![]() ![]() Kevin is behind every inquiry and every purchase from start to finish. As Kurt Van Keppel and Scott Almsberger are to the Xikar brand, owner and customer consultant, Kevin is to Northwoods Humidors. This is a company that promises to supply you with exceptional service and always follows through. Northwoods Humidors is the best source for high quality cigar humidors. The shape of Xi cutters is protected from duplication indefinitely.Ĭoming Soon: Northwoods Humidors will soon be launching over 15 new products by Xikar! Why Should You Buy From Northwoods Humidors? Obtained US Trademark Protection for the now-famous Xi cutter's teardrop shape on October 21, 2014. Patent approvals (design and utility) notices received November, December 1998 Official launch at the Retail Tobacconist Dealers Association Trade Show in August, 1998ģ50 Retailers carrying product by November 1, 1998 Product design and development took 6 monthsġ997: 200 initial numbered prototypes were made by hand in a machine tool shopĪll units were assembled and packaged in Kurt's garageįirst mass produced units completed in May, 1998. Product Design completely by inventor Kurt Van Keppel and Designer Scott Almsberger in late 1996 They expect to introduce two additional models for the knife nut at blade 2003. The following year, XIKAR presented its first knife design, and in 2002 brought to market its full-scale production knives, the 118 Elan, 138 Excel and 158 Excursion. That year, they exhibited at the Blade Show, to "learn about the business," and they got good tips from custom knife makers like Tim Herman, and knife manufacturers like Paul Gillespie and A.G. In 2000, Kurt and Scott decided to expand their product development into the pocket folder market. That's when Keppel and Almsberger decided to change the S to an X (representing 2 blades) and had the X cut the i, like a cutter clipping a cigar. ![]() The Tainos were the indigenous populations of Hispaniola and Cuba, where Columbus first landed when he discovered the "New World", and tobacco along with it. XIKAR originated from the word sikar, which is said to be the first Spanish spelling of the Taino word for cigar. The result was the Xi cutter, which they first assembled in their garages, and is now the market leader in cigar cutlery. When Keppel found the inexpensive models and the high-end models underperforming him and Almsberger set out to create products that matched good design (ergonomics and function) with the best styling and materials. The same desire for quality items began with Kurt Van Keppel and Scott Almsberger in 1994. When Northwoods Humidors asked their customers, "If you could have any cigar accessory, what would have?", three-quarters of our submissions included a Xikar product. But, do we know who they are? Do we know who started the infamous label and created a business where luxury products, high functionality, and affordable pricing coexist? It's time we sat down and got to know the history behind a brand that's become one of the elitists in the cigar industry. It's a brand whose name has been drifting around the cigar world for almost 3 decades. If you've lit a cigar, you've probably heard the name Xikar once or twice. ![]()
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