Best CS2 Knives to Buy — Ranked by Trend and Liquidity
A rising price only helps if you can sell again. Every item here is rated on both: where the price has gone over the last week and month, and whether the item actually trades. Momentum sets the rating — liquidity can only pull it down.
Showing 50 of 109 ranked items, re-sorted within the 1,200-item candidate pool.
| # | Item | Verdict | 7d | 30d | Liquidity | Sell in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  ★ Gut Knife | DopplerSTRubyFactory New | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -1.2% | ▲ +1.7% | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $545 |
| 2 |  ★ Ursus Knife | ScorchedBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +1.2% | ▼ -1.8% | Rarely Traded | ~3 weeks | $59 |
| 3 |  ★ Navaja Knife | StainedField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +3.0% | ▼ -4.5% | Rarely Traded | ~3 weeks | $45 |
| 4 |  ★ Classic Knife | Night StripeFactory New | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -0.4% | ▲ +0.5% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $498 |
| 5 |  ★ Huntsman Knife | Urban MaskedField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | 0% | — | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $62 |
| 6 |  ★ Bayonet | Urban MaskedWell-Worn | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | 0% | ▼ -0.1% | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $138 |
| 7 |  ★ Gut Knife | LoreSTWell-Worn | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +6.3% | ▼ -9.5% | Rarely Traded | No flow | $147 |
| 8 |  ★ Bayonet | Boreal ForestWell-Worn | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +3.6% | ▼ -5.6% | Rarely Traded | ~2 months | $128 |
| 9 |  ★ Paracord Knife | StainedSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +2.1% | ▼ -3.2% | Rarely Traded | ~3 months | $114 |
| 10 |  ★ Stiletto Knife | Forest DDPATSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -5.0% | ▲ +7.3% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $177 |
| 11 |  ★ Gut Knife | DopplerSTP1Minimal Wear | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +2.6% | ▼ -4.0% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $264 |
| 12 |  ★ Bowie Knife | Rust CoatWell-Worn | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +3.7% | ▼ -5.7% | Rarely Traded | ~3 weeks | $66 |
| 13 |  ★ Survival Knife | Tiger ToothSTFactory New | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.2% | ▼ -0.5% | Rarely Traded | ~4 weeks | $124 |
| 14 |  ★ Bayonet | SlaughterSTField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.7% | ▼ -1.3% | Rarely Traded | No flow | $414 |
| 15 |  ★ Nomad Knife | Safari MeshSTWell-Worn | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -7.7% | ▲ +11.4% | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $97 |
| 16 |  ★ Talon Knife | Crimson WebSTBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -3.1% | ▲ +4.5% | Rarely Traded | No flow | $421 |
| 17 |  ★ M9 Bayonet | Case HardenedSTWell-Worn | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -3.2% | ▲ +4.6% | Rarely Traded | ~3 weeks | $632 |
| 18 |  ★ Stiletto Knife | Rust CoatWell-Worn | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.3% | ▼ -0.6% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $156 |
| 19 |  ★ Stiletto Knife | Night StripeWell-Worn | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.5% | ▼ -0.9% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $150 |
| 20 |  ★ Bowie Knife | ScorchedBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -0.8% | ▲ +0.9% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $66 |
| 21 |  ★ Gut Knife | Boreal ForestField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +2.1% | ▼ -3.4% | Rarely Traded | ~3 weeks | $46 |
| 22 |  ★ Stiletto Knife | Urban MaskedBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | 0% | ▼ -0.3% | Rarely Traded | ~3 weeks | $141 |
| 23 |  ★ Huntsman Knife | LoreSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -1.5% | ▲ +2.0% | Rarely Traded | ~3 months | $165 |
| 24 |  ★ Falchion Knife | Crimson WebField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.6% | ▼ -1.2% | Rarely Traded | ~2 months | $118 |
| 25 |  ★ Flip Knife | Safari MeshSTBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -3.2% | ▲ +4.5% | Rarely Traded | ~4 months | $122 |
| 26 |  ★ Huntsman Knife | NightSTField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +2.8% | ▼ -4.5% | Rarely Traded | No flow | $121 |
| 27 |  ★ Bayonet | NightBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.8% | ▼ -1.5% | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $137 |
| 28 |  ★ Shadow Daggers | ScorchedField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -1.9% | ▲ +2.4% | Rarely Traded | ~4 weeks | $47 |
| 29 |  ★ Bayonet | Tiger ToothSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -7.3% | ▲ +10.5% | Rarely Traded | ~2 months | $549 |
| 30 |  ★ Bowie Knife | Crimson WebSTField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.5% | ▼ -1.3% | Rarely Traded | ~5 days | $196 |
| 31 |  ★ Navaja Knife | StainedBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +4.1% | ▼ -6.7% | Rarely Traded | ~2 months | $48 |
| 32 |  ★ Bayonet | Blue SteelSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -2.4% | ▲ +3.1% | Rarely Traded | ~4 months | $340 |
| 33 |  ★ Skeleton Knife | UltravioletSTBattle-Scarred | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -1.3% | ▲ +1.5% | Rarely Traded | ~2 months | $214 |
| 34 |  ★ Ursus Knife | Rust CoatSTWell-Worn | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -1.2% | ▲ +1.2% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $127 |
| 35 |  ★ Stiletto Knife | StainedFactory New | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | 0% | ▼ -0.5% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $262 |
| 36 |  ★ Classic Knife | StainedSTFactory New | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.8% | ▼ -1.8% | Rarely Traded | No flow | $270 |
| 37 |  ★ Bowie Knife | Gamma DopplerSTP4Factory New | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +1.2% | ▼ -2.5% | Rarely Traded | ~2 months | $227 |
| 38 |  ★ Flip Knife | Blue SteelSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +2.8% | ▼ -4.9% | Rarely Traded | ~3 months | $242 |
| 39 |  ★ Karambit | Boreal ForestSTField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +1.8% | ▼ -3.3% | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $430 |
| 40 |  ★ Stiletto Knife | DopplerSTP1Factory New | Avoid9medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -0.5% | — | Rarely Traded | ~1 month | $518 |
| 41 |  ★ Talon Knife | ScorchedSTField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +1.4% | ▼ -2.9% | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $242 |
| 42 |  ★ Nomad Knife | Tiger ToothSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -1.1% | ▲ +0.9% | Rarely Traded | ~3 weeks | $324 |
| 43 |  ★ Bayonet | Damascus SteelSTMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -3.2% | ▲ +4.1% | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $234 |
| 44 |  ★ Huntsman Knife | Boreal ForestField-Tested | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +1.0% | ▼ -2.3% | Rarely Traded | ~4 weeks | $57 |
| 45 |  ★ Paracord Knife | Marble FadeMinimal Wear | Avoid9rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -0.6% | ▲ +0.1% | Rarely Traded | ~4 weeks | $173 |
| 46 |  ★ Karambit | LoreSTBattle-Scarred | Avoid8rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.5% | ▼ -1.5% | Rarely Traded | ~2 months | $645 |
| 47 |  ★ Flip Knife | Boreal ForestSTWell-Worn | Avoid8medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -0.4% | ▼ -0.2% | Rarely Traded | No flow | $130 |
| 48 |  ★ M9 Bayonet | StainedSTField-Tested | Avoid8rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▲ +0.9% | ▼ -2.2% | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $439 |
| 49 |  ★ M9 Bayonet | Crimson WebWell-Worn | Avoid8medium confidencerarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | ▼ -0.6% | — | Rarely Traded | ~2 weeks | $453 |
| 50 |  ★ Flip Knife | ScorchedSTWell-Worn | Avoid8rarely trades — hard to exit · falling with no reliable way out | 0% | ▼ -0.8% | Rarely Traded | No flow | $129 |
How these ratings are reached
Momentum sets the rating
The 7-day change in the SteamAnalyst reference price at 60%, plus the 30-day change at 40%. Signed, so a week that contradicts its month damps itself instead of both being reported as good news. Above 8% blended is the top band; below -8% is the bottom one.
Liquidity can only pull it down
Measured from units actually traded over 30 days, not from price or popularity. Thin trading caps how well an item can rate however hard it is climbing, because you cannot realise a gain you cannot exit. Nothing about being easy to sell ever raises a rating — that would make this a volume ranking wearing a buy label.
Falling and illiquid is worse than either
On the way down the rule inverts. A falling price in a deep market is a bad entry you can still walk away from; a falling price with nobody trading is a trap, and it rates below the thing you can leave. The two sides are not mirror images and are not calculated as if they were.
What we leave out
Items with fewer than 20 recorded prices in the window, feeds that have not updated in 7 days, items without the 10 trading days needed to rate liquidity, and anything under $5 where a one-cent tick is a percentage point. Each is us declining to guess, not a judgement on the item.
Band boundaries are currently reasoned rather than fitted to the live distribution — they are an informed judgement about how this market moves, not a measurement of it. See the liquidity board for the trade-flow half on its own, or price trends for the price half.
Measurements, not advice. Nothing here predicts the future, and no indicator anticipates a game update, a tournament or a Steam sale. Never spend more than you can afford to lose.
Frequently asked questions
How do you decide which CS2 skins are best to buy?
Two readings, and neither is allowed to speak alone. The first is momentum: how the SteamAnalyst reference price has moved over the last 7 days, weighted against the last 30 so a one-week jump has to be confirmed by the month before it counts. The second is liquidity: whether the item actually trades, measured from real units changing hands over 30 days. Momentum sets the rating and liquidity can only pull it down — because a skin climbing 20% a week is worth nothing to you if there is no way to sell it again.
Why can an item rising fast still rate badly?
Because you have to be able to get back out. A rising price in a market where almost nothing trades is a number on a screen, not money — you would be buying into something with no buyers behind it. Thin trading caps how well an item can rate no matter how hard it is climbing, and an item that rarely trades at all cannot rate above "Weak entry".
What makes an item one of the worst to buy?
A falling price plus a market you cannot leave. Those two are worse together than either is alone: a falling price in a deep market is just a bad entry, since you can still sell. A falling price with nobody trading is a trap. So on the "worst to buy" list, thin trading pushes an item further down rather than merely capping it — the reverse of how it works on the buy side.
What is momentum and how is it calculated?
The 7-day price change weighted at 60%, plus the 30-day change at 40%. Signed, so the two argue with each other: a week up 10% inside a month down 10% blends to about +2% and lands in Neutral, which is the honest reading of a bounce inside a decline. An item needs roughly 8% blended momentum for the top band and 3% for the second.
Why does a big one-day jump not put an item at the top?
Because a week carried by its last day is a spike, not a trend — and it is the thing a momentum ranking gets wrong most often, sorting yesterday's jump to the top on the morning it is least likely to continue. When more than 50% of the week's move happened in the final day, the item cannot claim the top band and the row says so.
Where do the price changes come from?
The SteamAnalyst reference price — the same aggregate price shown in the price column here and on every skin page. That is deliberate: the percentage this page ranks on is the percentage the price beside it actually moved, and clicking through to the skin shows the same number. Three surfaces, one measurement.
Why is my skin missing from this list?
One of four reasons, and each is us declining to guess rather than a judgement on the item. We hold fewer than 20 recorded prices for it in the window; its price or trade data has not updated in over 7 days; we have not recorded the 10 trading days needed to rate its liquidity at all; or it is under $5, where a one-cent tick is a whole percentage point and the ranking would be measuring rounding rather than the market.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a measurement of two things — where a price has been, and how readily the item trades — presented so you can see both and disagree with the conclusion. Neither predicts the future. Game updates, tournament demand and Steam sales all move this market in ways no indicator anticipates. Never spend more than you can afford to lose.