SICAC 2019 Winner — Oleksii Nesterenko's Custom Stingray
Presenting to you the winner of the French knife show, recipient of the Best Design award at SICAC 2019 — the custom Stingray by Oleksii Nesterenko!
This luxurious flipper stands out with its aristocratic décor and impressive functionality. Only 19 such folders were ever created — and before you is Stingray No. 9 (with the corresponding engraving on the liner).
Oleksii Nesterenko knows how to approach the edge — but never cross it. His knives astonish with their beauty, which only enhances their masculinity. Don't lock this beauty away on a shelf — carry it in your pocket, cut with it, slice with it, enjoy how effortlessly the premium steel performs, warm your palm with the velvety carbon fiber, and feel your command over the knife.
Have you ever seen giant stingrays bursting from the water in swift leaps across the ocean's surface? The Stingray's lightning-fast deployment is powered by the legendary Brazilian IKBS bearing system in the pivot. Once open, the blade locks securely into place — the liner lock mechanism reliably protects your fingers from accidental closure.
The complex, custom hybrid blade profile is an object worthy of meditative contemplation. In its shape, you can discern traces of tanto, scramsax, and clip-point.
The knife delivers an exceptionally satisfying cut. The practical qualities built into its form are amplified by premium Swedish M390 steel, which offers excellent resistance to harsh environments and mechanical stress, and ranks among the best for edge retention. The blade is finished with meticulous hand-rubbed satin.
The thumb ramp on the spine and the ergonomic handle shape give your hand absolute control over the folder. The bronze-anodized frame is dressed in carbon fiber scales, where brown layers are interspersed with golden inlays. Shaping the scales' relief, the master skillfully played with the material's layering. The handle resembles a tree trunk bathed in sunlight. The three-dimensional pattern on the bolster and clip is darkened, evoking the texture of bark. The hardware is also bronze-anodized, blending harmoniously with the overall palette.
The lightweight liner and the long, featherlight carbon fiber backspacer significantly reduce the knife's weight. The Stingray won't weigh down your pocket, and the designer clip will securely hold the flipper in place.
The Stingray comes with a quilted ochre leather pouch and a certificate signed by the master's own hand.
