Cigar cutters are used to remove or penetrate the cap of a cigar before smoking it. There are three basic types of cuts, the straight cut, the wedge (or V) cut, and the hole punch. The type of cut to make is based on personal preference and the size and/or shape of the cigar.
Experienced cigar smokers may not always make the same type of cut or use the same kind of cutter. The straight cut is the most common, and is always preferred on cigars with a small ring gauge (thin cigars).