XIKAR has announced that it is adding four new color options to its XO cutter, the first batch of which is now shipping to select members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA).

All of the new colors feature 403 stainless steel blades, while three of the finishes–red, black, and gunmetal honeycomb–feature a titanium nitride coating that turns the blades black and which the company claims makes the blades unscratchable. Those three models are each priced at $119.99. The fourth new color way, burnt orange, comes with chrome blades and is priced at $99.99.

The XIKAR XO debuted at the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show and was released in four colors as well, with three of them–gunmetal, bronze, and black–offering the chrome blades. A fourth model, in blue, featured the black coated blades.

The cutter uses internal planetary gear sets to generate an increase in the force of the double guillotine cut without any additional work on the user’s part. The blades maintain equal spacing inside the cutter at all times due to the gears.

All versions can handle up to a 64 ring gauge cigar, and can even make good cuts on cigars up to 70 ring gauge.

A full product launch of the new colors will happen at the 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show in July.

Images courtesy of 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 Major League Baseball, 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.