\" NORD STREAM - 2 \" STATE PRESENTATION DIRK (KORTIK)
Official Presentation Award - Limited Edition of Only 75 Pieces Worldwide !!!
1. General Overview and Historical Status
This item is an ultra-rare official presentation naval dirk (kortik) manufactured under a special state-corporate commission to commemorate the completion of the Nord Stream 2 subsea natural gas pipeline. The dirk belongs to the highest category of closed departmental and state awards: pieces of this commemorative series were personally presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin and top project executives to key project organizers, vessel captains, and chief maritime engineers. It was never made available for commercial retail sale.
2. Limited Edition Tiers
Only two strictly limited official tiers were produced for the project:
Core Presentation Series (The Featured Piece): Metal mounts on the scabbard and hilt are cast in solid brass. The edition is strictly limited to 75 pieces worldwide. These were presented to commanders of primary vessels (pipe-lay barge Fortuna, Akademik Cherskiy, escort and rescue tugs), chief marine engineers, and senior operational directors.
Supreme Elite Series: Metal fittings are crafted from melchior (cupronickel / nickel silver). The edition was limited to just 35 pieces, designated exclusively for state leaders and supreme executive heads of the project consortium.
3. Blade Metallurgy and Craftsmanship
120-Layer Damascus Steel: The blade was hand-forged using pattern-welded Damascus technique, combining 120 folded layers (grades) of steel with a distinct contrasting grain pattern.
Original Pipeline Steel: Real high-strength steel cut from actual Nord Stream 2 subsea pipes (API 5L X70 / SAWL heavy-wall pipe specification) was forged directly into the Damascus billet alongside high-carbon knife steels.
Blade Inscription: The fuller bears a deep, crisp etched inscription in Cyrillic: «Этот клинок изготовлен из стали труб «Северного Потока 2» (\"This blade is crafted from the steel of the pipes of Nord Stream 2\").
4. Artistry, Scabbard Mounts & Iconography (Solid Brass)
Upper Locket (Throat): The obverse displays a high-relief architectural depiction of the pipe-lay barge \"ФОРТУНА\" (Fortuna) with its heavy cranes, stinger, and nameplate. The reverse features the official circular 2020–2021 completion emblem showing a vessel silhouette and the cross-section geometry of the twin pipelines.
Middle Band: Features an embossed medallion of a fouled anchor with a moving suspension ring for a naval belt frog.
Chape (Scabbard Tip): Adorned with raised laurel and oak foliage, representing naval virtue and labor achievement.
Hilt and Scabbard Design: Conforms to traditional Russian naval officer dirk patterns, featuring an S-curved crossguard with globular tips, an integrated push-button scabbard catch, a dark polished grip, and brass ferrules. The scabbard body is finished with black textured covering.
Presentation Box: Original polished hardwood case with a form-fitted deep-red velvet interior. The exterior lid features crisp gold foil stamping of the project emblem, the dates 2020 / 2021, and the motto: «Опыт неподвластен стихиям» (\"Experience is beyond the power of the elements\").
5. Complete History of Nord Stream 2
Nord Stream 2 was developed as a twin subsea natural gas pipeline system spanning roughly 1,230 km (765 miles) across the floor of the Baltic Sea, running from Ust-Luga, Russia, directly to Lubmin near Greifswald, Germany, with an annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters.
In December 2019, under newly enacted US sanctions legislation (NDAA/PEESA), Swiss-Dutch contractor Allseas immediately halted operations and withdrew its pipelaying vessels (Pioneering Spirit and Solitaire), stranding the project with under 160 km of subsea pipe remaining. The Russian anchor-positioned pipe-lay barge Fortuna was mobilized to finish the line under immense international pressure. Between December 2020 and September 2021, the crew laid the final sections through German and Danish waters despite adverse weather conditions. On September 6, 2021, the final pipe was welded, and on September 10, 2021, the line was declared officially completed.
Although filled with technical gas by late 2021, German authorities suspended certification in February 2022. In late September 2022, underwater sabotage explosions damaged both pipeline strings, sealing Nord Stream 2\'s status as one of the most contentious geopolitical and engineering projects in modern history.
6. Valuation & Market Benchmarks
Estimated valuation: $2500 – $3000+
Key Value Drivers:
Complete presentation set (the original wooden case with intact gold stamping preserves full value).
Accompanying paperwork (official certificates or recipient documents add 30–50% to realized value).
Direct attribution to a specific vessel master or director elevates the item to a personalized historical relic.
Hand-Forged 120-Layer Damascus Blade with Real Subsea Pipeline Steel - Solid Brass Mounts
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE & PRESENTATION CONTEXT
An exceptional modern historical relic from one of the most contentious and consequential geopolitical energy megaprojects in modern history. This official presentation naval dirk was commissioned for an exclusive, closed ceremony where awards were personally presented by Russian President Vladimir Putin and project directors to fleet commanders, ship captains, and leading engineers who achieved the completion of the Nord Stream 2 subsea pipeline.
Following the late-2019 withdrawal of Western offshore contractors due to sanctions, the Russian pipe-lay barge \"Fortuna\" undertook the final, demanding deepwater laying operations across German and Danish waters. On September 10, 2021, the pipeline was officially declared finished.
To commemorate this monumental engineering feat, only two strictly limited official tiers were produced:
Solid Melchior (Cupronickel) Edition: Ultra-exclusive run of only 35 pieces reserved for state leaders and supreme executive heads.
Solid Brass Edition (This Piece): Limited to strictly 75 pieces worldwide, presented to vessel commanders, chief marine engineers, and key operational directors.
BLADE & METALLURGY
Hand-forged patterned Damascus steel composed of 120 folded steel layers.
Incorporates original heavy-wall pipe steel directly from the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
Deeply etched Cyrillic inscription along the fuller: \"Этот клинок изготовлен из стали труб «Северного Потока 2»\" (This blade is crafted from the steel of the pipes of Nord Stream 2).
SCABBARD & SOLID BRASS FITTINGS
Upper Locket (Throat): Obverse shows a high-relief architectural depiction of the pipe-laying barge \"ФОРТУНА\" (Fortuna) with its heavy pipelay crane system; reverse features the 2020-2021 project completion seal.
Middle Band: Embossed traditional fouled naval anchor with integrated suspension ring.
Scabbard Chape: Relief decoration of laurel and oak branches, symbolizing maritime honor and labor merit.
Hilt & Guard: Classic Russian naval pattern featuring an S-curved crossguard, functional push-button scabbard lock, brass ferrule/pommel, and dark composite grip.
PRESENTATION CASE
Accompanied by its original polished solid hardwood display case lined with rich deep-red velvet. The exterior lid features gold foil stamping of the official project logo, completion dates 2020 / 2021, and the motto: \"Опыт неподвластен стихиям\" (\"Experience is beyond the power of the elements\").
CONDITION REPORT
Mint / Excellent presentation condition. The 120-layer Damascus blade exhibits crisp, pristine layer definition, factory grind lines, and sharp edges. Brass mounts and lacquered wood casing display negligible signs of handling consistent with careful collection storage. Please consult the high-resolution photographs for complete visual confirmation.
