My wife knows how to please me. While I raved about the insanely classy portable humidor she got me which included five of my favorite cigars, my favorite gift from her was a PerfecPunch. I’ve been using it since Christmas Eve when I received it, and it is hands-down the best punch I’ve ever used.
I have always preferred to use a punch to cut my cigars. a punch cut concentrates the smoke and directs it to the tip of the tongue. But a problem I’ve had with my punches in the past is that they come in one diameter only. That can be an issue for punch cutting a petite corona, which is a vitola I often smoke. But with the three different blade sizes of the PerfecPunch (8mm, 11mm, and 14mm), getting the right diameter punch is no longer an issue.
Another issue I’ve had with punch cutters in the past is how the blade edges are formed. In all other cutters, the edges are formed from the outside. What this does is push the opening outward, occasionally causing the cap to crack. That won’t happen with the PerfecPunch because the blades are sharpened from the inside. This pushes the cut material in instead of the cigar material out. What you get is a cleaner break of material from the cigar.
As a knife enthusiast, I’ve learned that geometry is critical to a blade’s cutting ability. A thinner blade cuts much easier, as does a steep edge angle. The PerfecPunch combines both a super thin blade with a super-steep 18º edge angle. This is getting into Japanese chef knife territory! The result is a blade that slices into a cigar with ease and precision! With other punches I’ve used, I worried about cracking. I highly doubt this will happen with the PerfecPunch. It’s like a scalpel.
Furthermore, the blades are made with 440C stainless steel, which is a type of steel known for its hardness, durability, and most importantly, moisture resistance. Before it became overshadowed by all the new super steels such as S35VN, M390, MagnatCut or what have you, it was the standard for knife steels. I have a few camping and bushcrafting knives made of 440C. It takes a wicked edge that it will retain.
Now the trick to 440C is proper heat treatment. You get that right, and it will perform incredibly well. According to PerfectSmoke, they hardened the blade material to a Rockwell hardness of 60 HRc, which is right up there with high-end chef and pocketknives! These blades will last a long time!
As for it doubling as a holder, yeah, it’s pretty useful, and I’ve used it a couple of times. It’s definitely convenient. But to be honest, punches are what I’m most interested in and that respect it performs flawlessly.
If I had just one wish, it would be great if they added a small loop at the rounded end of the orange section so it could be attached to a keychain. As much as I appreciate the convenience of the holder, I’d rather have it attached to my keychain. Another idea would be a holster for it to provide a little added protection from scratches. That would also keep it from being inadvertently opened in my pocket. The magnet is great, but things can still get lodged in between the parts and open it up.
Yet another idea is if you have the PerfecDraw, PerfecRepair, and PerfecPunch, a carrying case for all three would be awesome!
Unco B's Stogie Diary 