The flip knife CS2 players carry today is one of the oldest knives in Counter-Strike. It arrived with the Arms Deal update in August 2013, as one of five original cosmetic knives. This guide covers its history, its animations, the cases that drop it and the finishes it comes in. For dated market prices, read our cheapest Flip Knife post instead.
Flip knife CS2 history in brief
The Flip Knife is based on the Benchmade 860 Bedlam, a real folding knife. According to the Counter-Strike Wiki, it first appeared in early alpha builds of Global Offensive as the default Terrorist knife. Valve later turned it into a rare case reward.
One small quirk gives the in-game model away. The blade is longer than the handle. So when the knife folds, the tip still sticks out past the grip.
When Counter-Strike 2 replaced CS:GO in 2023, existing Flip Knives stayed in the same inventories. Like every knife, it is purely cosmetic. Damage, swing speed and backstabs match the default knife, as our knife damage guide explains.
What do the Flip Knife animations look like?
The draw is the part most owners notice. When you pull it out, the blade flips open with a quick flick of the wrist. That folding action gives the knife its name.
Beyond the draw, the animation set is fairly standard. Hotspawn's May 2026 rundown of knife animations calls it mostly default, with the pull-out as the stand-out moment. If you want a flashy inspect, the Butterfly or Falchion offers more. If you like something quick and clean, the Flip suits that taste.
You can preview a knife before trading for it. Our inspect animation guide explains how inspecting works. Inspect links let you view a specific listed item in game.
Which cases drop the Flip Knife?
The Flip shares its case pool with the Bayonet, Gut Knife, Karambit and M9 Bayonet. csdb.gg lists 16 cases that can drop it. The case you open decides which finish set is possible.
| Case group | Cases | Finish set |
|---|---|---|
| Early cases (2013 to 2015) | CS:GO Weapon Case 1, 2 and 3, eSports 2013, eSports 2013 Winter, eSports 2014 Summer, Operation Bravo, Winter Offensive, Operation Phoenix, Operation Vanguard, Revolver | Original finishes |
| Chroma cases (2015 to 2016) | Chroma, Chroma 2, Chroma 3 | Chroma finishes |
| Gamma cases (2016) | Gamma, Gamma 2 | Gamma finishes |
Knife drops are extremely rare, so never open cases expecting one. Our case odds post covers what Valve has disclosed. Since October 2025, knives can also come from trade-up contracts, which our trade-up guide explains.
Flip Knife finishes by set
The Strikeistan Flip Knife catalogue lists 25 finish names. That becomes 35 entries when each Doppler and Gamma Doppler phase is listed separately.
Original finishes
Vanilla (no pattern), Fade, Slaughter, Case Hardened, Crimson Web, Blue Steel, Night, Stained, Forest DDPAT, Boreal Forest, Safari Mesh, Scorched and Urban Masked. The camouflage finishes in this group are usually the cheapest. Fade and Case Hardened depend heavily on the pattern. See fade percentage and Case Hardened patterns for details.
Chroma finishes
Doppler, Marble Fade, Tiger Tooth, Damascus Steel, Rust Coat and Ultraviolet. Doppler comes in Phases 1 to 4 plus Ruby, Sapphire and Black Pearl. Our Doppler phases guide explains the differences.
Gamma finishes
Gamma Doppler, Lore, Autotronic, Black Laminate, Bright Water and Freehand. Gamma Doppler has four phases plus the green Emerald.
How to choose a Flip Knife
- Pick the finish first. Colour and style matter more for enjoyment than rarity on paper.
- Check the wear. Float changes how clean the blade looks. See our float values guide.
- Look at the pattern. Fade, Case Hardened, Marble Fade and Doppler vary by pattern seed. Read about pattern seeds before paying extra.
- Decide on StatTrak. It adds a kill counter and usually a price premium. Our StatTrak guide covers how it works.
A short price note. On 2 November 2026, the lowest Flip Knife listings on the Steam Community Market started at about $122, for heavily worn camouflage finishes. Prices change every day. Treat that figure as a snapshot, not a valuation, and never buy a knife as an investment.
Is a flip knife CS2 purchase worth it?
That depends on what you want from a knife. The Flip suits players who like a compact folding blade with a satisfying draw. On the 2 November snapshot it also started far below the Karambit, which shares its case pool. If animations are your main reason to buy, compare it with the others in our CS2 knife types overview first.
Sources and checks
Release, design and alpha history checked on 2 November 2026 against the Counter-Strike Wiki. Case list checked against csdb.gg. Animation notes come from Hotspawn. The price snapshot comes from the Steam Community Market.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Flip Knife added to Counter-Strike?
It arrived with the Arms Deal update in August 2013 as one of the five original cosmetic knives. It carried over to CS2 in 2023.
Does the Flip Knife do more damage than other knives?
No. Every knife in CS2 is cosmetic, so damage, swing speed and backstabs match the default knife.
Which cases can drop a Flip Knife?
16 cases, shared with the Bayonet, Gut Knife, Karambit and M9 Bayonet. Early cases give original finishes, the Chroma cases give Chroma finishes and the Gamma cases give Gamma finishes.
