Go Ahead Steve Saka, Change My Mind About Single-Blade Cigar Cutters

Before I go into sharing my opinion on the new Guillotina de Saka Cutter, let me start out with a full disclosure confession. 

I am not a big fan of single blade cutters. I always feel they are slowly ’smashing’ a cigar from one side to the other. Not to sound like that grumpy old dude, but “they seemed better back in the day.”

Now, let’s be fair; although briefly, a double guillotine blade is still ‘smashing’ it, but from both sides at once. I’m unsure of its physics, but it makes me feel better.

I don’t punch cigars often, and even less than that would I use a V-Cut.

Nothing against either of those (well, unless you are punching a large ring cigar…then we will have words 🙂 Other than that, to each his own).

Enter the Steve Saka Single-Blade Cutter

So, when Steve Saka decided to put out a single-blade cutter and add $395 MSRP, I thought he was crazy. 

Now, before I get too far into this article, I’m taking the price off the table.

Why, you ask.

Because at $395, I’m going to get too many emails telling me their $4.95 cutter cuts cigars just as well. No, your cutter probably doesn’t, but I’m not going down that road.

Just put this cutter in the category with other quality and luxury items and move on.

Saka Single-Blade Cigar Cutter Components

• Peerless Cigar Cutter (Ok, cool)
• 420 Surgical Stainless Steel Blade (Sounds fancy and who doesn’t like doctors?)
• 6061-T6 Aluminum Bolsters (I think those, and ball bearings, were used in the movie Fletch, but I can’t be sure)
• OD Green Cerakote Finish (No idea what that means…lost me after ‘green’)
• Dual Chamfered + Gimping (Chamfered is a nice touch, but I’m afraid to Google “gimp” ever since Pulp Fiction)
• Replaceable Blade (that is money right there and a great feature)

Enough Fred, how does it cut?

I wanted to beat it up (not really), but it cuts like butter. I mean, like, really well.

It is super clean and crisp.

Steve, and the team at Cigarmedics, have some real wins here.

• I appreciate the low level of branding on the cutter.
• The overall appearance is clean and slim.
• The magnetic closure is a nice touch. It’s not so strong that it’s hard to open and not so light that it accidentally opens in your pocket.
• The replacement blade is a must and, to me, may be one of the best things about this setup. 

Any downsides?

I mean…I think I mentioned the price, but quality costs $$$.

Other than that?

I suspect the OD Green finish will not hold up long term. I had a few minor scratches in about 15 minutes of throwing it in my pocket. Don’t get me wrong…it won’t bother me once there are 50 scratches on it…but the first couple sting a bit.

And dammit…I kind of like it. It is well made and will certainly be in my pocket for the near future.

That said, I’m sure there will be an after-market leather case for the cutter soon enough. I really hope it is made from Sasquatch fur—that would just put it over the top, and I would have to add that to my pocket as well.

Note: Steve Saka is the Founder of Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust (2015).

[Update] CigarMedics has added a leather case for the Guillotina de Saka Cutter lighter here.

Review by Fred Rewey