![]() With the X angled over the uppercase letter “I” that followed, the brand’s logo looked all the world like a freshly snipped stogie. Swapping the S for an X also served as a visual representation of the double-guillotine cigar cutter the firm had just invented. While Xikar’s stainless steel double-guillotine cutters were the invention that got the midwest brand off the ground, the company’s invested interest in the torch lighter segment has since earned the company a deluge of accolades and lifelong supporters.Īs for the Xikar name itself, the brand’s founders settled on the clever misspelling of the word “sikar,” which was the original Spanish interpretation of the ancient word for a cigar. So with all that incendiary stogie lighting power at our disposal, an important question must be asked: Which Xikar lighter is right for you and your cigar smoking needs? Xikar: One Catchy and Clever Marketing NomenclatureĪs the story goes, the Xikar brand was spawned in 1996 in Kansas City, Missouri by two men, Kurt Van Keppel and Scott Almsberger. How many lighters, you ask? We found 29 different styles of lighter available from Xikar, with numerous color variants and finishes being housed beneath each category. Since we only showcase the cigar accessories we use, and Xikar lighters have long been a standout favorite, we can vouch for every lighter this brand offers. Simply put, if we wouldn’t use it on our own cigars, we sure as hell aren't going to promote it to anyone else. This article was published in the Cigar Journal Winter Edition 2014.Here at Case Elegance and Klaro Cigars, we test and hand-select the best cigar accessories based on their practicality, performance, form, and price all in mind. ![]() And in this way, Xikar products are becoming a huge success around the world as the cigar smoker’s best friend. Wolfertz has a good feel for the topic, since his family has been producing cutting tools since 1919. In Germany, for instance, they are supplied to Thorsten Wolfertz in the “knife town” of Solingen. ![]() Xikar supplies around 80 partners in 60 countries worldwide, and is present on all the continents except the Antarctic. Where is Xikar today? What has become of the brilliant cutter? Over the course of the years, Kurt van Keppel has developed a clear vision and the cutter has been joined by many brothers and sisters – not in the form of different surface materials, but, rather, the vision is to become “the pursuit of innovative product creation and exceptional customer service.” Thus there are now numerous product categories: cutters, other accessories such as shears and augers, lighters, cigar gas, humidifiers and travel humidors. In the following year, the Xikar products were patented. Series production began in May, the product was officially presented at the RDTA and soon there were 150 retailers selling the label. In 1998, the journey really picked up steam. Van Keppel replaced the “S” with an “X” to symbolise the two blades of his cutter, and the company’s name was born. Sikar was the name that Columbus’s sailors took home with them after they had seen the Taino Indians smoking. One year later, the first 200 prototypes were ready, made by hand in their garages using small machines.
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