🔥 What is the M4A4 Howl?
The M4A4 | Howl holds a unique distinction in Counter-Strike history: it is the only skin ever classified as "Contraband." This one-of-a-kind rarity tier was created specifically for the Howl after it was permanently removed from active drop pools due to a copyright dispute in 2014. No new Howl skins can ever be created, making it one of the most infamous, valuable, and supply-constrained skins in CS2.
The skin features a striking design of a snarling wolf rendered in shades of red, orange, and black. The aggressive artwork covers the weapon's body, creating one of the most visually distinctive and instantly recognizable rifle skins in the game. The Howl's dramatic backstory, unique rarity classification, and permanently frozen supply have made it a cornerstone of high-end CS2 skin collecting.
Flavor Text: "Ours is not a simple story of dogfight..."
This guide covers:
- The full copyright scandal — how the Howl became Contraband
- Original vs. redesigned artwork comparison
- Wear & float breakdown with pricing for every condition
- StatTrak Howl — one of the rarest tracked weapons in CS2
- Sticker craft guide — $200,000+ crafts and the best combinations
- Price history and why it's considered a blue-chip investment
🔎 Check Current Howl Prices
Compare M4A4 | Howl prices across 13+ marketplaces instantly on SteamAnalyst to find the best deal before you buy or trade.
Featured: M4A4 | Howl
The only Contraband skin in Counter-Strike. Removed from cases in 2014 due to a copyright dispute, the Howl's supply is permanently frozen — no new copies can ever enter the market, making it one of the most valuable rifle skins in CS2.
Price Range: ~$2,000 (BS) - $200,000+ (ST FN w/ Katowice 2014 Holos)
📊 Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Weapon | M4A4 |
| Original Collection | Huntsman Collection |
| Released | May 2014 |
| Rarity | Contraband (unique — only skin with this tier) |
| Available Wears | Factory New – Battle-Scarred |
| Float Range | 0.00 – 1.00 |
| StatTrak Available | Yes (extremely rare) |
| Souvenir Available | No |
| Base Price (2025) | ~$3,000+ (FT), ~$5,000+ (FN) |
📜 The Copyright Scandal
The M4A4 | Howl has one of the most dramatic backstories of any skin in gaming history. Understanding this story is essential to understanding why the Howl is valued the way it is.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 2014 | Howl released as part of the Huntsman Collection via Steam Workshop |
| June 2014 | Copyright claim filed — original wolf artwork was plagiarized from another artist |
| June 2014 | Valve responds: removes Howl from Huntsman Case, redesigns artwork on ALL existing copies |
| June 2014 | Rarity changed from Covert (Red) to Contraband (Orange) — a brand-new tier |
| June 2014 | Original Workshop artists banned from Steam Workshop |
| 2014–present | Supply permanently frozen. No new Howl skins can ever be created |
What Valve Did
Instead of simply deleting the skin and compensating owners, Valve took an unprecedented four-step approach:
- The skin was permanently removed from the Huntsman Case drop pool
- All existing Howl skins had their artwork redesigned — the wolf changed from a howling pose to a snarling/growling pose
- The skin's rarity was changed from Covert (Red) to Contraband (Orange) — a rarity tier created exclusively for this single skin
- All existing copies remained in players' inventories with the updated design
Why Contraband Matters
- Zero new supply — No new Howl skins can ever be unboxed, dropped, or created through trade-ups
- Diminishing supply — Over time, Howls are permanently lost through trade bans, VAC bans, and account abandonment
- Guaranteed scarcity — Unlike virtually every other skin in CS2, the Howl's supply can only decrease, never increase
- Status symbol — Owning a Howl signals both wealth and deep knowledge of CS history
⚠️ Supply Lock Notice
The Contraband classification means the M4A4 | Howl has a hard supply cap that was set in June 2014. Every Howl that is lost to a VAC ban, trade ban, or abandoned account reduces the total supply permanently. This is a fundamentally different supply dynamic than any other skin in CS2.
🎨 Original vs. Redesigned Artwork
Pre-Redesign (Historical — No Longer In-Game)
The original Howl design featured a howling wolf with the plagiarized artwork. This version existed briefly in-game before Valve pushed the update. A tiny number of screenshots and recordings document the original art, making it a piece of CS history. However, all existing skins now display the redesigned art — no copies of the original design remain in-game.
Post-Redesign (Current Version)
The current Howl features:
- A snarling/growling wolf head in orange and red tones
- Black background with flame-like elements
- More aggressive and stylized aesthetic compared to the original
- Dark red/orange color scheme that has become iconic in its own right
The redesigned version is what all current owners possess, and it is this design that has become legendary in the community.
🎨 Wear & Float Guide
The Howl's appearance changes significantly across wear conditions, with the wolf artwork showing increasing deterioration at higher float values.
Factory New (0.00 – 0.07)
The wolf artwork is crisp and vibrant. Red and orange tones are fully saturated, black background is clean. Ultra-low float FN Howls (sub-0.01) are exceptionally rare.
| Float Range | Visual Quality | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00 – 0.01 | Flawless, collector-grade | $8,000 – $20,000+ |
| 0.01 – 0.03 | Excellent, minimal scratches | $6,000 – $8,000 |
| 0.03 – 0.07 | Clean, standard FN | $5,000 – $6,000 |
Minimal Wear (0.07 – 0.15)
Very similar to Factory New with minor scratching. Low-float MW copies (0.07–0.09) are excellent value alternatives to FN.
Price Range: $3,500 – $5,000
Field-Tested (0.15 – 0.38)
The most commonly traded wear condition. Wolf design shows some fading and scratching but remains clearly visible and attractive. This is the standard entry point for Howl ownership.
Price Range: $3,000 – $3,800
Well-Worn (0.38 – 0.45)
Noticeable wear with fading colors. The wolf design becomes less defined, and significant scratching appears across the body.
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,200
Battle-Scarred (0.45 – 1.00)
Heavy wear with substantial paint loss. The wolf artwork is significantly faded. Despite the poor condition, Battle-Scarred Howls still hold considerable value due to the Contraband classification.
Price Range: $2,000 – $2,800
Wear Pricing Summary
| Condition | Float Range | Approx. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory New | 0.00 – 0.07 | $5,000 – $20,000+ | Ultra-low float = major premium |
| Minimal Wear | 0.07 – 0.15 | $3,500 – $5,000 | Great value for near-FN appearance |
| Field-Tested | 0.15 – 0.38 | $3,000 – $3,800 | Entry point for most collectors |
| Well-Worn | 0.38 – 0.45 | $2,500 – $3,200 | Budget Contraband |
| Battle-Scarred | 0.45 – 1.00 | $2,000 – $2,800 | Heavy wear, still Contraband prestige |
⭐ StatTrak Howl — The Ultra-Rare Variant
StatTrak M4A4 Howls are among the rarest tracked weapons in CS2. Since the Howl was removed from the Huntsman Case relatively quickly after release, far fewer StatTrak copies were ever unboxed compared to most Covert skins.
Why StatTrak Howls Are So Rare
- Short unboxing window — The Howl was only in the Huntsman Case for weeks before removal
- StatTrak odds — Only ~10% of case unboxes are StatTrak
- Covert rarity — The Howl was the highest tier in the Huntsman Case
- Compounding probabilities — The combined chance of getting a StatTrak FN Howl during the brief window was astronomically low
StatTrak Pricing
| Condition | Non-StatTrak | StatTrak | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factory New | ~$5,000 | ~$15,000 – $20,000+ | 3–4x |
| Minimal Wear | ~$3,500 | ~$8,000 – $12,000 | 2–3x |
| Field-Tested | ~$3,000 | ~$6,000 – $9,000 | 2–3x |
| Well-Worn | ~$2,500 | ~$4,000 – $6,000 | 1.5–2.5x |
| Battle-Scarred | ~$2,000 | ~$3,500 – $5,000 | 1.5–2.5x |
Supply Estimates
| Condition | Est. StatTrak Supply |
|---|---|
| StatTrak FN | Low hundreds or fewer |
| StatTrak MW | Slightly more, still very rare |
| StatTrak FT | Most available ST condition, still scarce |
🏷️ Sticker Crafts & Applied Value
The Howl is one of the most prestigious base skins for high-value sticker crafts, second only to the Dragon Lore.
Most Iconic Howl Crafts
| Craft | Stickers | Est. Total Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x iBUYPOWER (Holo) | Katowice 2014 | $200,000+ | Record-setting M4A4 craft. ST FN versions listed above $200,000 |
| 4x Titan (Holo) | Katowice 2014 | $150,000+ | Blue Titans contrast beautifully against red/orange Howl |
| 4x Crown (Foil) | — | $5,000 – $8,000 | Accessible premium craft, gold complements warm tones |
| 4x Howling Dawn | — | $3,000 – $5,000 | Thematic — removed sticker on a removed skin (double rarity) |
| 4x Reason Gaming (Holo) | Katowice 2014 | $80,000+ | Among the rarest Kato 2014 holo crafts |
📈 Record Sale
A StatTrak Factory New Howl with 4x iBUYPOWER (Holo) Katowice 2014 stickers sold for approximately $215,000 in 2020. The same craft is likely worth significantly more today, with current listings exceeding $200,000.
Sticker Placement Guide
| Position | Visibility | Value Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Above Magazine | Highest — most visible during gameplay | Best position, highest premium |
| Front Body | High — clearly visible | Second most impactful |
| Mid Body | Medium — visible during inspect | Moderate premium |
| Stock | Low — rarely visible | Minimal impact |
📈 Price History & Investment Outlook
Historical Price Evolution
| Year | Event | Approx. FN Price |
|---|---|---|
| May 2014 | Initial release in Huntsman Collection | $50 – $100 |
| June 2014 | Contraband reclassification — immediate spike | $200 – $400 |
| 2015–2016 | Market absorbs supply freeze implications | $400 – $800 |
| 2017–2019 | Steady appreciation, FN crosses $1,000 | $1,000 – $2,500 |
| 2020–2022 | Skin market boom | $2,500 – $4,000 |
| 2023 | CS2 announcement surge | $4,000 – $5,500 |
| 2025 | Consistent trading above $5,000 | $5,000 – $20,000+ |
Investment Thesis
The Howl is widely considered one of the strongest "blue-chip" investments in the CS2 skin market.
| Factor | Bull Case | Bear Case |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | Can only decrease (Contraband) | Already priced at premium |
| Demand | Iconic status drives new-gen demand | High price limits buyer pool |
| Cultural | Recognition extends beyond CS2 | Dependent on CS2 relevance |
| Market | CS2 growing player base | Overall skin market can correct |
🎯 Loadout Pairing Suggestions
The Howl's red, orange, and black color scheme pairs best with aggressive, fire-themed loadouts.
Glove Pairings
| Gloves | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Specialist Gloves - Crimson Kimono | Red tones perfectly complement the Howl's fiery palette |
| Sport Gloves - Vice | Hot pink/neon provides a bold, high-contrast pairing |
| Moto Gloves - POW! | Red and black comic-style matches the aggressive energy |
| Driver Gloves - Crimson Weave | Deep red leather pairs naturally with the wolf design |
Knife Pairings
| Knife | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Karambit - Doppler Ruby | Deep red gem finish mirrors the Howl's color palette |
| Butterfly Knife - Slaughter | Red splatter pattern continues the aggressive theme |
| M9 Bayonet - Crimson Web | Red with black web accents for a cohesive dark-red loadout |
| Karambit - Autotronic | Mechanical red tones complement the modern-aggressive style |
🛒 Where to Buy — Marketplace Comparison
Due to the Howl's high value and unique Contraband status, extra care should be taken when purchasing.
Buying Checklist
- Float verification — Even small float differences in FN range (0.00 vs. 0.06) can mean thousands of dollars
- StatTrak confirmation — Always double-check; the price gap between ST and non-ST is massive
- Sticker authentication — For crafted Howls, verify sticker authenticity and scratch % using inspection tools
- Price comparison — Compare across all marketplaces on SteamAnalyst to ensure fair market value
- Escrow protection — Always use marketplaces with escrow for purchases above $5,000
🔍 Compare Prices Across 13+ Marketplaces
Don't overpay — check real-time prices for every skin in this guide on SteamAnalyst. We aggregate pricing from Buff163, Skinport, CSFloat, DMarket, Steam Market, and more so you always get the best deal.
❓ Howl FAQ
Can new Howl skins still be created?
No. The M4A4 | Howl was permanently removed from the Huntsman Case in June 2014. It cannot be obtained through any case opening, drop, or trade-up contract. The only way to acquire one is to purchase or trade for an existing copy.
What does "Contraband" mean?
Contraband is a unique rarity tier created exclusively for the M4A4 | Howl after it was removed from cases due to a copyright dispute. It signifies that the skin can no longer be obtained through normal means and that no new supply will ever enter the market. No other skin in Counter-Strike history has this classification.
Is the original (pre-redesign) Howl artwork still available?
No. When Valve resolved the copyright dispute, they updated the artwork on all existing Howl skins to the redesigned version. The original howling wolf design no longer exists in-game on any copy.
Why is the Howl so much more expensive than other M4A4 skins?
The combination of permanent supply freeze (Contraband = zero new supply ever), iconic design, dramatic backstory, and enduring cultural significance drives the Howl's premium. No other M4A4 skin has these supply characteristics.
Is the Howl a good long-term investment?
The Howl's fundamentals — permanently frozen and diminishing supply combined with strong demand — make it one of the most compelling long-term holds in CS2. It has appreciated from ~$50 at release to $5,000+ over a decade. However, all investments carry risk, and the broader skin market can experience significant volatility.
How does the Howl compare to the Dragon Lore as an investment?
Both are considered blue-chip CS2 skins. The Dragon Lore has higher name recognition and a higher price ceiling (especially Souvenir variants), while the Howl has stronger supply-side fundamentals due to Contraband status. Many serious collectors hold both.
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