All CS2 Knives, Skins, and Prices Explained

With over 400 available skins, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to all CS2 knife skins, or even the CSGO knife skins that inspired them. Yet, these knives remain incredibly rare.

Analysing data available online with a grain of salt, there are over a billion CS2 skins in total, but only around 5.5 million of them are knife skins. This means knives make up just about 0.5% of the entire skin collection, a statistic that underscores their value.

But how many types of knives are there in total? How are they priced? And where can you actually get them? Don’t fret, we’re going to cover every CS2 knife in detail in this article.

All CS2 Knife Types - A Complete List

Including all CS:GO and CS2 knives, there are a total of 20 knives that have been released in the game so far.

These include the original knives, the operation knives, and the Kukri Knife, which is the only one released in CS2.

Let’s take a look at the complete list of all CS:GO knives:

1. Bayonet

One of the original knives from the Arms Deal update, the Bayonet is a true classic. Originally meant as a melee weapon attached to the barrel of rifles, the Bayonet has been one of the signature weapons of CS:GO players like gla1ve.

It’s a slim knife with a clean, smooth draw animation, where the player gives the blade a quick twirl through the air.

It fits perfectly if you’re looking for something minimalistic. The Bayonet appears in several cases, from the CS:GO Weapon Case to the Revolver Case.

2. M9 Bayonet

If there were a holy trinity of knives in CS2, the M9 Bayonet would undoubtedly be part of it.

Often considered a superior counterpart to the regular Bayonet, the M9 Bayonet has a thicker, more serrated, and deadlier look. The draw is noticeably different, with a heavier motion when the player swings it.

As you’d expect, the price tag increases with the M9, though many would argue it’s worth it. Several pro players have used the M9 Bayonet, but the Crimson Web owned by shox remains one of the most memorable.

3. Karambit

If there’s one knife that rivals the Butterfly in popularity, it’s the Karambit.

Inspired by Southeast Asian martial arts blades, it mimics the claw of a tiger. The Karambit boasts one of the sleekest animations, making it a top choice among pros like ZywOo, ropz, and XANTARES.

As one of the original knives introduced in 2013, it has held a special place in players’ hearts ever since. The most expensive knife in the game, the Karambit | Case Hardened Blue Gem (Pattern #387), has reportedly received million-dollar offers for a Factory New version.

4. Flip Knife

The Flip Knife is one of the oldest knives in CS:GO, dating back to the very beginning of skins.

It gained popularity thanks to legendary AWPers like kennyS and GuardiaN. Compact and sleek, it features a flick in its draw animation, making it a favorite among AWP players.

It doesn’t fall in the high-end category, making it a solid budget-friendly choice.

5. Butterfly Knife

Arguably the most popular knife in the game, the Butterfly Knife was introduced in 2014 as part of the Operation Breakout Case, which remains exclusive to this knife.

While the Breakout Case contains only legacy finishes, newer finishes were released later in the Spectrum Case (2017) and Operation Riptide Case (2022).

Its flashy inspect animation and distinctive flipping sound are what make it the most beloved knife in CS2.

6. Falchion Knife

Another Operation knife, the Falchion Knife, was released in 2015 as part of Operation Bloodhound. Compact yet modern, the Falchion features a broad blade with a sharp curve near the tip.

The unique trait of the Falchion is that its finishes cover the entire surface, including the handle.

It falls under the affordable range, cheaper than the Bayonets. It was once part of the fond collection of two-time Major MVP coldzera, who rocked a Falchion Ruby for quite some time.

7. Shadow Daggers

Unlike any other knife in the game, the Shadow Daggers come as a dual-wielded set, the only knife of its kind.

Introduced in 2015 with the Shadow Boxing update, you can unbox them from the Shadow Case or from others like the Spectrum Cases.

Despite their unique style, they’re among the cheaper knives available.

8. Bowie Knife

Compared to the Bayonets, the Bowie Knife was introduced much later, in 2016, as part of the Operation Wildfire update.

While it also features a broad blade, the Bowie Knife never gained much attention due to its simple draw animation. However, it’s one of the few knives with a distinct draw sound and a peculiar inspect animation.

It falls on the cheaper end of the knife spectrum.

9. Gut Knife

Next is the Gut Knife, a design that may not appeal to everyone, but remains a popular pick among budget users.

Despite its lower price, the Gut Knife features a large, rounded blade and a draw animation similar to the Huntsman Knife, including a twirl through the air.

Its exclusive case is the Revolver Case, although you can also find it in others, such as Operation Bravo and the Chroma series.

10. Huntsman Knife

The Huntsman Knife is another well-built blade that stands out with its sharp, intimidating design.

It has a draw animation similar to the Gut Knife but enjoys greater popularity overall popularity.

It’s quite affordable and can be found in the Huntsman Case, as well as others like Operation Riptide and Dreams & Nightmares.

11. Navaja Knife

The Navaja Knife was released in August 2018, and is one of the smallest and cheapest knives since CS:GO.

Found in the Prisma Case series, it features a folding design with a simple draw and inspect animation.

12. Stiletto Knife

Another underrated knife, the Stiletto Knife was introduced as part of the Horizon Case in the “A New Horizon” update, released in August 2018.

A year later, Valve launched the Prisma cases, where the Doppler finishes of the Stiletto Knife became very popular.

Players like fer equipped a Sapphire variant, paired with Hand Wraps | Cobalt Skulls.

13. Talon Knife

The Talon Knife also arrived in 2018 alongside the “A New Horizon” update, alongside the Navaja, Stiletto, and Ursus.

Even though it resembles the Karambit knife, it has a more captivating inspect animation.

As such, the Talon Knife became the most expensive knife of the Horizon Case lot, even though it failed to beat the allure of the Karambit.

14. Ursus Knife

The Ursus Knife rounds out the Horizon Case knives and is another popular choice among players with a budget.

It comes with a rare inspect animation, where the player flips the knife with their fingers for a prolonged time.

So if you are on a budget and don’t want to go for the old-fashioned Gut or Huntsman, the Ursus Knife can definitely be a good option for you.

15. Classic Knife

The Classic Knife was launched in 2019 to celebrate 20 years of Counter-Strike. It was Valve’s nod to nostalgia, bringing back the original knife from CS 1.6 in the CS20 Case.

Its plain, classic look makes the Vanilla version the most cherished variant. Upon release, it quickly became popular among veterans, with pros like dev1ce equipping it almost instantly.

You can only find the Classic Knife in the CS20 Case and nowhere else. Despite that, it remains an affordable option and features only legacy finishes.

16. Nomad Knife

When it comes to underrated knives, the Nomad definitely shines forth.

With a sharp design, stylish draw animation, and affordable price, it’s an excellent choice for players looking for flair. Its unique inspect animation, where the player accidentally cuts their finger, makes it one of the most memorable knives in the game.

Even s1mple used the Nomad Knife for quite some time after its release. It was introduced during Operation Shattered Web and can also be found in the Fracture and Fever Cases.

17. Paracord Knife

Another knife that debuted during the Shattered Web update, the Paracord Knife features a long, straight blade with a handle wrapped in tight paracord.

It also has a distinctive inspect animation. Like the Nomad, you can find it in the Shattered Web Case, Fracture Case, and Fever Case.

18. Skeleton Knife

Also released during the Shattered Web operation, the Skeleton Knife quickly stole the spotlight. Many compared it to the Butterfly for its sleekness and animation.

Its rare inspect animation, where players can spin it around their finger like a fidget spinner, made it a fan favorite among skin collectors.

At the time of release, the most popular finish of the Skeleton Knife was the Fade, but the modern finishes gave it a run for its money with its launch in the Fever Case.

19. Survival Knife

The Survival Knife also belongs to the Shattered Web bunch and comes with two rare draw animations.

In the first, the player tosses the knife into the air and catches it; in the other, they flip it before grabbing the handle.

It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking for a budget-friendly knife that’s not too heavy on the purse.

20. Kukri Knife (New in CS2)

The Kukri Knife is the first new knife introduced in CS2 and quickly gained popularity due to its distinctive animation.

It was released in February 2024 as part of the Kilowatt Case and later included in the Gallery Case.

So far, only legacy finishes exist for the Kukri, but players have been eagerly anticipating modern finishes in future case drops.

CSGO/CS2 Knife Market and Value

Ever since the CS:GO days, market prices have primarily been driven by rarity and demand. Knives are rarer than most skins, making them some of the most expensive items in the game.

Now, if you take a look at the Classic Knife, it can only be obtained from the CS20 Case, which is no longer being dropped.

Yet, it remains cheaper than the Butterfly Knife, which is in far greater demand. That sustained demand has pushed prices higher.

When it comes to knife finishes, all finishes are known to have the same odds of being unboxed. Yet, despite belonging to the same pool, Crimson Web knives are far more valuable than Safari Mesh knives, again, a simple matter of demand.

When you combine both rarity and popularity, you get Doppler gems and Blue Gems, which sit at the pinnacle of the price chain. These are special pattern cases where the pattern index determines the value.

While we’ve already discussed Dopplers, you can refer to this guide to identify a Blue Gem knife. StatTrak also invariably influences the price. Since most players prefer their knives, such as Karambits, to appear pristine, StatTrak variants can sometimes be more affordable.

CS2 Knife Skins & Finishes

In CS2, each skin has a rarity level associated with it. In order from low to high in rarity, these are:

• Consumer Grade
• Industrial Grade
• Mil-Spec
• Restricted
• Classified
• Covert

All of the knives fall under the covert category, which is why their icons have a red color in your in-game inventory.

Rarity and Grades of Knife Skins

Adding to these levels of rarity, some knives also come in a StatTrak version, which displays your kill count with that particular melee weapon. While StatTrak variants are often rarer, they don’t always come at a higher price.

For example, in the case of the Karambit | Doppler, the StatTrak version is slightly cheaper than the regular Doppler. This is because, for knives, the kill count is shown as a scratch, which does not appeal to most players. People prefer their knives to remain spotless, making these StatTrak knives sometimes less desirable.

Float also plays a significant role in knives. Unlike regular skins, most knives are capped to a specific float value.

The float is capped at a maximum of 0.08 in the case of Dopplers, which makes the Minimal Wear version very rare. Being exceptionally rare, these Minimal Wear versions can sometimes be priced even higher than Factory New ones. Remember, low-float knives with no visible wear are always more desirable.

What Are The Most Popular CS2 Knife Finishes

Among skin enthusiasts, specific finishes have stood out from the rest. While some of the legacy finishes, such as Fades and Crimson Webs, will always be considered “classic,” the modern finishes are often more sought after. These include the Dopplers, the Gamma Dopplers, the Tiger Tooth, and the Marble Fades.

CS2/CSGO Knife Patterns Explained

Now, it becomes clear that even different knives can have different skin types, giving players a wide range of options to choose from. But that’s not where the diversity stops.

Even knives with the same finish can vary in both appearance and price. You would have noticed a stark difference in the prices of different Doppler knives. It is because, despite belonging to the same skin type, the knives differ in pattern.

What Are Knife Patterns?

Every skin in CS:GO, whether a knife or not, is generated with a pattern index number. This number ranges from 0 to 1000 and can significantly alter the appearance of the knife. And when the appearance changes, so does the price tag associated with the CS2 knife. Let's examine some examples to understand how stark the price difference can be due to different patterns.

Rare Pattern Examples

In the case of Case-Hardened knives, this pattern becomes extremely important, as it dictates the amount of blue, which in turn drives the price. The pattern index also comes into play in the case of Dopplers, which come in different phases.

Phase 1 contains a deep red color mixed with some black and purple, which becomes even more pronounced in Phase 2. Phase 3 features a mix of blue and purple hues, with the blue tones scattering even more in Phase 4.

Apart from these phases, these Dopplers can also come in extremely rare Ruby, Sapphire, or Black Pearl finishes. Collectors often become obsessed with rare pattern placements.

Other patterns belonging to the same finish can also differ in price. Crimson Web knives can fetch a high price if they feature multiple webs on the playside.

Slaughter knives featuring diamond patterns can also fetch extra money. Fade knives come with a fade percentage, which depends on the amount of red on the finish.

Higher fades (98–100%) go for a significantly higher amount than lower fades.

Earning and Trading Knives in CS2/CS:GO

Now that we’ve covered what knives are, their finishes, and their rarity, the central question of how to actually get a knife remains unanswered. Fortunately, there are several ways to get one and use it in-game. Let’s take a look.

1. Opening Cases

The main way knives enter the game’s economy is through case unboxing. Most weapon cases contain knives as exceedingly rare gold-tier drops, where players have a small chance to get a knife. You can either buy a case from the Steam Market or use one dropped to you, then purchase a key to unlock it.

You will lose the case in exchange for a skin or a knife belonging to that case. The odds of unboxing a knife from a CS2 case are around 0.26%, meaning you’d need to open roughly 385 cases to get one. The odds are very low, which is why knives are so rare and valuable.

2. Crafting

After the October 23, 2025, Update, it became possible to craft knives using coverts. Earlier, crafting (or trade-ups) was limited to non-souvenir skins, allowing players to exchange 10 skins of the same rarity for one of higher rarity.

Now, players can trade up five covert skins to receive a knife belonging to the same collection. While this guarantees a knife, it requires sacrificing five high-value skins.

3. Steam Community Market

If you don’t want to rely on luck, you can buy a knife directly from the Steam Community Market (SCM). First, you need to either deposit from your card or sell your skins to get the required funds into your account. Then, you can browse and purchase the knife you want.

However, Steam Market prices are usually higher than those on third-party sites, as you can’t withdraw Steam funds, which reduces their real-world value. Still, if you prefer to stay within Steam’s system, this is a safe and simple option. You can also place buy orders at a lower price if you don’t mind waiting.

4. Trading with Players

Trading directly with other players is another option. This method works well if you want to exchange your existing skins or knives instead of spending money.

Another benefit of trading is that you save money that you would otherwise lose in transaction fees. Most marketplaces charge fees, which you can avoid by using this method. Steam’s built-in trade system makes the process simple, but always stay cautious to avoid scams or trade reversals.

5. Third-Party Marketplaces and Gambling

Another common way to obtain knives is through trusted third-party marketplaces or case-opening websites. These platforms offer better prices, lower fees, and a wider choice of knives.

Reputable sites like Buff163, CSFLOAT, BitSkins, and SkinsLuck are some of the most widely used marketplaces considered safe and offer better odds than CS2 cases.

If you enjoy taking risks but want a guaranteed knife, you can check out cases like Knives-Out.

CS2 Knives - Final Thoughts

Knives in CS2 have now become a status symbol. You would see players flaunting their butterfly knives in almost every other game. Whether it's a superior finish, a rare pattern, or a more elegant exterior, your knife represents your discerning taste.

There are over 20 types of knives available in the game, coming in a total of 400 finishes. Even knives belonging to the same finish can vary in pattern or exterior. Low float knives are generally valued higher than high float ones, while certain rare patterns can also increase the price of a knife drastically.

There are several ways to obtain a knife - you can either unbox, buy, trade, or even craft one.

CS2 and CS:GO Knives - Frequently Asked Questions

Which CS2 cases have knives?

All CS2 cases have a chance to drop an “Exceedingly Rare” item, highlighted in gold. These items can be either gloves or knives, depending on the case type. Each CS2 case includes a specific set of knife drops, while some Operation cases feature exclusive knives that can’t be found anywhere else.

What’s the rarest knife skin in Counter-Strike?

The rarest knife skin in Counter-Strike is the Karambit | Case Hardened Blue Gem Pattern #387. Only one of the kind exists in Factory New condition, and is valued at over $2 million. Doppler Gems are also incredibly rare, making them very expensive.

Are CS2 and CS:GO knives the same?

Yes, CS:GO knives have been carried over to be used in CS2. The Kukri knife is the only knife to be released in CS2, while others come from CS:GO. They had the same animation in CS2 as CS:GO, but Valve tweaked some knife animations in their July 2025 Update.

How can I get a knife in CS2 without spending money?

Yes, it is possible to get a knife in CS2 without spending money. You can use the in-game trade option to trade your skins with other users for a knife. You can also use third-party marketplaces like SkinsLuck to trade your skins or drops for a knife.

Which CS2 knife is best for new players?

There’s no clear-cut answer when it comes to the best knife for new players in CS2, as knives don’t impact gameplay performance. However, it’s generally recommended that beginners avoid purchasing expensive knives, since they can attract scammers or unnecessary attention. Instead, start with a budget-friendly knife that suits your personal style.

What’s the difference between a finish and a pattern?

A finish refers to the skin applied to the knife. For example, Fade, Crimson Web, and Black Laminate. A pattern, on the other hand, pertains to the unique variation of that finish. Each skin contains a pattern index that can change the appearance of the same finish.