EAR: Your looking for a new lighter and guillotine cutter. $250 maximum total. Where are you heading?

[El Presidente]

EAR = Email Assistance Require:

Looking for new "dress" lighter and guillotine cutter

"It’s been 8 years since I bought my fancy Davidoff cutter, but it’s now MIA somewhere between Bangkok and St. Pete. My  Dupont? Yeah, it’s seen better days too. I really enjoy using my cigar gear, feeling the weight and precision of a good cutter and lighter is part of the whole experience for me. But I don’t want to break the bank.

So, I’m looking to replace them both without spending more than $100 on either. Any recommendations from the crew here? What should I look at?"

 

I suspect our mate isn't looking for "just get a $10 lighter" recommendation. 

I am going to increase your budget to play with to $250 

 

Help in out good people. Split up your $250 however you wish but makesure it meets the requirement of :feeling the weight and precision of a good cutter and lighter is part of the whole experience for me

[99call]

Buy vintage.....buy better

[El Presidente]

14 minutes ago, 99call said:

Buy vintage.....buy better

Some examples would help 

I would be loathe to recommend anyone buy a vintage lighter unless they really know what they are doing. for the uninitiated, They will become vintage paperweights. 

[99call]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Some examples would help 

All I meant was there is a lot of glitzy diamond encrusted crap around at the moment. Would much rather buy a 1990s Dunhill, Dupont, Cartier etc on eBay. Easylive. Saleroom 

Love old money trinkets. New money trinkets are crass disgusting garbage...in general.

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, 99call said:

All I meant was there is a lot of glitzy diamond encrusted crap around at the moment. Would much rather buy a 1990s Dunhill, Dupont, Cartier etc on eBay. Easylive. Saleroom 

Love old money trinkets. New money trinkets are crass disgusting garbage...in general.

Out of interest, in terms of lighters, when was the first  premium "torch" lighter? 

[Li Bai]

I've heard good things about this lighter and this cutter from Xikar 👍 

[99call]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Out of interest, in terms of lighters, when was the first  premium "torch" lighter? 

Depends what you mean by "premium"...quality? Or price? Good question though. Would be interested to see when the 'Dunhill Turbo Sport's' started. 

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, 99call said:

Depends what you mean by "premium"...quality? Or price? Good question though. Would be interested to see when the 'Dunhill Turbo Sport's' started. 

I assume we need to come from the inquirers perspective:  "I really enjoy using my cigar gear, feeling the weight and precision of a good cutter and lighter is part of the whole experience for me"

So weight and reliability/precision. I am taking a punt in that few in that part of the world would want a soft flame lighter. 

 

 

[MrBirdman]

If he’s looking for a guillotine I think Xikar is hard to beat at that price point. You’ll have to go with one of the lower end models at $100, but the quality at that level is still excellent. I don’t think you’ll find any luxury brands like Davidoff for less than $200 unless you get lucky finding one secondhand.

Lighters are trickier - I’ve given up on fancy lighters because I can’t bother with upkeep, so I use cheapies now. If you’re using a torch be prepared for maintenance regardless of quality. 

[loose_axle]

The Colibri straight and v cut in one is a lovely cutter. Not too expensive and a real heft and density in the hand.

For a classy lighter that is reliable, has a vintage feel and look, check out Sisuman, they have a soft flame as well as a jet lighter. I’ve only got the soft flame but it has never missed a beat. 

[MagicalBikeRide]

I mostly just pick the cap with my fingers (maybe 90% of the time) but my wife got me this cutter as a present a couple years back. It’s affordable and really nice quality - super sharp blades and the case / sleeve is awesome too. I can still find it online for ~$70.
 

 

[NSXCIGAR]

With $200 to spare. 

 

 

 

[El Presidente]

......no plastic rubbish please 

......as much as I use them daily.....they are not part of the brief

[99call]

1 hour ago, MagicalBikeRide said:

I mostly just pick the cap with my fingers (maybe 90% of the time) but my wife got me this cutter as a present a couple years back. It’s affordable and really nice quality - super sharp blades and the case / sleeve is awesome too. I can still find it online for ~$70.

Yep. These a fantastic quality for the price. Makes cutters 3 times the price look cheap and silly.

[99call]

Dunhill Sport Turbo copy (sort of) for £50

 

[ha_banos]

I love my xikar mtx scissors. Look great too.

And I've been using my xikar tech twin jet for years and years. 

Might not be dressy, but neither am I.

[99call]

I like the build quality and minimalist solid design of these Porsche Jet lighters. Can find them for about £80

 

[Chas.Alpha]

21 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

......no plastic rubbish please 

......as much as I use them daily.....they are not part of the brief

Welp, I’m out. 😔

[JohnS]

There are good options in both Colibri and Xikar. In the last few years, I have been leaning more towards Colibri, mainly because they have been more innovative in their products in that time, in my opinion.

[JY0]

I bought a couple of Dunhill Rollagas lighters, refurbished on EBay for about $200. Still going strong 5 years later. I prefer a soft flame. 
 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2505460.m570.l1311&_nkw=dunhill+rollagas+lighter&_sacat=0

[MickVanWinkle]

I’d encourage you to add another zero to the budget, but then again I’d be a hypocrite since most of my higher end pieces rarely get much use. Turns out, my two daily accessories fit right in the current budget - Lotus Jaws Serrated Cutter and ST DuPont Slim 7.

Both have been with me for a number of years and I’ve put them through the wringer. The cutter is precise and provides a gentle slice through even the most delicate cigars.

The Slim 7 is heavy for its size, but is low profile enough for a suit pocket. The obvious downside is constantly refilling it, though it isn’t an issue for me.

These both manage to edge out my more expensive Dunhill / DuPont / Elie Bleu accessories, for my everyday needs (whatever that is worth).

[NSXCIGAR]

Does a $50+ jet lighter that's durable, reliable, pocket sized and with a large tank actually exist?

[Bijan]

5 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Does a $50+ jet lighter that's durable, reliable, pocket sized and with a large tank actually exist?

I don't like the look of them, but the current higher end Colibri triple jets at least meet the last 2.

 

[Fuzz]

7 hours ago, 99call said:

Buy vintage.....buy better

Sometimes vintage isn't always better....

Monkey on the Loo v cutter.

 

[loose_axle]

3 hours ago, JY0 said:

I bought a couple of Dunhill Rollagas lighters, refurbished on EBay for about $200. Still going strong 5 years later. I prefer a soft flame. 
 

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2505460.m570.l1311&_nkw=dunhill+rollagas+lighter&_sacat=0

I grabbed 2 the same way a few years ago. Still going strong and a delight to the eye.