In 2022, we saw Quality Importers Trading Company introduce a new kind of cutter. It is called the XIKAR Revolution Xi 360, and it is a little more than your average double guillotine cigar cutter you probably use every day. But I am going to break down not only what makes this unique cutter special but both the good and bad and let you know if I think you should buy one.
Under the Lid
First off, XIKAR is a brand that is well known for their ever-popular cigar cutters such as the Xi and Xo series cutters, both of which are among my all-time favorite cutters. However the brand is trying to push the boundaries and be more creative. At the 2022 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show and Convention in Las Vegas, among the many things we saw at the Quality Importers booth was the XIKAR Revolution. This is a classic double guillotine cutter but instead of using the sides of the cutter to squeeze and cut, this uses an outer sliding ring that you spin back against a spring to open and then twist the other way to cut through the cigar.
Few extra notes to make here. This is a big cutter, with a cutting aperture large enough to cut up to 70 RG. Overall, it measures 2.1″ tall, 1.2″ wide and .29″ thick. It also has a weight of 4.8 ounces making a hefty item to carry around in your pocket. Although, it does come with a pretty decent sized carabiner loop hole if you wanted to hook it to something. It comes in two finishes, a matte silver and glossy black. The Revolution has an MSRP of $159.99 and has a limited lifetime warranty.
Performance Notes
One of the things about this cutter I picked up on right away was it is a unique function and that also means it will probably take some getting used to operating quickly and easily. I have spoken to a few others about this cutter specifically and one thing I notice that varies is the way to hold it. Some like to place a finger in the carabiner hole, and some do not. Personally, I found it most comfortable without doing so.
Ideally, you will hold it in your hand with the grip of the outer cutting ring assembly between your thumb and your index and middle fingers. You’ll then use the leverage from your thumb to push and pull with the other two fingers to open it. Once you are lined up, you will actually reverse motion and push/pull the way you came from to cut. It will NOT automatically snap through your cigar and cut it. Now, there might be smaller ring gauge cigars that you could achieve this with if you did it fast enough but for normal operation – I would stick to the method above.
It terms of the blades and the way they cut, they cut like all of the other Xikar cutters out there which are pretty sharp and smooth clean cuts. I have no issues with the quality of the cut and the blades. To be fair, I have used sharper and cleaner cutters, but these are very good for what they are. In terms of the comfortability of the entire function, I find that it is awkward. I mentioned before it could take some getting used to but then again after using it for so long, I would rather have a cutter that isn’t overly complicated and is simple out of the box.
Smokin Wrap
I mean at the end of the day, it’s just a cutter. You can only re-invent the wheel so much here. I think for an experienced and serious cigar smoker, this might be a cool and different product that could be kind of fun for a bit and then put back into a drawer for a more conventional cutter. For the average casual smoker, this might just seem like too much money for something that they don’t really like and are just going to want their basic double guillotine cutter for 14.99 instead. It is well made and I can see where some of the price is justified. If you don’t like any tricks, find a different cutter.
