Xikar vs Colibri: Which Cigar Cutter Should You Buy? (2026)

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Xikar and Colibri are the two specialist brands that come up again and again when smokers choose a cutter, including in our own guides. On Amazon their best-known models sit side by side at almost the same price.

They are not the same thing, though. Xikar built its name on double guillotines and a lifetime warranty. Colibri built its recent reputation on one product, the V-Cut. This guide compares the two line-ups model by model, using the brands’ own specifications and warranty terms, Amazon’s US prices and ratings on 21 October 2026, and what independent reviewers found when they tested them.

The short answer: if you want a V-cut, the Colibri V-Cut is the one most people buy, and it gives the more open draw. If you want a straight cut, Xikar’s XO is the better-engineered cutter. The warranties differ more than the cutters do, and for buyers outside the US, less than either brand’s marketing suggests.

Head to head at a glance

	Xikar	Colibri
Founded	1996, Kansas City	1928, London
Owned by	Quality Importers Trading Co. (since 2018), Weston, Florida	CST Enterprises LLC, New York, holds the Colibri trademarks
Known for	Double guillotines (Xi, XO)	The V-Cut
Best V-cut	VX2: 64 ring gauge, $46.99 on Amazon	V-Cut: 60+ ring gauge, up to 7 mm deep, $49
Best straight cut	XO: 64 ring gauge, cuts the cap of a 70, $99.99	Cut: 62 ring gauge, 440 stainless, $39
Biggest ring gauge, pocket	Ensō: 68, cuts the cap of a 72	SV-Cut straight side: 68–70
Warranty	Limited lifetime: defects, not wear	Two years: mechanism, original purchaser
Where made (popular models)	China (Xi1, Xi2, VX2, per retailers)	China (V-Cut, Quasar SV, per retailers)

Specifications and list prices from xikar.com and colibri.com; Amazon prices and ratings checked 21 October 2026. Country of origin comes from retailer product pages; neither brand states it on its own site.

The two companies

Xikar started in a Kansas City garage in 1996, when Kurt Van Keppel and Scott Almsberger set out to make a better cigar cutter. Their double-guillotine Xi cutters became some of the best-known pocket cutters in the US, and the company built its reputation on a lifetime warranty. In January 2018 Xikar was bought by Quality Importers Trading Co., which also owns Cigar Caddy, Palió and Humidor Supreme, and the brand now lists its address in Weston, Florida.

Colibri is much older. It was founded in London in 1928 and made its name with lighters. The original company went into receivership in 2009, and the brand, its trademarks and stock were bought at auction by Alliance Time of New York. Today the Colibri trademarks are held by CST Enterprises LLC in New York. Its V-Cut, launched in 2013, is now the most-rated cigar cutter we found on Amazon.

As far as we could find, neither company makes cigars and neither is owned by a tobacco company.

The V-cut: Colibri V-Cut vs Xikar VX2

A V-cut takes a wedge out of the cap instead of slicing it off. The cigar keeps more of its cap, so it is less likely to unravel, and the wedge opens a draw that suits thick cigars. This is the category where the two brands compete most directly.

	Colibri V-Cut	Xikar VX2
Ring gauge (maker)	60+	64
Depth	Up to 7 mm into the cap	Set depth, not published
Body	Rubberized, spring-loaded	Metal, spring-loaded, two-button lock
Price	$49 (colibri.com and Amazon)	$54.99 at Xikar, $46.99 on Amazon
Amazon rating	4.8 from 5,343 ratings	4.8 from 1,052 ratings
Warranty	Two years	Limited lifetime

How they differ in use. The Colibri cuts deeper. That gives a more open draw, which many smokers like on a big Robusto or Toro. Halfwheel, which tested the V-Cut against Xikar’s earlier VX in a head-to-head, found the Colibri’s draw “sometimes too open” and preferred the Xikar overall, four categories to one. That test is from around 2014 and used the VX, not today’s VX2. In its own VX2 review, Halfwheel cut a 70 ring gauge cigar with it, above its 64 rating, and still got a usable cut, but found the triggers stiff and the cutter heavy.

The complaints about the Colibri are mostly about handling: Halfwheel found the release nub catches on pockets, and the opening mechanism was its weak point. Nobody we read complained about the cut itself.

Our pick: the Colibri V-Cut for most smokers. It is the most-rated cigar cutter we found on Amazon, the draw is the more generous of the two, and 200-plus people bought one in the past month according to Amazon. Choose the Xikar VX2 if you prefer a firmer draw, smoke a lot of 60-plus ring gauges, or want the longer warranty.

Buy the Colibri V-Cut → · Buy the Xikar VX2 →

The straight cut: Xikar XO vs Colibri Cut

A double guillotine cuts the cap from both sides at once, so the blades meet in the middle and don’t push the cigar to one side. It is the most versatile cut, and the one to own if you only own one cutter.

	Xikar XO	Xikar Xi1	Colibri Cut
Ring gauge (maker)	64; cuts the cap of a 70	54; cuts the cap of up to 64	62
Blades	Stainless (4034 steel, per Halfwheel)	440C stainless, hardness HRC 57	440 stainless, coated
Mechanism	Planetary gears move both blades together	Spring-loaded	Spring-loaded
List price	$99.99 at Xikar	$59.99–64.99 at Xikar; $73.99 on Amazon	$39
Amazon rating	4.7 from 397 ratings	4.5 from 164 ratings	4.4 from 907 ratings

Why the XO stands out. Inside the round body, a set of planetary gears drives both blades along a rail, so they always open and close together and stay centred on the cigar. Press the button and both blades spring open; close either side and both close. Halfwheel called it possibly the best cutter its reviewer had used in years, and Cigar Aficionado’s 2016 review was just as positive. The drawbacks are size and price: it is a chunky cutter for a trouser pocket, and at $99.99 it costs about twice as much as a Colibri V-Cut.

The Colibri Cut is the value answer: a 62 ring gauge opening, 440 stainless blades and the same spring release as the V-Cut, for $39. It has the most ratings of any guillotine here. It doesn’t have the XO’s geared action, and its warranty is two years, not lifetime.

The Xi1 sits in between. It is the cutter that made Xikar’s name, and it won the guillotine category in Cigar Advisor’s 2017 readers’ poll. Its 54 ring gauge rating makes it the better choice for Coronas and Robustos than for today’s fat cigars.

Our pick: the Xikar XO if you will keep a cutter for years. The Colibri Cut if you want a good guillotine for under $40.

Buy the Xikar XO → · Buy the Colibri Cut → · Buy the Xikar Xi1 →

Amazon showed no direct US price for the XO on 21 October 2026; the $99.99 is Xikar’s own list price. Follow the link for today’s.

For big ring gauges

If you smoke 60-plus ring gauge cigars, check the maker’s number before you buy. A cutter rated for 54 will only take the cap off a fatter cigar, not cut through it.

• Xikar Ensō: a slimmer follow-up to the XO with a 68 ring gauge opening that cuts the cap of a 72. It is the largest pocket guillotine either brand makes. $109.99 at Xikar, $87.99 on Amazon (4.1 from 41 ratings). Buy on Amazon →
• Colibri SV-Cut: a V-cut and a straight cut in one body, with the straight side taking 68 to 70 ring gauges. $89 (4.6 from 595 ratings). Buy on Amazon →
• Xikar VX2: a V-cut rated for 64, which Halfwheel used on a 70.

The warranty: the biggest real difference

This is where the brands differ most, and where both are less generous than their reputations.

Xikar: limited lifetime warranty. In Xikar’s own words, it “covers manufacturing defects, but does not cover wear and tear from normal use.” You don’t need to register the cutter. Xikar may repair it or replace it, possibly with a refurbished one, and turnaround is two to three weeks. Two points matter for readers in Europe:

• International customers pay shipping both ways to Xikar’s warehouse; Xikar currently quotes $50 for return shipping.
• Buyers in Europe, Asia and Africa are told to claim through Xikar’s distributor in their own country.

Xikar doesn’t advertise a sharpening service, and a dull blade may count as normal wear. Older reviews describe a no-questions-asked lifetime replacement; the current wording is stricter.

Colibri: two years. Colibri warrants “the mechanism” against defects for two years from purchase, for the original buyer only. To claim, you send the cutter with the warranty card, the original receipt and a $9.50 check for shipping to Colibri’s service centre in Rhode Island, and the warranty applies to the continental United States only.

What this means for you. In the US, Xikar’s warranty is clearly the better one. Outside the US, neither is simple to use, so buy from a seller with a good returns policy and keep the receipt. Don’t take either cutter apart to fix it yourself; both warranties exclude that.

Where they’re made

Neither brand says where its cutters are made on its own website. Retailer product pages list Xikar’s Xi1, Xi2 and VX2 and Colibri’s V-Cut and Quasar SV as made in China. We found no country of origin for the XO, Xi3 or Ensō. Both brands design in the United States and manufacture abroad, so origin is not a reason to choose one over the other.

What reviewers say

• Halfwheel, V-cutter shootout (around 2014): Xikar’s VX beat the Colibri V-Cut four categories to one (build, use, cut and warranty), with Colibri winning on looks. The reviewer added that smokers who like a looser draw might score it 3–2.
• Halfwheel, Xikar XO (2016): among the best cutters the reviewer had used; bulky and expensive.
• Cigar Aficionado, Xikar XO (2016): strongly positive on the feel of the geared action.
• Cigar Aficionado, Colibri V-Cut: a good balance of weight, strength and shape, though not for everyone.
• Cigar Advisor readers’ poll (2017): the Colibri V won the V-cutter category with Xikar’s VX second; Xikar’s Xi1 won the guillotines with the Colibri Cut second.

Most of these reviews are several years old, and we found no recent independent head-to-head. Amazon owners rate the models in this guide between 4.1 and 4.8 stars.

Which should you buy?

• You smoke mostly Robustos and Toros and like an easy draw: Colibri V-Cut ($49).
• You want one cutter for everything and will keep it for years: Xikar XO ($99.99).
• You want a good straight cut on a budget: Colibri Cut ($39).
• You smoke 60-plus ring gauges: Xikar Ensō, or the Colibri SV-Cut if you also want a V.
• You live in the US and the warranty matters most: any Xikar.
• You’d like both cuts: a Colibri V-Cut and a Colibri Cut together cost $88, less than one XO.

For more options beyond these two brands, see our best cigar cutters of 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is Xikar better than Colibri? For straight cuts and for the warranty, yes. For V-cuts, the Colibri V-Cut is at least as good and is the more popular of the two. Neither is better across the board.

Does Xikar sharpen cutters? Xikar doesn’t advertise a sharpening service. Its limited lifetime warranty covers manufacturing defects and excludes wear from normal use, so a blade that dulls with use may not qualify.

Is the Colibri V-Cut warranty lifetime? No. Colibri’s warranty is two years from purchase, covers the mechanism, and applies in the continental United States.

Are Xikar and Colibri cutters made in China? The popular models are, according to retailer listings: Xikar’s Xi1, Xi2 and VX2, and Colibri’s V-Cut. Neither brand states origin on its own site.

Which cutter handles the biggest cigars? Among pocket cutters, Xikar’s Ensō (68 ring gauge, caps up to 72) and the straight side of Colibri’s SV-Cut (68 to 70).

V-cut or straight cut? A straight cut works on every cigar shape, including pointed Torpedos. A V-cut suits round-capped cigars of 50 ring gauge and up. Many smokers own one of each.

Specifications and list prices: xikar.com and colibri.com. Amazon US prices and ratings checked 21 October 2026; they change often, especially around Black Friday on 27 November.

Sources: Xikar warranty terms, xikar.com/warranty; Colibri warranty terms, colibri.com; Cigar Aficionado, “Xikar Acquired by Quality Importers Trading Company” (2018) and reviews of the Xikar XO (2016) and Colibri V-Cut; Halfwheel, “V-Cutter Shootout: Colibri V-Cut vs. Xikar VX”, and reviews of the Colibri V-Cut, Xikar VX2 and Xikar XO; Cigar Journal on Xikar’s history; Gifts & Decorative Accessories on Alliance Time’s purchase of Colibri (2009); Cigar Advisor 2017 readers’ choice; Northwoods Humidors product pages for country of origin.