A Lore knife is any CS2 knife with the Lore finish, a custom paint job decorated with ornate knotwork. It is one of the Gamma finishes, and its green and gold look stands out from the reds and metals of older finishes. This guide covers where Lore came from, how it looks, how wear changes it and what it cost on the Steam Community Market on 2 November 2026.
Where did the Lore finish come from?
Lore arrived with the Gamma Case in June 2016, back in CS:GO. Csdb.gg lists the Gamma Case knives as the Bayonet, Flip Knife, Gut Knife, Karambit and M9 Bayonet, each with a Lore version. Jumpthrow.gg lists the Gamma 2 Case as a second source for the Karambit Lore. The other Gamma finishes are Gamma Doppler, Autotronic, Black Laminate, Bright Water and Freehand.
Lore is not limited to those five knives today. On 2 November 2026 the Steam Market also listed Lore versions of the Butterfly Knife, Bowie Knife and Shadow Daggers. These come from later cases, so check an item's page for its exact source. Our cases and collections guide explains how knife pools are shared between cases.
What does a Lore knife look like?
The finish style is listed as custom paint job. Jumpthrow.gg describes it as custom painted with knotwork. In practice, that means interlaced decorative lines over a mix of green, yellow and gold tones. The effect is closer to an engraved heirloom than a modern tactical knife.
Because the design is painted on, it reacts to wear in a clear way. Low-float copies show crisp knotwork and strong colour. As wear rises, scratches cut through the design and the colours fade towards bare metal.
Which wears does Lore come in?
On the Karambit, jumpthrow.gg lists a float range of 0.00 to 0.65, with all five wear tiers available. Other Lore knives on the Steam Market also showed a wide spread of wears, from Battle-Scarred up to Minimal Wear or better. Battle-Scarred copies are the cheapest way in, but they lose a lot of the detail that makes the finish appealing. The float values guide explains the bands.
How much does a Lore knife cost?
These were selected lowest "starting at" listings on the Steam Community Market on 2 November 2026.
| Skin | Lowest listing (2 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| Shadow Daggers Lore (Well-Worn) | $59.15 |
| Shadow Daggers Lore (Field-Tested) | $62.02 |
| Shadow Daggers Lore (Minimal Wear) | $72.54 |
| Bowie Knife Lore (Battle-Scarred) | $80.91 |
| Gut Knife Lore (Battle-Scarred) | $85.70 |
| M9 Bayonet Lore (Minimal Wear) | $962.20 |
| Butterfly Knife Lore (Minimal Wear) | $1,024.99 |
| Karambit Lore (Minimal Wear) | $1,081.00 |
| Karambit Lore (Factory New) | $1,564.93 |
The cheapest Lore knife was a Well-Worn Shadow Daggers at $59.15. Interestingly, the Well-Worn copy was slightly cheaper than Battle-Scarred that day. The most expensive listing was a Factory New Karambit, with only two copies for sale.
The gap between models is huge. A Minimal Wear Karambit Lore cost about 15 times more than a Minimal Wear Shadow Daggers Lore. As usual, the knife model sets most of the price.
Is a Lore knife a good pick?
This is editorial opinion. Lore suits players who want something decorative and unusual. It pairs well with green or gold weapon skins, which you can plan in our loadout tool. Its weakness is wear sensitivity, because a scratched Lore loses much of its charm.
If you like the Gamma look but want a bolder colour, compare it with the Autotronic finish. Inspect each copy with an inspect link before buying, since scratches sit in different places on every float.
Prices change, check the market
All prices here are a snapshot from 2 November 2026. Check the live Steam listing before you buy. Skins are cosmetic items, not investments. Read our guide to trading skins safely before any trade.
Sources and checks
Finish history was checked on 1 November 2026 against csdb.gg and jumpthrow.gg. Prices were checked on 2 November 2026 on the Steam Community Market, filtered to knives, in USD.
Frequently asked questions
Which case introduced the Lore knife finish?
The Gamma Case, released in June 2016. It offered Lore on the Bayonet, Flip Knife, Gut Knife, Karambit and M9 Bayonet.
What is the cheapest Lore knife?
On 2 November 2026 it was Shadow Daggers Lore (Well-Worn) at $59.15 on the Steam Community Market. Prices change daily.
Does wear matter on a Lore knife?
Yes. Lore is a painted design, so higher wear scratches the knotwork and fades the colours. Low-float copies look much cleaner.
