What Is the Cheapest Knife in CS2? (UPDATED)

The cheapest knife in CS2 right now is usually the Shadow Daggers Rust Coat, with current listings starting around $41 to $50 depending on the marketplace and wear condition. Prices move every day, but Shadow Daggers, Navaja Knives, Gut Knives, Paracord Knives, and cheaper Safari Mesh or Rust Coat finishes are almost always near the bottom of the CS2 knife market.

That is the simple answer.

But if you are actually trying to buy your first CS2 knife, the cheapest option is not always the best option. Some knives are cheap because the animation is less popular. Some are cheap because the finish looks rough. Some are actually good deals because they still look clean in game without costing hundreds of dollars.

So below, we are going through the seven cheapest CS2 knives, what makes them cheap, and which ones are actually worth considering.

Table of Contents

Cheapest CS2 Knives Ranked

Rank	Knife	Common cheap finish	Approx starting price	Best for
1	Shadow Daggers	Rust Coat	Around $41	Cheapest possible knife
2	Shadow Daggers	Bright Water	Around $42	Cheap but cleaner looking
3	Navaja Knife	Rust Coat	Around $42	Budget single knife
4	Shadow Daggers	Safari Mesh	Around $43	Lowest budget option
5	Navaja Knife	Vanilla	Around $44	Simple default knife look
6	Paracord Knife	Safari Mesh	Around $45	Cheap modern knife model
7	Gut Knife	Rust Coat or Boreal Forest	Around $47 to $49	Classic cheap knife

These prices are based on current third party market ranges, and they can change quickly depending on listings, float, StatTrak, demand, and market movement. CSGOSKINS shows Shadow Daggers Rust Coat starting around $41.86, Navaja Rust Coat around $42.21, Navaja Vanilla around $44.04, Paracord Safari Mesh around the mid $40s, and Gut Knife budget finishes around the high $40s.

1. Shadow Daggers Rust Coat

If someone asks, what is the cheapest knife in CS2, this is usually the answer.

Shadow Daggers Rust Coat is one of the lowest priced knife skins in the game. It is not flashy, it is not rare looking, and it is not the type of knife most players dream about, but it gets the job done. You get a real CS2 knife for close to the lowest price possible.

The reason it is cheap is simple. Shadow Daggers are not as popular as Karambits, Butterfly Knives, M9 Bayonets, or Talon Knives. The Rust Coat finish also looks worn by design, so it does not have the clean look of Doppler, Fade, Tiger Tooth, or Marble Fade.

Still, for the cheapest possible entry into CS2 knives, Shadow Daggers Rust Coat is hard to beat. CSGOSKINS currently lists the Shadow Daggers Rust Coat price range at about $41.86 to $50.10 for normal versions, with StatTrak versions costing more.

2. Shadow Daggers Bright Water

Shadow Daggers Bright Water are one of the better cheap CS2 knives because they do not look as rough as Rust Coat or Safari Mesh.

The Bright Water finish has a cleaner blue camo style, which makes it feel more like an actual skin rather than just the cheapest knife you could find. It still has the Shadow Daggers problem, meaning some players do not like the double dagger animation, but the finish itself is solid for the price.

If you want a cheap CS2 knife that looks slightly more intentional, Bright Water is a better pick than Rust Coat. CSGOSKINS shows Shadow Daggers Bright Water starting around $42.56, which puts it very close to the cheapest knife range.

3. Navaja Knife Rust Coat

The Navaja Knife Rust Coat is another knife that often appears near the bottom of the market.

The Navaja is small, simple, and not as popular as bigger knife models. That is why it stays affordable. But unlike Shadow Daggers, it is still a single knife, which some players prefer. If you do not like the look of holding two daggers, a cheap Navaja might feel better in game.

The Rust Coat version is not beautiful, but it has a rugged look that some players actually like. It fits the idea of a worn street knife, and because it is already supposed to look rusty, you do not have to worry as much about the finish looking scratched.

CSGOSKINS currently lists Navaja Knife Rust Coat around $42.21 to $50.33, making it one of the cheapest CS2 knife options available.

4. Shadow Daggers Safari Mesh

Shadow Daggers Safari Mesh is another extremely cheap knife choice.

Safari Mesh is not a premium finish. It has that plain military pattern that most players see as a budget skin. But if your only goal is to own a knife in CS2 without spending much, this is one of the lowest priced ways to do it.

The main advantage is availability. CSGOSKINS describes Shadow Daggers Safari Mesh as widely available across multiple markets, with prices starting in the low $40 range. That matters because cheap listings disappear fast, and skins with more supply are usually easier to buy at a fair price.

5. Navaja Knife Vanilla

The Navaja Knife Vanilla is interesting because it is cheap without needing a rough budget finish.

Vanilla knives have no special skin pattern, but they can look cleaner than Rust Coat, Boreal Forest, or Safari Mesh. For players who hate the look of cheap camo finishes, a Vanilla Navaja can be a nice middle ground. You get a simple knife, a clean blade, and a low price.

It is still a Navaja, so do not expect the same respect or resale demand as a Karambit or Butterfly. But for a first CS2 knife, it is not a bad option.

CSGOSKINS currently shows Navaja Knife Vanilla starting around $44.04, with other listings higher depending on market and version.

6. Paracord Knife Safari Mesh

The Paracord Knife Safari Mesh is one of the better cheap knife models if you want something that feels more modern.

The Paracord Knife has a stronger shape than the Navaja and Shadow Daggers. Even with a cheap finish like Safari Mesh, it still feels like a proper survival style knife. That is why many players would rather spend a little more on a Paracord than buy the absolute cheapest Shadow Daggers.

CSGOSKINS lists Paracord Knife Safari Mesh in the mid $40s to much higher depending on wear and marketplace, and also notes that it is widely available across multiple markets.

If you are asking what the cheapest knife in CS2 is, this is not always number one. But if you are asking what cheap CS2 knife gives you a better looking model for the money, Paracord Safari Mesh deserves a serious look.

7. Gut Knife Rust Coat or Boreal Forest

The Gut Knife has always been one of the classic budget knife models in Counter Strike.

It is chunky, old school, and easy to recognize. Some players love it. Some players think it looks outdated. But if you want a cheap knife with more presence than a Navaja, the Gut Knife can be a good option.

The cheapest Gut Knife finishes are usually Rust Coat, Boreal Forest, Safari Mesh, and other older budget patterns. CSGOSKINS shows Gut Knife Rust Coat around $48.23 to $67.25, while Gut Knife Boreal Forest starts around the high $40s.

The Gut Knife is not the cheapest knife in CS2, but it is one of the cheapest knives that still feels like a real classic CS skin.

Why Are Some CS2 Knives So Cheap?

Cheap CS2 knives are usually cheap for three reasons.

First, the knife model is less popular. Shadow Daggers, Navaja, Gut Knife, and some lower tier survival style knives do not have the same demand as Butterfly, Karambit, M9 Bayonet, Skeleton Knife, or Talon Knife.

Second, the finish is not very desirable. Rust Coat, Safari Mesh, Scorched, Boreal Forest, and Forest DDPAT are usually much cheaper than Doppler, Fade, Slaughter, Tiger Tooth, or Marble Fade.

Third, the market has a lot of supply. When there are thousands of listings across marketplaces, prices stay lower because buyers have more options.

This is why the cheapest knife in CS2 is almost never the best looking knife. You are paying less because the market values the model and finish less.

Is the Cheapest Knife in CS2 Worth Buying?

Yes, but only if you understand what you are buying.

If you just want to finally own a knife, a cheap Shadow Daggers or Navaja can be worth it. You get the knife animation, the in game flex, and a cosmetic upgrade from default gloves and knife.

But if you care about looks, resale, or long term demand, buying the absolute cheapest knife may not be the smartest move. Sometimes spending a little more gets you a much better looking knife that is easier to resell later.

For example, Shadow Daggers Rust Coat might be the cheapest, but a Paracord Knife Safari Mesh or Gut Knife Bright Water may feel better in game. You do not always need to buy the lowest priced listing just because it is technically the cheapest.

Cheapest CS2 Knife by Type

If you want the fastest answer, here is how the budget knife market usually looks:

Knife type	Usually cheap?	Why
Shadow Daggers	Yes	Low demand compared to other knives
Navaja Knife	Yes	Small model and lower popularity
Gut Knife	Yes	Older budget knife model
Paracord Knife	Sometimes	Cheap finishes can be affordable
Survival Knife	Sometimes	Budget finishes can dip low
Falchion Knife	Sometimes	Usually a little more than the cheapest options
Karambit	No	Very high demand
Butterfly Knife	No	One of the most expensive knife types