In Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), some exceptionally rare knives can sell for more than $10,000. Using any knife type other than the default or donning a beautiful skin is a privilege reserved for those who were extremely lucky opening cases or chose to spend some serious coin.
That said, getting a nice-looking knife in CS2 isn’t as expensive as you may think. There are cheap CS2 knife skins with aesthetics that’ll make you smile without breaking the bank. Let’s take a look at the best budget-friendly knife options for gamers who want a lil’ extra something.
Important Note: Our estimated CS2 knife prices are averages based on the Steam Marketplace and third-party websites, including but not limited to CSROI, Skin Club Community, CSGOSkins, and DMarket. The prices are subject to change due to fluctuating demand.
Gut Knife | Bright Water
Boasting a gut hook on the spine of the blade, the Gut Knife in CS2 can turn heads, with the right skin attached. That’s where the Gut Knife | Bright Water skin excels, featuring a beautiful blue camo pattern.
It’s one of our favorite knife/skin combinations that won’t break the bank. The Gut Knife | Bright Water aquatic theme is available for approximately $64 in Minimal Wear.
For the cleanest pattern possible, you may want to consider splurging on a Factory New option for roughly $80. Alternatively, you can take a chance on the Gamma Case or Gamma Case 2.
Falchion Knife | Damascus Steel
With metallic patterns covering the blade, the Falchion Knife | Damascus Steel signals strength and resilience. The Falchion Knife base pays homage to the iconic falchion sword. It’s one of the best “cheap” knives in CS2. As a bonus, there’s a rare inspect animation on all Falchion Knife options in CS2, where you balance the weapon on your palm.
If you are patient, you can pick up a Falchion Knife | Damascus Steel in Minimal Wear for roughly $98. The exceedingly rare item can also be found in the Spectrum Case and Spectrum Case 2.
Shadow Daggers | Lore
Become a dual-wielding legend on the server with the Shadow Daggers | Lore knife combo. These small daggers, with a knotwork design, look beautifully shiny and golden, a fan-favorite color in CS2.
The medieval design meshes perfectly with the golden color of the Lore skin. Best of all, Shadow Daggers | Lore is relatively cheap, selling for roughly $76 at Minimal Wear. Also available via the Dreams and Nightmares and Operation Riptide cases.
Paracord Knife | Urban Mask
At Minimal Wear, the Paracord Knife | Urban Mask stands out as a clean white melee weapon. The knife handle is wrapped in paracord, while the blade is akin to a spray-painting job using masking tape.
The Paracord Knife | Urban Mask will set you back roughly $72 at Minimal Wear, and $55 at Field Tested. A cheaper alternative skin for the Paracord Knife is the Scorched. Minimal Wear on Paracord Knife | Scorched can sell for roughly $58. Also available as a drop via the Fracture and Shattered Web cases.
Navaja Knife | Blue Steel
While the Navaja Knife has drawbacks, such as a small blade and a folding animation that isn’t great, the Blue Steel skin looks spectacular on it, making this combination one of the best cheap CS2 knife options.
It’s sleek, with a metallic blueish tone that conveys the cold feel of a deadly blade. You can pick one up for approximately $60 at Minimal Wear. Alternatively, open Danger Zone and Horizon cases to test your luck.
Bowie Knife | Rust Coat
The Bowie Knife | Rust Coat looks like something Rambo would use to slaughter his enemies. With a full-tang sawback design and an electrifying animation where your character flips the blade to themselves to inspect the tip, the Bowie Knife is a fantastic pick.
There are only Well-Worn and Battle-Scarred conditions available. We prefer the latter, since the rust effect is less prominent on the Well-Worn option. A Bowie Knife | Rust Coat will set you back roughly $53 in Battle-Scarred condition. Try your luck by opening the Spectrum or Spectrum 2 cases.
Survival Knife | Ultraviolet
The carbon-esque blade of the Survival Knife, in a clean, dark grey, pairs exceptionally well with the purple hilt of the Ultraviolet skin. With a fast reverse-flip animation, the Survival Knife is compact and versatile.
Ultraviolet pairs well with budget Gloves. You can pick one up for $80 at Minimal Wear, while Field Tested still looks good and sells for only $67. Gamers can also try their luck by opening Fever cases.
Huntsman Knife | Freehand
One of the best cheap CS2 knife/skin combinations that look fantastic has to be the Huntsman Knife | Freehand. With an artistic pattern and vibrant purple, the combination stands out from the crowd.
While the spinning animation isn’t the best, the weapon’s blade size makes up for it. You can pick one up for as little as $85 (Minimal Wear), or choose the Factory New option for approximately $96 for the best possible version. Feeling lucky? Try opening Dreams and Nightmares or Operation Riptide cases.
Ursus Knife | Night Stripe
A minimalist survival knife with a boxy design and an impact pommel makes the Ursus Knife one of our favorites. It boasts a unique, rare inspect animation in which the player character juggles the knife, while the default animation shows a clean toss/catch.
With the dark, striped skin pattern, the Ursus Knife | Night Stripe is perfect for those who want to feel a bit stealthy. Pick one at $95 in Minimal Wear or try your luck at opening Horizon or Danger Zone cases.
Shadow Daggers | Tiger Tooth
Channel the eye of the tiger with the beautiful Tiger Tooth skin. It is orange with a hand-etched tiger-stripe pattern. While most Tiger Tooth skins on different knives sell for well above $100, the Shadow Daggers | Tiger Tooth in Factory New sells for approximately $90, which is an absolute bargain.
The Minimal Wear options are more expensive, since the orange tends to turn more golden. Alternatively, you can open Spectrum cases for a chance at getting one of these beauties.
Why Did We Pick These Knives?
Everyone knows a Karambit or a Butterfly knife, with something special like a high-tier Gamma Doppler or Fade skin, is the “best.” Our mission, however, was to find CS2 knives that were cheap yet still looked good.
For this article, we chose knives you can find for under $100. Given the need for a low price point, we selected Field-Tested (0.15–0.38 float) to Minimal Wear (0.07–0.15 float) conditions, unless otherwise specified.
These offer the highest value, with Minimal Wear being close to Factory New (0–0.07) in visual appeal. You can get Well-Worn (0.38–0.45) or Battle-Scarred (0.45–1.00) for cheaper, but they generally look much worse, with a few exceptions, for example, with the Rust skin.
If you have some Covert items lying around, you can always test your luck by exchanging five Covert items for one regular Knife from a collection of one of the items provided via the Trade Up Contracts. Valve deployed this change, which impacted knife prices, on Oct. 23, 2025.
FAQs About Cheap Knives In CS2
Below, you’ll find a handful of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about cheap knives in CS2.
How Do I Find A Cheap Knife Deal In CS2?
Consider that prices fluctuate daily. If you are not in a hurry, we suggest scouting for the best deals over a period of weeks, possibly up to a month. Always check the Steam Marketplace daily for good deals. Use third-party skin websites at your own risk.
Do You Run Faster With A Top-Tier Knife?
While you may feel invigorated showing off a top-tier knife like a Butterfly or a Karambit on the server, there is absolutely no gameplay advantage.
What Is The Cheapest Knife Type?
The Navaja Knife is the cheapest because of its small blade and fold animation, which don’t show much flair. You can get skins such as Boreal Forest, Safari Mesh, Scorched, and Night Stripe for the Navaja Knife at prices just under $50.
Can I Get A Gold Knife For Under $100?
Yes, we recommend the Shadow Daggers | Lore for approximately $75 (Minimal Wear). Alternatively, check out the Gut Knife | Lore, which can sell in Field-Tested condition for roughly $95.
Can I Get A Cheap Karambit Knife in CS2?
No. The “cheapest,” lowest-quality Karambit Knife skin still sells for more than $400 in 2026.