Browsing the web, a few years ago, I found this article on some splashy celebrity site about Sienna Miller, the movie star. She's standing against a wall, smiling broadly while smoking a cigar. What struck me about the picture was how cheeky she looked. Like a naughty girl flaunting her wicked ways. I was so struck in fact, that I went out to buy my first cigar. And what was a random chance meeting of me and a picture of a movie star on her break, turned into an interesting and fun hobby. While I never smoked the actual cigar I became fascinated with the product and its accessories and I began collecting cigar cutters. Its an odd hobby for a woman, not quite as odd as smoking cigars, but still odd.

Its much easier to collect cigar cutters when you aren't using them for their purpose. My cutters dangle carelessly from my keyring and I often have people stop and ask me if I smoke cigars. I've found out most of my information from random strangers who want to tell me what they think of whichever cigar cutter I might be dangling that particular day. I surprise some by saying that I'm just a collector of cutters and not an actual smoker of the cigars. Apparently its very important to choose the proper cigar cutter. An improper cigar cut will ruin the cigar by cutting it incorrectly or cutting off too much.

I've since become more informed about cigar cutters and their function. For example the first time I saw a double edged cigar cutter, I thought it was some strange device used for arcane purposes. It did, in fact, look like little finger cuffs! I've learned there are many different types of cigar cutters but they generally serve 3 functions: cut across (straight cigar cutters), slice small cross sections and (v-shaped), cut exact (scissor cigar cutters). The blades even have a menacing sounding name: guillotines.

While I search for beauty and quirkiness in my cutters, that may not be useful to someone who wants to smoke an actual cigar. What is useful to know about cutters can be summed up in a few words. Choose what is best for the type of cigar and cigar smoker you are. Double bladed, single bladed, antique or scissor cutters, its your choice. Just try not to use your teeth.