The Why Behind Our Condor Cigar Cutter

We wanted to thank everyone for the amazing response we have had regarding our Condor Cigar Cutter.  We know it’s a little (or a lot) pricier than your typical cigar cutter, so we wanted to explain a little more about ‘The Why’. 

I had been looking to create a serious piece outside of the knife arena which truly tested and represented my experience in hardened steel, unique materials, and advance edge designs.  The Condor Cigar Cutter took me nearly 6 months and a dozen prototypes before I was able to bring all the pieces together.  We used a titanium case to hold the blade which is made of German Boehler390 steel. 

Why Titanium:

The titanium shell is corrosion resistant and has the highest strength-to-density ratio of any metallic element. Unalloyed it's as strong as some steels and with its relatively high melting point (more than 1,650 °C or 3,000 °F) it was the perfect lightweight, extremely durable shell for the Condor.  It is, however, one of the more costly and laborious processes to extract from the earth, so it does add to the expense.

The Blade:

Bohler M390 stainless steel is one of the recent waves of “super steels” heralded by knife makers all over the world. It has characteristics of high hardness and excellent corrosion resistance. This means you’re going to get a very fine edge that retains its sharpness even through hard use, with little to no patina. Introduced and manufactured by Bohler-Uddeholm, M390 is a powdered steel utilizing 3rd generation technology. Bohler’s specifications claim a Rockwell hardness of 60 – 62HRC, putting it in the higher echelon of stainless knife steels. M390 is called a “micro clean” steel and takes a mirror finish very well. It has minimal dimensional changes and is very resistant to vibrations and mechanical shock.

Why Ceramic Bearings:

Because ceramic bearings are harder than steel bearings, they are more durable, lasting anywhere from five to 20 times longer. This also equals an almost zero risk of bearing seizure. Consequently, since they also do not rust, they are less sensitive to moisture and lubrication, and some even come with no lubricant at all.

Ceramic bearings are stiffer than steel ones, resulting in less flex in each movement. Finally, ceramic bearings are lighter, because ceramic is less dense than steel (silicon nitride, for instance, has a 60 percent lower density than steel). When design optimized, the friction in ceramic bearings can be 20- to 30-times lower than steel bearings.

Designed for:

We tried to create a piece that provides the function and performance we demand in everything we make.  Integrating an effective bottle opener on the back that also operates as a cigar cap from the front was especially challenging and thoroughly exciting when we finally accomplish this.  We also didn’t want any springs or unnecessary mechanisms that could corrode in the final product.  We were able to achieve this with the ceramic bearings and through the detailed design process of the CNC (computer numerical control) machining.  You will even realize there’s a small snap when you close the Condor which provides for an even single fluid movement when you cut your cigar.  Finally, we had a little fun with the tactical aspect of the grip, we are knife makers after all.

We sincerely hope you will enjoy the extraordinary attention to form, function, material, and design which went into the creation of the Condor Cigar Cutter.

We look forward to bringing you our next super steal product, the Condor Chef’s Knife in Spring 2021. Sign up for our mailing list to keep up-to-date on its release!

Thank you again from your team at Red Horse