Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum - Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

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Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Ok so about 2 maybe 3 months ago I mistakenly gave away my last Palio at a herf to a guy that didn't have one. So now I am without a cutter for my cigars. Not one to be thwarted by such a thing I decided to use my pocket knife, I am never without my Kershaw Onion, or my Boker Magnum Gentlemens pocketknife.

I did this one night and actually found it was a good way to settle into the enjoyment of my cigar, kind of a little ritual. I mentioned it too Al that I do this and he suggested that I post up the technique.

This I imagine will not work for Torps as they need to be clipped but I could cut the end of with my knife I am sure, it is very sharp enough.

Anyway, this is how I go about it.

Clearly the first step is to have the right equipment, I would never use anything but a very sharp knife.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234125900

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234125926

Most cigars I smoke are triple capped (the cap is the round piece of tobacco that is at the head of the cigar the foot is the open end) as you can see by the three seams just a few mm past the rounded edge towards the band.

Here is a closer look where I am indicating approximately where the cut line will be. Be sure not to cut below the last seam or it is likely that your cigar will unravel.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234126058

Grasp the Cigar firmly in your one hand and place the knife on your cutting edge with your thumb on the otherside to add pressure. Apply just enough pressure so that the knife cuts the cap leaf but does not penetrate the binder. You can feel this quite easily.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234126150

Continued in next post

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Then proceed in a circular motion fully around the cigar meeting your starting cut on the other side taking care to apply even pressure and not to cut yourself.
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234126369
Once you are fully around the circumference of the Cigar I use the knife to gently pry up the cap away from the head of the cigar and remove.
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234126460
As you can see I get a perfect piece of cap with no damage to the Cigar and no removal of binder or filler which I like.
http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/g...Cut1007UP7.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234126628
This may not be the fastest or most efficient way to cut the Cigar but like I said I find it to be an enjoyable little ritual that sets the tone for a great smoke. The next part would be lighting the cigar. Maybe I will post up a thread on that…………………..Later. Hope this was useful or you at least enjoyed.
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/g...g?t=1234126732

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Very cool, and different thank you for this I will have to try this tonight.

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Nicely done... I always admire the step by step posts.

A quick little nibble with the teeth is also a pretty good way to do it...Rotating the cigar and carefully nibbling.

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

You're about an hour late! I just destroyed 2 cigars trying to cut with a knife.I hate losing my cutter!!!!!

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

That looked great Shawn.

I was once stuck without a cutter and used a knife, but a little differently than that. I didn't trust the sharpness of the knife to try a straight cut, and didn't think to try what you did. Instead, I used the point of the knife to cut a circle in the cap, similar to what a punch would do.

It certainly wasn't as clean a job as what a punch could do, but it worked well enough in that situation.

Well done.:tu

PS Nice looking knifes you have, and SHAWN NEEDS A NEW CUTTER!!!!

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

That is kinda cool. Thanks for posting it. :tu

I may have some concerns with someone trying this after a few, I don't know, glasses of scotch? :al Perhaps an addendum on some first aid techniques would be in order. :r Just sayin....

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

I get a similar result in "biting" the cap off.

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

That Boker Magnum Gentlemens pocketknife is gorgous and using a RA, just makes a man drool. Thanks for the "how to", great reading.

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

I'll have to remember this, and try it sometime. Whenever I'm stuck with just a knife, I always just made a v-cut.

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Great post! I've used a stanley blade in a pinch! :tu

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

I have been using my middle finger nail for a while in the same fashion. It seems to not mash the filler together which I think can sometimes tighten the draw.

Are we all overthinking this...... yes, but still, its good to know when you are without a cutter. Nicely done.

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Just great Shawn, now I need a Boker Magnum Gentlemens pocketknife :dance:

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFox (Post 223309)

Ok so about 2 maybe 3 months ago I mistakenly gave away my last Palio at a herf to a guy that didn't have one. So now I am without a cutter for my cigars. Not one to be thwarted by such a thing I decided to use my pocket knife, I am never without my Kershaw Onion, or my Boker Magnum Gentlemens pocketknife.

I did this one night and actually found it was a good way to settle into the enjoyment of my cigar, kind of a little ritual. I mentioned it too Al that I do this and he suggested that I post up the technique.

This I imagine will not work for Torps as they need to be clipped but I could cut the end of with my knife I am sure, it is very sharp enough.

Anyway, this is how I go about it.

Clearly the first step is to have the right equipment, I would never use anything but a very sharp knife.

Most cigars I smoke are triple capped (the cap is the round piece of tobacco that is at the head of the cigar the foot is the open end) as you can see by the three seams just a few mm past the rounded edge towards the band.

Here is a closer look where I am indicating approximately where the cut line will be. Be sure not to cut below the last seam or it is likely that your cigar will unravel.

Grasp the Cigar firmly in your one hand and place the knife on your cutting edge with your thumb on the otherside to add pressure. Apply just enough pressure so that the knife cuts the cap leaf but does not penetrate the binder. You can feel this quite easily.

Continued in next post

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayaker (Post 223321)

Both very good suggestions! Thanks gentlemen!

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Great Post, I will keep it in mind if I ever find myself withought a cutter, because I am never withought a pocket knife.

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

I used to use that technique before I got my Palio, works great!

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Very cool Shawn :)

But what you're really saying is that you need a palio ;)

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Nice post!

Makes we want to get a really nice knife,lol

Re: Cutting your Cigar with a Knife

Nice clean cut. When I first started reading this post I thought Oh No you're going to butcher the cigar. Nice surprise with the clean cut of the cigar. :ss