Just found this "First Cigar Cutter Contest". May not be new to you but sure fits in this thread. So, here goes:
(source:
http://www.cigar-cult.at/englisch/be203.htm)
First Cigar-Cutter Contest
The Big Cut
Within the framework of the First Cigar-Cutter Contest, a jury of experts put 13 cigar cutters through a thorough testing on behalf of the ECCJ.
A sloppy cut with an unsuitable cutter is the fastest way to destroy a cigar. In a fraction of a second, the work of art performed on the tobacco goes to waste, turning it into an unattractive shredded stick. The mere thought of taking a well-rolled puro out from the perfect humidor climate, in order to then abuse it with obscure tools, can cause shivers to run down the spines of the aficionados. In contrast to that, a precise and carefully selected instrument awakens the cigar to real life.
The joy of opening the cigar is complex: On one hand, it is a question of dealing with an instrument which is doing justice to the aesthetic claim of its user. On the other hand, there is a desire to prepare the cigar for a satisfactory smoking experience. That is, it needs an opening which is large enough to provide an adequate draw. At the same time, the cigar should remain as intact as possible. The overriding criterion is and remains the function of the device.
Indeed, the selection of the suitable cutter needs some consideration, however it is by far no "rocket science". It is a question of such factors as the sharpness of the blade, ergonomics, handling, stability and size, as well as questions of design and naturally the price. At first, the offer on the market is somewhat confusing. Only after some research does the consideration for the essential become clear, because often there are inconspicuous details which distinguish the right cutter from an instrument of torture.
We organized this first cigar-cutter competition, in which 13 different products were compared in order to provide assistance in making a purchase decision. Within the framework of this competition that took place at the end of April in the classy and cigar-friendly Vienna Hilton Plaza, only the guillotine, double-blade and scissors types of cutters were considered. This was due to several reasons. Firstly – nowadays the v-cutter seems to have totally gone out of fashion; useful v-cutters are hardly to be found. Secondly – it seemed reasonable to us to subject drill and puncture cutters to a specially organized long-term test. The problem in test-drilling is that every test person "uses up" one cigar for every drilling. We didn't want to sacrifice so many cigars for that pure purpose. Therefore, we requested that the drill jury use these instruments over an extended period of time. The results will be published in one of the upcoming issues. The cigars for this test were very kindly made available by Austria Tabak.
Almost every cutter has strengths and weaknesses
There is one thing to be stated before going further – the results of the test sometimes brought to light quite uneven judgements about the individual products. That isn't particularly surprising, since ergonomic and aesthetic evaluations are especially prone to very subjective perceptions. And in additon to this, a very stylish tool made out of select materials doesn't necessarily form well to the hand or cut with precison. The aim of the Cigar Cutter Contest wasn't at all to choose the best of cutters. Rather, we had the intention of exploring the advantages and disadvantages of the individual products, in order to be able to offer a maximum of comparative information to our readers.
In order to make the interpretation of the results easier to you, it should be noticed that eleven criteria were evaluated. Concerning design, this included form, color, material, surface, weight and ergonomics. Function was evaluated by the criteria of size, handling, diameter of the cutter's opening, safety and the quality of the cut. The total number of points accumulated finally resulted in the total grade. The jurors were prevented from knowing the actual retail prices. From the figures in parentheses behind the actual selling price you can see the sale prices which the jurors estimated.
Angelo, double-bladed cutter
This product ranks solidly in the middle of the entire rating. Concerning its design, the opin-ions varied among the jury – from "funny",
"trendy" and "the Swatch among cutters", to "antiquated regarding its fashion" and "outdated". The generous diameter of the cutter's opening was praised by all – it is actually suitable for every ring gauge – whereas the measurement of the openings for the fingers seem to have been adjusted rather to the fingers of a man's hand (it easily slides off female fingers). It is available in bicolor variations of gold with chrome, chrome with gold, silver-gun and gun-chrome.
Quality of the cut: 8th place
Design: 7th place
Function: 5th place
Overall grade: 6th place
Recommended price: EUR 20 (Jurors: EUR 25-50)
Davidoff, double-bladed cutter
The classic among the cutters was the overall winner of the competition and received the best grades in the criteria of form, size, handling and quality of cut. On the other hand, the instrument slid into the medium ranking concerning the materials used, the surface design and the weight. The comment of one of the jurors sums it up: "Genially simple – simply genial". The model tested was brushed chrome-plated. It is also available in brushed bicolor, brushed gold-plated, chrome-plated, bicolor and gold-plated styles.
Quality of the cut: 1st place
Design: 4th place
Function: 1st place
Overall grade: 1st place
Recommended price: EUR 256 (Jurors: EUR 70-220)
Donatus, Three-finger, double-bladed cutter
This model ranked eighth in the overall evaluation. Its stronger points are material, surface and the quality of cut. Concerning handling, it even achieved fourth place. The three-finger technique therefore seems to be rather advantageous, however this is at the expense of the rating for size and weight. "Suitable only for home
usage", is the comment of one of the jurors. The prevailing majority considered the cutter less
suitable for feminine hands; it seems to be well-suited to men's hands. It was unanimously given credit for robustness and durability.
Quality of the cut: 7th place
Design: 8th place
Function: 9th place
Overall rating: 8th place
Recommended price: EUR 72 (Jurors: EUR 50-100)
Guy Janot, double-bladed cutter
It undoubtedly belongs among the top products – convenient, light and attractively styled. Only the version with the folding drills gained little approval from the jury. Form and material ranked third and finishing made second. Concerning handling, the cutter took third place after Davidoff and Zino. Its disadvantage is that the openings for the fingers have sharp edges and seem to be too narrow in comparison to the thickness of the instrument. All of the jurors considered the cutter a nice present and certified it for its durability. It's available in chrome, with or without both briar-wood inserts and folding drills.
Quality of the cut: 3rd place
Design: 2nd place
Function: 4th place
Overall rating: 3rd place
Recommended price: EUR 43 (metal), EUR 73 (with wooden inserts), EUR 64 (with drilling
device) (Jurors: EUR 25-50)
MTX Multi Tool, scissors cutter
Not even our jurors were familiar with this new product and it rather belongs to the category of "MacGyver". But concerning its weight, size and handling, this device took the fifth, sixth and eighth places, respectively. Playful Boy-Scout types have their fun with it. The foldable scissors are equipped with a screwdriver and a nail-like piercing tool, and it could considered to be the smaller sister of the "Leather Man". It's certainly a helpful utensil for adventurous travellers, which can surely be stored away in the smallest of pockets. "Ugly, but it cuts okay" was one of the comments.
Quality of the cut: 12th place
Design: 12th place
Function: 10th place
Overall rating: 10th place
Recommended price: EUR 60 (Jurors: EUR 30-85)
Palio, double-bladed cutter
This cutter from a company producing surgical instruments in the USA is well-regarded by connoisseurs because of its precision. It received an excellent grade for its cutting quality. Concerning its form, material and size, the opinions diverged. At first glance, the device seems cheap due to its plastic body. It has the special advantage of being very light and cleverly designed. Its disadvantage is that it glides in a somewhat unwieldy fashion. In the course of being closed, the blades click into place, which protects them very well, however it requires some effort to be opened.
Quality of the cut: 4th place, shared with the Wenger model
Design: 9th place
Function: 7th place, shared with the Wenger model
Overall rating: 7th place
Recommended price: EUR 86 (Jurors: EUR 60-95)
Passatore Credit Card, double-bladed cutter
The idea is fascinating – a double-bladed cutter made out of metal in the size of a credit card, approximately two millimeters thick. It is not for trouser pockets, but for a credit-card case! This design rated as a disadvantage regarding the criteria of handling and ergonomics. According to the jury, the material and its surface also requires some getting used to. The diameter of the opening for cutting, the lightness in weight and the innovative blade design were positively observed – one of the blades is shaped in the form of a sickle, the second in the form of the number three – with a thorn in the middle. The cutter is not thought to be capable of long durability.
Quality of the cut: 11th place
Design: 10th place
Function: 12th place
Overall rating: 11th place
Recommended price: EUR 40 (Jurors: EUR 30-55)
Sillem's, guillotine cutter
The "square" and "round" models made from fine sterling silver were tested. There are also less expensive high-grade steel versions. Form, material and surface received top grades. However, the silver is heavy, which lowers the rating in the category of weight. Ergonomics seemed to have had a subordinate role in its design. The square cutter has an opening too small for cutting large cigars and does not open completely. The operating of the blades lacks in smoothness. On the other hand, the cutter scores with the positive remark of "solidly built for durability". Comment: "The decorative character outweighs the function".
Quality of the cut: 10th place
Design: 6th place
Function: 11th place
Overall rating: 9th place
Recommended price: EUR 158 (Jurors: EUR 80-100)
S. T. Dupont, guillotine cutter
The clear winner in the overall rating for design! "Simple and fine at the same time", the jury certified. Concerning material and its surface, the best grades were plentiful for both of the models tested – in palladium/black China enamel, as well as gold-plated with longitudinal ribbing. Weight and size appear to be ideal (2nd and 3rd places). It shares fifth place with the Palio cutter in terms of ergonomics. The handling demands some practice, causing the instrument to fall back to tenth place in this category. The gold-plated cutter has a relatively small – for some too small – opening for cutting. This cutter can be enjoyed for a long time, provided one always keeps a close watch on it – ideal for well-to-do advanced cigar smokers.
Quality of the cut: 6th place
Design: 1st place
Function: 6th place
Overall rating: 4th place
Recommended price: EUR 270 (palladium), 240 (gold-plated) (Jurors: EUR 100-200)
Wenger Swiss Cigar Knife, scissors cutter
Like the other two scissors, the universally known and popular Swiss pocket-knife ranked at the bottom of the list. That should not be irritating, particularly in the case of this product, because it was originally conceived to be a robust outdoor tool for the fisherman, yachtsman, or mountain climber. Therefore, from the beginning it was intended to be used in those areas where high-priced designer items are not found – a genuine survival kit and therefore not to be forgotten while packing the backpack! In handling it earned a commendable 7th in ranking.
Quality of the cut: 4th place, shared with the Palio model
Design: 13th place
Function: 7th place, shared with the Palio model
Overall rating: 12th place
Recommended price: EUR 65 (Jurors: EUR 40-120)
Wolfertz, scissors cutter
This device is the only real loser in the test. The grades on design and weight turned out on a still acceptable level, but handling and above all the quality of the cut were rated negatively. The scissors' opening is too small and the blades are dull, resulting in regularly massacred cigars. It seems cheap. Though, the jurors stressed that they do not refuse scissors as a rule. It is advised not to purchase this product. It is not even
suitable as a present for newcomers.
Quality of the cut: 13th place
Design: 11th place
Function: 13th place
Overall rating: 13th place
Recommended price: EUR 35 (Jurors: EUR 15-40)
Xikar, double-bladed cutter
The Xikar series is a completely new approach to cigar cutters. By pressing a button of the teardrop-shaped cutter, it pops open like a fan, and it is closed with the thumb and middle finger, without any opening into which a finger has to be slipped. The three variations of Xikar 1, 2 and 3 (1 = metal, 2 = plastic, and 3 = metal, with handles of wood or elastomer material) offer an abundance in combinations of color and material, as well as options concerning the weight. It is perfectly thought through ergonomically, beautiful in form, robust and absolutely durable. The Xikar 3 seems a little bit heavy, however it is captivating with its innovative combination of materials.
Quality of the cut: 2nd place
Design: 3rd place
Function: 2nd place
Overall rating: 2nd place
Recommended price: EUR 65 (Xikar 1),
EUR 30 (Xikar 2), EUR 65/100 (Xikar 3 elastomer/
wooden handles)(Jurors: EUR 35-80)
Zino, double-bladed cutter
This product (made of plastic) scores in the categories of weight and ergonomics (1st place), raises little claim to surface quality, and in the category of material lands in the last place, though it should be noted that in size and handling it is perfect (each taking 2nd place). It is a simple, economic ordinary cutter and produces completely satisfactory results. According to the motto "more substance than appearance", useless design trappings are avoided. As a disadvantage, some consider the diameter of the cutting opening too small. Also available in metal.
Quality of the cut: 9th place
Design: 5th place
Function: 3rd place
Overall rating: 5th place
Recommended price: EUR 40 (Jurors: EUR 20-50)
