The next time you browse the XIKAR case at your local tobacconist, you might notice some new markings on the XIKAR Ultra Slim cutter. Yesterday, the company announced that the accessory will now be featuring laser-engraved ring gauge markers on the blades to help you better identify the amount of opening needed to properly clip your cigar’s cap.

The XIKAR Ultra Slim is designed to cut the cap of a cigar up to a 70 ring gauge cigar, and can cut a cigar with a ring gauge up to 60 in half when the blade is fully extended. The new design includes nine marks on the blade that span that range, beginning at the pencil thin 24 and increasing in intervals of four ring gauges up to a final mark at 56 ring gauge.

XIKAR Ultra Slim Cutter Updated April 2017

The Ultra Slim is designed to be paired with the XIKAR Ultra Mag lighter, which got its own update in April 2015, or can be used on its own. At just 3.5 mm in thickness, it is thin enough to fit in a wallet, yet its stainless steel body offers durability from the bumps and stresses that come with usage and transport. It measures 2.5 inches long and weighs 1.5 ounces, per the company’s website.

The cutter comes with an MSRP of $54.99 and is available in three colors: black, gunmetal, and silver. XIKAR also offers engraving of the body or blade when purchased directly from the company. It can also be purchased as part of the XIKAR Ultra Combo, which includes the Ultra Mag lighter, for $99.99.

Image via XIKAR.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.