How many knives and finishes are there in CS2?
The Caseway Wiki lists 20 knife models. A model is a Bayonet, Karambit, Butterfly Knife, or another knife type; a finish is the look of a specific model. So a list of models is not the same as a list of every knife skin.
Ten models have 25 finishes each, eight have 19, and the Kukri Knife and Classic Knife have 13 apiece. The same number of finishes doesn’t mean the models have the same options. These figures show the size of each available selection, but don’t explain why the number of finishes differs.
To see all the finishes for a model, open its Wiki page—for example, Karambit, Butterfly Knife, or M9 Bayonet. This is more useful than choosing based only on the cheapest listing: that shows the price floor, not the full range of finishes.
- Model
- A knife type, such as Karambit or Bayonet. Each model has its own row in the table.
- Finish
- A finish for a model, such as Safari Mesh on the Karambit | Safari Mesh.
- Starting price
- The price of the model’s cheapest finish in the stated snapshot, not the price of every knife of that model.
- Median sale price
- The median price of completed sales. It doesn’t guarantee that an item is currently available on the market at that price.
Classic knife models in CS2: 16 cases each
Bayonet, M9 Bayonet, Karambit, Flip Knife and Gut Knife each appear in 16 cases, and each has 25 finishes. Those numbers are the same for all 5 models, but their starting prices vary considerably. Compare them in the table below.
When comparing this group, look at three things separately: knife shape, inspect animation, and finish. The number of cases and finishes doesn’t tell you about the knife’s shape or its inspect animation, while the starting price only shows the lowest price. Once you’ve narrowed the options by budget, compare the look and inspect animations of the models in-game. Which one you like seeing in your hands is a matter of preference, not a reason to call one model the best for everyone.
If you’re considering this group, start with the prices and then browse the finishes. The Gut Knife starts at $48.85, the Flip Knife at $130.00, the Bayonet at $143.29, the M9 Bayonet at $364.58, and the Karambit at $466.44. These are prices for standard versions on Steam as of October 1, 2026; they can change.
To browse the options, check the Bayonet and Flip Knife pages. Compare specific finishes, not just model names: the lowest price doesn’t represent the model’s full range.
Knives from five, four, three, two, and one case
Five cases each: Butterfly, Bowie, Falchion, Huntsman, and Shadow Daggers
Butterfly Knife, Bowie Knife, Falchion Knife, Huntsman Knife and Shadow Daggers each appear in 5 cases. Each has 25 finishes, the same as the models in the 16-case group. Appearing in fewer cases doesn’t mean a model has fewer finishes.
This group includes both the lowest and the highest starting prices in the table: Shadow Daggers start at $42.00, while the Butterfly Knife starts at $559.52. These are prices as of October 1, 2026, for the cheapest finishes on standard versions—not for every skin available for either model. See the table below for current prices.
Four cases each: Navaja, Stiletto, Talon, and Ursus
Navaja Knife, Stiletto Knife, Talon Knife, and Ursus Knife each have 19 finishes and appear in four cases. Their availability figures are the same, but their starting prices range from $43.13 for the Navaja Knife to $258.45 for the Talon Knife. See what the latter looks like in the Talon Knife Wiki.
Three cases each: Nomad, Paracord, Skeleton, and Survival
Nomad Knife, Paracord Knife, Skeleton Knife, and Survival Knife also have 19 finishes each, but appear in three cases apiece. For a quick price comparison, check the row for the model you want: the Paracord Knife starts at $44.94, the Survival Knife at $48.19, the Nomad Knife at $87.30, and the Skeleton Knife at $136.78.
Kukri Knife and Classic Knife: 13 finishes each
The Kukri Knife appears in two cases, while the Classic Knife appears in one. Both models have 13 finishes. In the same Steam snapshot, their starting prices are $47.44 and $70.89, respectively. A shorter list of cases doesn’t determine the price on its own.
CS2 Knives: Models and Starting Prices
The table lists all 20 models, along with the number of finishes and cases for each. The last column shows the price of the cheapest finish for the standard version, based on the seven-day median sale price on Steam. Prices are updated daily; the finishes were selected using prices as of October 1, 2026.
| Model | Finishes | Cases | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bayonet | 25 | 16 | $142 |
 M9 Bayonet | 25 | 16 | $314 |
 Karambit | 25 | 16 | $500 |
 Flip Knife | 25 | 16 | $130 |
 Gut Knife | 25 | 16 | $46 |
 Butterfly Knife | 25 | 5 | $506 |
 Bowie Knife | 25 | 5 | $48 |
 Falchion Knife | 25 | 5 | $67 |
 Huntsman Knife | 25 | 5 | $60 |
 Shadow Daggers | 25 | 5 | $42 |
 Navaja Knife | 19 | 4 | $42 |
 Stiletto Knife | 19 | 4 | $139 |
 Talon Knife | 19 | 4 | $236 |
 Ursus Knife | 19 | 4 | $57 |
 Nomad Knife | 19 | 3 | $83 |
 Paracord Knife | 19 | 3 | $46 |
 Skeleton Knife | 19 | 3 | $133 |
 Survival Knife | 19 | 3 | $45 |
 Kukri Knife | 13 | 2 | $48 |
 Classic Knife | 13 | 1 | $67 |
Which CS2 knife is best? Choose one that fits your budget
Start with the price, then choose a finish
A practical way to choose is to set a budget first, narrow down the models, and then compare their looks. This is a convenience, not a quality ranking. A model with a low starting price may fit your budget, but you may not like its cheapest finish.
Here are three examples of finishes; check each item’s card for its current price.
- Shadow Daggers | Safari Mesh — from $42.00.
- Bayonet | Scorched — from $143.29.
- Karambit | Safari Mesh — from $466.44.
Before comparing prices, check the item’s full name and version. A model’s starting price refers to its cheapest finish, not every finish you might like.
Shape and inspect animation come down to personal preference
Once you’ve narrowed down your options by budget, compare the look and inspect animation of the remaining models. Go with what you like: the number of finishes and cases won’t tell you which knife you’ll enjoy seeing in your hands. There’s no universal winner by these criteria.
Consider item versions separately, too. Knives come in StatTrak versions, but there are no Souvenir versions; Gloves don’t come in StatTrak versions. The table lists prices for standard knives, so don’t apply its values to StatTrak versions.
Which case can drop a knife?
Each case has its own selection of knife models. To check a specific knife, open the CS2 case catalog and look at the contents of the case you’re interested in. The “16” or “3” in the table shows how many cases include that model; it doesn’t replace the list of those cases.
A knife drops as an extremely rare item instead of a regular skin. According to Valve, the chance of getting a knife or Gloves is 0.26%. This is the chance for the knife or Gloves category, not for a specific model or finish. The possible items depend on the case.
Don’t treat the number of cases as an indicator of your odds of getting a specific knife. A model appearing in 16 cases doesn’t by itself mean you’re more likely to get it when you open any one case.
A Trade Up Contract with five Covert skins
Since October 22, 2025, five Covert skins from cases can be traded up for a knife or Gloves from those cases. This is another way to get a knife, but it does not guarantee a specific model. Possible outcomes depend on the cases the input skins came from.
Covert StatTrak™ skins work differently in trade-up contracts: you can trade up 5 of them only for a StatTrak™ knife from a case that contains one of those skins. Regular Covert skins yield a regular knife or Gloves.
Before putting a Trade Up Contract together, check the outcomes in the CS2 Trade Up Contract Calculator. Use it to assess a specific set of input items rather than relying only on the name of the knife you want. Being able to get a knife doesn’t mean the contract will be profitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many knives are there in CS2?
The Caseway Wiki lists 20 knife models. Each has between 13 and 25 finishes. The number of models is not the same as the total number of knife skins: each finish is counted separately.
Which case can drop a Karambit?
The Karambit appears in 16 cases: CS:GO Weapon Case, CS:GO Weapon Case 2, CS:GO Weapon Case 3, Operation Bravo Case, Winter Offensive Weapon Case, Operation Phoenix Weapon Case, eSports 2013 Case, eSports 2013 Winter Case, eSports 2014 Summer Case, Operation Vanguard Weapon Case, Chroma Case, Chroma 2 Case, Revolver Case, Chroma 3 Case, Gamma Case and Gamma 2 Case. The 0.26% chance applies to the case’s entire knife-and-glove pool, not specifically to the Karambit. Check the contents of each case in the case catalog, and see all Karambit finishes on the Karambit page.
What is the most expensive knife in CS2?
Among the starting prices for standard versions in the table, the highest is the Butterfly Knife at $559.52 on Steam as of October 1, 2026. This is the price of the model’s cheapest finish, not the most expensive individual knife. This comparison can’t establish the all-time price record, and prices change.
Can you get a knife from a Trade Up Contract?
Yes. Since October 22, 2025, five Covert skins from cases can be traded up for a knife or Gloves from those cases. The knife you want isn’t guaranteed. Check the Trade Up Contract Calculator to see the possible outcomes for a specific set of items.
