How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cutter

Sometimes you just can’t find a cigar cutter when you need one. As frustrating as those moments can be, all is not lost. This guide shows you that with a bit of imagination and perhaps a little improvising, you can successfully learn how to cut a cigar without a cutter.

How to Cut a Cigar Without a Cutter

How you go about cutting a cigar without a cutter will depend greatly on your surroundings and what you have available to use as a makeshift cutter. You can apply the same principles you would normally follow on how to cut a cigar to these alternative cutting tactics.

How to cut a cigar with a knife

A knife blade is perhaps the next best thing to an actual cigar cutter. Razor blades, scissors or other such bladed utensils can also be used in this manner. Dull blades can ruin the cigar, so be sure to use sharp blades. To remove a thin layer of the cap sufficient enough to draw through the cigar, carefully make an incision with slow and easy passes of the blade. You don’t want to cut too far down, or the wrapper can unravel. If using scissors, be careful not to squeeze or pinch the cigar. Just a smooth, easy snip and you’ll be enjoying those precious Cohiba cigars in no time!

How to cut a cigar with a poker

We’ll define a poker as anything with a fairly sharp point that will poke a hole in the head of a cigar, much like a cigar pierce cutter. This includes toothpicks, sewing needles, small screws, the sharp tips of corkscrews, small jeweler’s screwdrivers, or anything else small and fairly sharp.
Simply line up the pointed end of the poker at the center of the cap and carefully press directly into the cigar. You don’t have to push it all the way through, just enough to draw through the cigar unimpeded. For larger ring gauges, such as a Hoyo de Monterrey Grand Epicure, several holes might offer a better draw.

How to cut a cigar with a fingernail

If you don’t have anything sharp enough handy, then you can use a fingernail or thumbnail to remove a piece of the cap. This might prove difficult for those with closely trimmed nails, yet it can save a lot of time and hassle of looking for other options.
You can carefully work your nail around the edge of the cap, lightly pressing into the leaf as you work in a circular motion. You can also dig your nail into one side and drag your nail across the cap to remove a portion of the leaf. While this can be quick and easy, it is less precise and can excessively tear the leaf.

To bite or not to bite

If you simply do not have another alternative, then biting will have to do. While biting the tip of a cigar off might be popular in movies and pop culture, in reality, it doesn’t work well with premium cigars. Not only is it considered bad form, biting into a handmade cigar can cause extreme damage to the cigar and ruin the entire experience.
So, if biting is your last resort, you can work your teeth carefully and slowly around the cap until you free a piece of the leaf. You should never try to “bite” off the end in one quick motion, as you want to respect not destroy your cigar and the cigar maker’s craft!

Enjoy your cigars anytime without a cutter

No matter your cutting preference, knowing how to cut a cigar without a cutter means you will never be caught off guard. Still, if you’re a seasoned smoker or want to upgrade your cigar smoking experience then it’s worth investing in a good cutter. The best authentic Cuban cigars deserve respect, not a bite around the cap! Compare cigars and then shop with confidence at the premium online store for Cuban cigars.