfect plug-style cut. Thumb roll for a flat cut. My EDC knife is... different... compared to most people. I've shaped the blade for detailed surgical work sharp enough to split layers of cellophane, with a rough enough bevel that I can cut 16ga wire with a light rap. Convex with post-sharpen case harden, then polish. I get comments on it regularly - no one seems to put thought and effort into picking and maintaining a good knife. I also downgraded my portable electronics from a laptop, to a netbook, to a tablet, to a phone (Note II). The phone is now known as "DE's phone that can frickin' do everything" after I started using it as my primary portal for systems' issues. Had someone today ask me how the f' did I get Windows Server Enterprise controls into a phone, and demo'd some of the 'holy shit, how can you fix that from the chair in my office?' things for the stunned looks.... off topic, like always.

I do have a really nice V cutter my brother gave me. It's a good desk cutter, but I no longer have a good smoking desk. Maybe I need to start taking more cigar breaks....