Input Requested From the "Cuban Experts"

[CgarDan]

All looks good to me

[Kass]

Just another thought. Is there a cedar thing in the tube?

[cigarsarge]

I know a guy in Kuwait. Just about all he can get is the RyJ Tubos. The ones he brought back home were legit.

[thegraduate]

im no expert either, but from what i remember, Cigar Aficionado had a very good section on their website on how to tell if u bought a fake or not. if i find the site ill post it

[rsanz]

Fake I S O Ms exposed here... http://www.vitolas.net/index.php?cat=16

and here... http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...,3390,,00.html

[Road Weazel]

Just another thought. Is there a cedar thing in the tube?

Yes, there's a cedar wrap inside the tube.
I smoked one tonite and it was pretty decent. I didn't gain 20# of lean muscle mass or become more handsome after smoking it (as if that were possible) but it was a decent smoke. Probably worth about what I paid, but not what he was asking originally.
All the guy had left today was the #1s and I have heard that they aren't as good as the #2s, plus they're more $ since they're longer. I'll wait until he has a new, in wrapper box of the #2s and I'll buy it from him.
If nothing else, I can write home to all my friends and tell them I'm smoking Cubans over here...
Thanx again.
Weazel

[bigsmoke]

They look legit to me bud. There should be a clear seal on the front right hand corner of the box as well. But the way you have described them and the questions you have answered would lead me to be 97.5% sure that they are real. But one question for you, are you not committing a crime by smoking a cuban cigar? Couldn't the sales of those cigars be funding terrorism that you are in IRAQ to stop?

[CoventryCat86]

They look okay to me too but I can't stand RyJs so........

As far as the seal being on the left side, do you mean the green stamp (which is already on the left side) or the "Habanos" sticker which is on the upper right? If it's on the upper right, that's where it's supposed to be.

[drew_goring]

They look legit to me bud. There should be a clear seal on the front right hand corner of the box as well. But the way you have described them and the questions you have answered would lead me to be 97.5% sure that they are real. But one question for you, are you not committing a crime by smoking a cuban cigar? Couldn't the sales of those cigars be funding terrorism that you are in IRAQ to stop?

This is only true for boxes purchased in Cuba itself, not boxes that are exported.

[CoventryCat86]

This is only true for boxes purchased in Cuba itself, not boxes that are exported.

Give that man a cigar!

[drew_goring]

Just a few more things to note. Authenticating most specimens is extremely difficult with just pictures alone. Also, the fact that there are legitimate inconsistencies coming out of Cuba makes it that much harder.

The seals/codes/stamps appear to be in the right places, and as well the warranty code seal appears to be in line with an '05 box of mine that I checked. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but on the warranty seal where you see the portrait of the workers in the tobacco field with the trees, there is micro print. Unless you have a genuine box next to it to compare, it is difficult to determine if it is legit or not. I really don't like RyJs all that much, so I don't have any bands sitting around to compare it to, but it appears correct to me. As does the tube. The only real concern that I have would be one the bottom, where the paper of the dress box does not overlap. However this could be due to damage during transport, or another one of Cuba's famous inconsistencies. Also, it would be strange for a counterfeiter to go through the import process and have the health warnings on the box.

The main thing is that you enjoyed it.

[Road Weazel]

But one question for you, are you not committing a crime by smoking a cuban cigar? Couldn't the sales of those cigars be funding terrorism that you are in IRAQ to stop?

Holy Shit! I'm in IRAQ?! They told me I was in Afghanistan
I'm not going to worry about whether or not JFK's embargo applies to a US base on Afghani soil. There's plenty of Mo-Fo's that outrank me smoking the same sticks and they're not worried about it, either. I'm busy dodging rockets, mortars and the occasional stray bullet, the national origin for my carcinogin of choice is not at the top of my list of concerns.
As for funding terrorism (I'm going to quote a much overused term from the Army vocabulary), 'Are you serious?' (Gawd I hate that phrase). If I was buying opium from the local drug lord then perhaps that could be the case. I guess maybe they could get themselves a new AA gun and some RPGs from my purchasing four sticks at five bucks apiece, but I don't think so. In that case, EVERYTHING that we buy at the Bizarre is supplying Osama with new toys.
I had a feeling that someone might flame me soon after I got here but I thought it would be over my eclectic choice of motorcycles or joining the Army instead of the Chair Force, not over a $5 stick. I re-enlisted as a 37 year old Private so I've learned not to enter into pissing matches with someone who's been in one place longer than me, but I've also learned how to push back without being disrespectful.
Please, sir, go back to watching FOX news, the BBC and reading the New York Times...
All the best.
Weazel

[bigsmoke]

Holy Shit! I'm in IRAQ?! They told me I was in Afghanistan
I'm not going to worry about whether or not JFK's embargo applies to a US base on Afghani soil. There's plenty of Mo-Fo's that outrank me smoking the same sticks and they're not worried about it, either. I'm busy dodging rockets, mortars and the occasional stray bullet, the national origin for my carcinogin of choice is not at the top of my list of concerns.
As for funding terrorism (I'm going to quote a much overused term from the Army vocabulary), 'Are you serious?' (Gawd I hate that phrase). If I was buying opium from the local drug lord then perhaps that could be the case. I guess maybe they could get themselves a new AA gun and some RPGs from my purchasing four sticks at five bucks apiece, but I don't think so. In that case, EVERYTHING that we buy at the Bizarre is supplying Osama with new toys.
I had a feeling that someone might flame me soon after I got here but I thought it would be over my eclectic choice of motorcycles or joining the Army instead of the Chair Force, not over a $5 stick. I re-enlisted as a 37 year old Private so I've learned not to enter into pissing matches with someone who's been in one place longer than me, but I've also learned how to push back without being disrespectful.
Please, sir, go back to watching FOX news, the BBC and reading the New York Times...
All the best.
Weazel

I was just being synical. Have fun over there and stay safe. Six of my fellow Canadians were just eliminated the other day and that makes me sad.

[Monk]

I was just being synical. Have fun over there and stay safe. Six of my fellow Canadians were just eliminated the other day and that makes me sad.

Make that two more after yesterday .

Anyhow, also there might be slight difference from that box and what we would see in Canada since it is a European export as well. Otherwise, looks legit to me as far as one can tell from pictures.

-W.