the answer to the question: pailo or xikar

[glassjapan]

I love my Palio. Works great every time. The Xikar looks cool, but hate how it works. Gifted it away. One that doesn't get much love, but I use it as much as the Palio, is my Zino double blade cutter.

[oddball]

My Xikar is OK. I've actually stopped using it when I discovered the Havana Cutter. The Havana gives me cleaner cuts. Not bad for a sub-$5 device...

But I'm also in on the Palio group buy. By all accounts, should be nice

[drawfour]

I have a Xikar Xi2, and love it. But I'm in the Palio group buy, so I'll be able to compare. It also means I can leave one cutter and one lighter at work w/ my small humi, and leave one cutter and one lighter at home, and I don't have to worry about remembering to bring stuff in or home.

[field]

I have a xiKar that I have abused, and it continues to work well. I have used a palio too, and am getting one soon (you know, for backup purposes). A friend of mine bought a xiKar Friday, and it broke on him over the weekend. I told him about the warranty, he was very happy.

Like icehog said, works great on a flat surface too

[fizguy]

You guys are probably right. I was just mad that the only cutter I brought with me broke before I even used it once. I am sure I will have it replaced and go on to enjoy many years of fine cutting!

[fizguy]

Here is the end of the story:

I was set to send the cutter to xikar for a replacement but the people at cbid contacted me first and informed me that a replacement was on the way and they would send a label to return the broken one.

Great customer service at cbid. Thanks guys!! (actually it was a lady)

[tchariya]

I think the Xikar looks beautiful, but trying to get it around a La Gloria Cubana Series R No. 7, its impossible.

Xikars dont seem to work with large RG cigars. Palio...no problem.

[Giovanni]

Cbid comes through again!

[mikey burr]

IMHO I think having a xikar is a status thing...its a pretty looking thing but dosent fuction as well a palio... a palio is a no frills cutters that does its job very well...a xikar on the other hand (in my experiance) looks nicer then it cuts....I know I know people are gonna say you can do this this and this trick to get a smooth cut with a xikar cutter but...with a palio all you have to do is open and close...done deal... palio > xikar

[joed]

I have the Xikar, Palio and Zino -

The Xikar is the best cutter - hands down - then the Zino then the Palio. I have gifted away the Palio I purchased - but do use the one I received as a gift - occassionally.

I use the little club stogie havana cutter quite frequently as well.

[croatan]

Originally Posted by joed

I have the Xikar, Palio and Zino -

The Xikar is the best cutter - hands down - then the Zino then the Palio. I have gifted away the Palio I purchased - but do use the one I received as a gift - occassionally.

I use the little club stogie havana cutter quite frequently as well.

So weird. I have all of them as well, and put them in the exact opposite order. I really prefer the Palio's cut, think the Xikar pinches too much, and put the Zino somewhere in the middle. The Xikar sits in the bottom of my accessories drawer along with a the three-bladed cigar scissors and a bunch of cheap guillotine and double-guillotine cutters. I think that the Xikar multi-tools pinch, too, but they can be handy.

As far as the Havana Cutter goes, I think I have eight or ten of them left, and keep one every place I think I might get stuck without a cutter: briefcase, office drawer, car, golf bag, bedroom, etc. They are great cutters for the money.

Edit: of course, I've also been known to use my fingernails on more than a few occasions. And, to be honest, as long as you're smoking a Cuban parejo, they work just about as well as any cutter on the market (just pinch around the cap and pull it off), but it's a little slower and doesn't look quite as good while sitting in a nice restaurant. The technique is also a pretty good way to demonstrate to new (and sometimes old) cigar smokers just how little of the cigar they need to cut off.

[ResIpsa]

Originally Posted by croatan

As far as the Havana Cutter goes, They are geat cutters for the money.

not only that, but they are great cutters as well.

[jgros001]

Originally Posted by mikey burr

IMHO I think having a xikar is a status thing...its a pretty looking thing but dosent fuction as well a palio... a palio is a no frills cutters that does its job very well...a xikar on the other hand (in my experiance) looks nicer then it cuts....I know I know people are gonna say you can do this this and this trick to get a smooth cut with a xikar cutter but...with a palio all you have to do is open and close...done deal... palio > xikar

Gotta disagree on Xikar as a status thing...unless we are talking the special editions like this http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...4,1179,00.html. But for the most part they are similar in price to the Palio at least for the punches and Xi2.

If I were getting a cutter for status, I would go ST Dupont, Davidoff, Dunhill, Lagiole.

I vary between the xikar and palio...like them both and the havana for travel....but I want a lagiole at some point.

[ChurchDog]

My Xikar has performed flawlessly since I bought it more than two years ago and has shown itself to be extremely durable. Also, Xikar sent me a leather case for free!

That must have been some HARD carpet for it to break the cutter.

[mikey burr]

Originally Posted by jgros001

Gotta disagree on Xikar as a status thing...unless we are talking the special editions like this http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...4,1179,00.html. But for the most part they are similar in price to the Palio at least for the punches and Xi2.

If I were getting a cutter for status, I would go ST Dupont, Davidoff, Dunhill, Lagiole.

I vary between the xikar and palio...like them both and the havana for travel....but I want a lagiole at some point.

I think status was too strog of a word...but I do believe the hype beast is running high on the xikar cutter... some post I see on the boards would have you to believe that the xikar cutter is so good that it would cut off gods own finger...hahahahah...well maybe not...any whoo... palio and xikars are both good quality cutters...but the palio is just "a cut above"
Hahahahah...don't believe the hype beast