The Butterfly Knife — added to the game in Operation Wildfire in 2016 — is one of CS2's two "premium" knife shapes (alongside the Karambit) and features the longest, most elaborate inspect animation in the game. The butterfly-flip open is the most-watched knife animation in Counter-Strike, which drives its collector premium over lower-tier knives.
Flagship Butterfly Knife finishes (Factory New pricing): Fade ($4,000–15,000+, percentage-dependent), Doppler Phase 2/4/Ruby/Sapphire/Black Pearl ($3,000–20,000+), Case Hardened Blue Gem ($10,000–100,000+ pattern-dependent), Marble Fade ($3,500–9,000, pattern-dependent), Tiger Tooth ($1,800–4,500), Lore ($2,500–7,000) and Slaughter ($3,000–8,000). Entry-tier options like Boreal Forest, Safari Mesh, Scorched trade around $800–1,300 in Well-Worn.
Butterfly Knife variants generally trade at a 20–30% premium over equivalent Karambit finishes because supply is thinner (Butterfly was added later in the game's history and drops less frequently). Prices refresh daily.
All variants — live prices
Frequently Asked Questions
Butterfly Knife or Karambit — which is better?
Both are considered "premium" knife shapes. Butterfly Knife has the longer, more elaborate inspect animation (butterfly-flip open sequence). Karambit is more iconic and has a larger buyer pool. Butterfly Knife typically trades at a 20–30% premium over equivalent Karambit finishes because Butterfly supply is thinner. Choice comes down to animation preference and budget.
What is the cheapest Butterfly Knife skin?
The cheapest Butterfly Knife finishes are Boreal Forest, Safari Mesh, Scorched, Urban Masked and Forest DDPAT — all around $800–1,300 in Battle-Scarred or Well-Worn. Entry price is higher than Karambit because Butterfly supply is smaller.
Why does the Butterfly Knife have the longest inspect animation?
The Butterfly Knife inspect animation was designed as a full butterfly-flip open sequence — Valve leaned into the real-world knife's signature manipulation. It takes ~4 seconds vs ~1.5 seconds for most other knives. The animation is a major driver of Butterfly's collector demand.
Are Butterfly Knife skins a good investment?
Historically among the strongest knife investments. Butterfly Knife appreciation has outpaced Karambit slightly over the past 5 years driven by thinner supply. Downside: higher entry price ($800+ for the cheapest, $4,000+ for a decent Fade or Doppler), and lower liquidity than Karambit at any given price point.