10 Rarest Knives in CS2

Every Counter-Strike player has surely dreamt about owning the rarest knife in CS2 to finish the job with an extra $1,500 and a spectacular flair. But which kind of cold weapon is the rarest in the game, and what skins can underline exclusivity and deliver enough aesthetic pleasure?

Despite a wide array of designs and tastes, CS2 skin lovers can easily form an elite group of knives that stand out both in terms of rarity and cost. Of course, we are talking about Butterflies, M9 Bayonets, and Karambit knife types, which are undeniably popular among players. When it comes to the rarest knife skins in CS2, Doppler and Gamma Doppler families top the list, with a Blue Gem variation of Case Hardened also taking a spot among the leaders.

Actually, the list of the 10 most expensive CS2 knife skins closely mirrors this top tier since the laws of supply and demand in Counter-Strike trading are pretty straightforward.

Please note that the prices for the rarest knives in CS2 are current as of July 2024 and may change over time.

Karambit | Doppler Sapphire

Being listed among the 15 best CS2 knife skins, the Doppler Sapphire skin on the Karambit knife looks amazing. It was rolled out in early 2015 with the introduction of the Chroma Case and was included in the second and third versions of this container a bit later. Overall, Doppler skins have four phases of their anodization (different Finish Catalog numbers), with the Ruby, Black Pearl, and Sapphire being highlighted as separate phases. The remarkable Doppler Sapphire Karambit undoubtedly earns its place among the rare knives in CS.

Quantity: 667

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #416

Price: $7,450 (MW) — $10,000 (FN)

Butterfly Knife | Doppler Black Pearl

If someone scores a Butterfly Knife or a Black Pearl skin, they’re surely lucky or wealthy. Having a Butterfly Knife | Doppler Black Pearl is a sign of even better luck or wealth since the starting price for such skin is about 8.5k dollars for the Minimal Wear copy. According to Google’s AI, this cold weapon is extremely rare and has been dropped only 184 times since its release in 2017. Although all Doppler skins shine well under the light, the dark nature of Black Pearl makes it less popular among players but keeps it a rare knife in CS2.

Quantity: 184

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #617

Price: $8,500 (MW) — $10,000 (FN)

M9 Bayonet | Doppler Ruby

Another classic and brutal dagger is the M9 Bayonet, and the blood-like Doppler Ruby finish makes it a unique and rare CS2 knife. The huge blade of the M9 Bayonet brings plenty of reflecting angles, which allows players to enjoy its appearance. It can only be found in Factory New or Minimal Wear conditions (just like all Dopplers and Gamma Dopplers). Since its release in early 2015, there have only been about seven hundred copies of this piece of art.

Quantity: 693

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #415

Price: $8,300 (MW) — $12,800 (FN)

Butterfly Knife | Doppler Ruby

Bright, shining Butterfly knives are a must-have in elite collections, requiring the use of the CS2 inventory value checker for faster calculations. The unique animation of these rare CS2 knives combined with the elite shine of the Ruby skin, which is blinding under artificial light, makes them highly sought after. Just like the Black Pearl skin, this one appeared in 2015 and can be found in only three cases, which cuts supply and pushes the price over 10 thousand bucks.

Quantity: A few hundred

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #415

Price: $9,590 (MW) — $11,090 (FN)

M9 Bayonet | Doppler Sapphire

Another instance of the in-game dagger likely inspired by real military use, the Doppler Sapphire M9 Bayonet looks similar to the Ruby skin version with the same reflecting potential but simply in a different color. Prices range between $7,900 for the MW version and reach $12,900 until we come to another knife, marking it as one of the rarest CS2 knives.

Quantity: 714

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #416

Price: $7,900 (MW) — $12,900 (FN)

We also recommend checking out our cool article about the most expensive CS2 inventories and who owns them.

Karambit | Gamma Doppler Emerald

It’s impossible to skip Karambits in the list of the rarest CS2 knife skins. The elite Gamma Doppler Emerald skin for the Karambit became a logical continuation and improvement for the Doppler skin family, introduced in the mid-2016. The shining steel of the blade, combined with a great finishing animation, transforms this knife into a real piece of art. Prices vary around ten thousand dollars, and it’s still hard to find more than a few items of Karambit | Gamma Doppler Emerald on the market.

Quantity: 653

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #568

Price: $8,600 (MW) — $13,200 (FN)

M9 Bayonet | Gamma Doppler Emerald

With a similar release date to the previous knife, the M9 Bayonet | Gamma Doppler Emerald also easily claims its spot among the rarest CS2 knife skin representatives. The shining green painting looks astonishing from the right angle, pushing prices even for the Minimal Wear copies above $10,000. Those who want to test their luck should prepare to buy either of the Gamma Cases and cross their fingers to snag one of these rare skins and the needed Finish Catalog number.

Quantity: 664

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #568

Price: $10,000 (MW) — $13,900 (FN)

Butterfly Knife | Doppler Sapphire

Anyone who has seen the animation of the Butterfly Knife in Counter-Strike 2 wouldn’t forget it, and the combination with a rare Doppler Sapphire skin is a win-win. The purple shine is highly respected in the game and costly, making it a contender for the rarest CS2 knife. The few existing copies of Butterfly Knife | Doppler Sapphire start around $11,300 and go up to $14,500 per dagger for a new one.

Quantity: 882

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #619

Price: $11,340 (MW) — $14,460 (FN)

Butterfly Knife | Gamma Doppler Emerald

While shining Butterflies with Doppler skins were introduced in mid-2017, the release of Butterfly Knife | Gamma Doppler Emerald was postponed to late 2021. With such a huge time gap, it became one of a few rare knives in CS2 that can hardly be found on the market. The price tag reflects the high demand and is situated on the other side of the scales compared to the top 12 cheapest knife skins. With around $11,000 required per MW copy, owners of the FN knife often fetch over $17,000.

Quantity: 553

Rarity: Covert

Finish Catalog #568

Price: $10,880 (MW) — $17,250 (FN)

Karambit | Case Hardened Blue Gem

Finally, we reach the pinnacle and can answer the question: what is the rarest knife in CS2. True, Karambit | Case Hardened is a pure legend in various ratings. Though one of the oldest skins for knives, it can be found in 11 containers. The Case Hardened skin closely resembles Dopplers with a unique and smooth gradient finish. However, one should pay attention to the pattern index, as only 10 variations out of 1000 can be called Blue Gems, with special attention to the 387 pattern. The latter in the Factory New float can cost an astounding $100,000+, while a simple Case Hardened skin can be bought for less than a thousand dollars.

Quantity: from a few dozen to a few hundred

Rarity: Covert

Patterns: 387, 269, 507, 442, 853, 321, 73, 902, 776, 955

Price: ~$5,000 (BS) — $100,000 (FN)