If you're a CS2 skins collector, you probably have already heard the news – a new AK-47 skin has been unboxed and has been prized at $1000000. Yes, you've read that right. One lucky gamer got their hands on a previously unknown blue gem pattern on their AK-47 Case Hardened. So, what's the deal with this particular AK-47 skin and what makes it so expensive? Here's everything you need to know about the AK-47 Case Hardened, as well as the most expensive patterns.
Key takeaways:
- The AK-47 Case Hardened is one of the most expensive AK-47 skins in the game.
- Like the Karambit, some of the Case Hardened AK-47 skins feature a Blue Gem variant, worth millions of dollars.
- If you want to get the AK-47 Case Hardened for the cheapest prices, you have to use a dedicated third-party trading site, like SkinsMonkey.
What Are The Blue Gem Skins?
If you've ever been involved in trading CS2 skins, you've almost definitely heard about the blue gem skins, which are some of the most legendary and most expensive weapon skins you can get in the game. The most notable Blue Gem skin is the Karambit Case Hardened, which is so rare that it has no actual price tag, is owned by a Chinese collector nicknamed 青い王 on Steam.
Apparently, he received an offer for his Factory New Karambit Case Hardened with the blue gem pattern for $1.2 million, which he has turned down, claiming that the buyer was still trying to lowball him on the sale, despite it being one of the most expensive knife skin offers anyone has made.
Blue Gem skins in CS2 are simply a variant of the Case Hardened skins available for different knives, gloves, and weapons in the game. All of these weapon skins have been color case-hardened through the application of wood charcoal at high temperatures, giving the finish style a weathered and colorful look. All Case Hardened skins are rare, cost quite a lot of money, and are available in many different patterns, some of them with significant differences, despite bearing the same skin name.
However, the skins with a pattern index that gives a drop of blue color somewhere on the skin are referred to as Blue Gem skins. In the case of the famous Karambit, some Blue Gem skins include a small blue gem at the end of the handle, while others turn the side of the blade completely blue. These skins deliver a unique look and always have huge value on the Steam marketplace. These are, without a doubt, some of the best blue skins CS2 has to offer.
Check out this video guide by 4 Trout to learn more about the CS2 blue gems:
Why Is AK-47 Case Hardened So Expensive?
The AK-47 Case Hardened features a classic look, with most of the weapon covered in a shiny blue patina, against a metallic chrome background. Introduced in the Arms Deal collection as one of the first skins for the AK-47, Case Hardened was an instant classic as soon as it was released. Like other Case Hardened skins in CS2, the AK-47 is available in many different patterns, some of them far more expensive than others.
However, just a couple of days ago, skin collectors on X discovered that a new, super rare AK-47 Case Hardened had been unboxed from a weapon case. AK-47 Case Hardened StatTrak Factory New 661 pattern has been estimated to be valued around $800000 – $1000000. There isn't a lot known about its lucky owner, or whether they plan on selling CS2 skins to begin with, but ever since its discovery, skin collectors have been on the hunt.
What are the best AK-47 Case Hardened patterns?
As we've already mentioned, the 661 pattern is generally considered the best at the moment. Roughly speaking, the best AK-47 Case Hardened patterns include:
- A large blot of blue (sometimes known as blue scar)
- No other colored patterns (so no gold or purple)
- Low wear with a chrome look to the weapon finish
That said, we have separated the available patterns into three tiers, based on their availability. This should give you a rough understanding of how much your AK-47 Case Hardened might be worth on the secondary market.
Tier 1
The Tier 1 AK-47 Case Hardened skins are the most expensive ones, with skin patterns worth a lot of money. The price range for these is quite large, with the most expensive ones worth over a million dollars, and the cheaper choices tens of thousands as well.
- 151, 168, 179, 321, 387, 555, 592, 661, 670, 760, 809, 955
Tier 2
Tier 2 skins can still cost some real cash, though they are rarely as expensive as their Tier 1 counterparts. You shouldn't sleep on these skins, however, especially if you find a good deal, since they can cost a couple of thousands of dollars.
- 4, 13, 28, 32, 65, 74, 81, 82, 92, 103, 122, 139, 147, 172, 189, 205, 228, 256, 323, 341, 426, 430, 442, 463, 479, 512, 525, 526, 532, 541, 571, 578, 605, 617, 627, 695, 698, 708, 713, 750, 752, 791, 828, 844, 868, 887, 888, 892, 903, 905, 922, 950, 969, 978, 996
Tier 3
Finally, the Tier 3 patterns are generally the cheapest skins on this list. Still, they aren't exactly a bargain, since even the Tier 3 AK-47 Case Hardened can cost around a thousand dollars.
- 34, 112, 278, 310, 312, 363, 381, 413, 428, 429, 450, 519, 557, 586, 610, 647, 685, 689, 690, 733, 754, 770, 819, 823, 856, 862, 872, 878, 935
How to get an AK-47 Case Hardened blue gem?
If you're aiming for a specific AK-47 Case Hardened variant, you'll need to use a dedicated CS2 trading site, like SkinsMonkey.
Opening cases with the AK-47 Case Hardened is not really a feasible option, since the only weapon case that has the AK-47 Case Hardened inside is the CS:GO Weapon Case, which is also one of the most expensive weapon cases in the game. On top of that, you'd have to unbox the rare AK-47, so you'd have to open a lot of different weapon cases to get the AK-47 skin that you want.
If you want to get your hands on an AK-47 Case Hardened of your own, you need to use a dedicated trading site. While you could trade on the Steam community market, Valve takes a cut of every transaction made there, and with high prices of AK-47 Case Hardened skins, this can significantly increase the final price. In comparison, when you use a CS2 trading site like SkinsMonkey, you can always expect the best prices on all of your items, as well as seamless, around-the-clock bot trading.
To Sum Up
While there are many expensive skins in CS2, Case Hardened and Blue Gems regularly top all the charts, possible with how expensive they can be. If you'd like to learn more about CS2 weapon skins, or take your chance at giveaways where you can score free CS2 skins, make sure to check out the rest of our website!
If you enjoyed this article, make sure you check out some of our other guides and toplists, including:
- Cheapest AWP skins
- Best CS2 StatTrak skins
- CS2 skin quality guide
- All you need to know about the Fracture Case
- Why are CS2 skins so expensive?
FAQ
Its rare all-blue pattern makes it one of the most expensive CS2 skins, with some worth over $1,000,000.
Patterns like 661, 151, and 387 are top-tier, featuring large blue areas and minimal gold or purple.
The skin comes from the CS:GO Weapon Case, but trading on sites like SkinsMonkey is the smarter option.
A true gaming enthusiast, especially Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS2) and Rust. At SkinsMonkey, he is involved in creating game guides based on his own experience.
