About the Talon Knife
The Talon Knife is a karambit-style knife in CS2. It was added to CS:GO in August 2018 with the Horizon Case, alongside the Navaja Knife, Stiletto Knife, and Ursus Knife, and it carried over to CS2 with the rest of the knife range.
This page covers the standard Talon Knife, usually called the vanilla. It has no paint finish, just the bare knife. It trades often, with listings on most marketplaces at any time.
If you are looking for a painted version such as a Doppler, Marble Fade, or Fade, each finish has its own page. The most popular are linked below, and you can browse all Talon Knife skins in one place.
Design
The Talon is a large curved blade with an ivory handle, brass rivets, and saw-tooth ridges along the spine. Like the Karambit, it has a finger ring at the end of the handle and a blade that curves like a claw, but it is bigger and has a more ornate, classic look. Its inspect animations are one of the main reasons players choose it.
The vanilla version shows that shape with no paint finish. There is no pattern to check, so every vanilla Talon Knife looks the same.
How to Get a Talon Knife
There are three ways to get a Talon Knife in CS2.
- Buy it from a marketplace. This is the route most players take, because it is the only one with a certain result. The offers at the top of this page show every marketplace with a listing.
- Open a case. The Talon Knife is a rare special item in four cases: the Horizon Case, the Danger Zone Case, the Prisma Case, and the Prisma 2 Case. In every one of them it shares the pool with the Navaja Knife, Stiletto Knife, and Ursus Knife. Knife drops are rare, at around 0.26% per case.
- Trade up to it. Since October 2025, a trade-up contract using Covert skins can produce a knife from an eligible case.
Talon Knife Finishes
The vanilla is one of many Talon Knife skins. Finishes came in two waves, and each has its own page with live prices.
- Original finishes. The first set, from the Horizon Case and Danger Zone Case. Includes the Talon Knife | Fade, Case Hardened, and Slaughter, plus Crimson Web, Blue Steel, and Safari Mesh.
- Chroma finishes. Added with the Prisma cases. Includes the Talon Knife | Doppler, with its Ruby, Sapphire, and Black Pearl phases, plus the Marble Fade, Tiger Tooth, Damascus Steel, Ultraviolet, and Rust Coat.
Vanilla, Wear, and StatTrak™
The vanilla Talon Knife is not sold by wear condition. There is no Factory New or Battle-Scarred version to choose between, which makes it simpler to buy than a painted knife: one item, one market price.
It comes in two versions, standard and StatTrak™. The StatTrak™ version counts your kills with the knife and is listed separately, so you can compare the two using the toggle above. There is no Souvenir Talon Knife.
What Drives the Price of a Talon Knife
- The knife itself. Every knife model has its own level in the market, set by how many players want its shape and animations. That level is the starting point for every Talon Knife, the vanilla included.
- Finish. Across the range, the finish matters more than anything else. Doppler gem phases, Fades, and rare Case Hardened patterns sit well above the vanilla, while worn Safari Mesh copies sit at the low end.
- StatTrak™. The StatTrak™ vanilla is scarcer than the standard one and priced separately.
- Case supply. How often the four cases are opened decides how many new knives enter the market.
- The wider knife market. Because the vanilla has no float or pattern, its price moves with demand for knives in general. That makes its price history a useful read on the Talon Knife range as a whole.
The vanilla trades often, so prices between marketplaces stay closer together than they do on rare skins. It is still worth comparing the offers above, and setting a price alert if you are waiting for a level.
Similar Knives
- Karambit. The closest alternative. The same claw-shaped blade and finger ring, in a smaller, simpler design.
- Ursus Knife, Navaja Knife, and Stiletto Knife. The three knives released with the Talon. They drop from the same cases and come in the same finishes.
- Butterfly Knife. Another knife players often pick for its animations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a vanilla Talon Knife?
It is the Talon Knife with no paint finish applied. In CS2 it is listed simply as ★ Talon Knife. It is not sold by wear condition.
What cases have the Talon Knife in CS2?
The Horizon Case, Danger Zone Case, Prisma Case, and Prisma 2 Case. The first two carry the original finishes and the Prisma cases carry the Chroma finishes. The cases shown on this page can drop the vanilla.
What is the difference between the Talon Knife and the Karambit?
Both have a curved, claw-like blade and a finger ring. The Talon is larger, with an ivory handle, brass rivets, and saw-tooth ridges, and it has its own inspect animations. The Karambit is smaller and plainer. Which one to choose mostly comes down to how each looks and moves in game.
How much is a Talon Knife?
It depends on the finish, the wear, and whether it is StatTrak™. This page shows the current lowest price for the vanilla, and each finish page shows its own.
When was the Talon Knife released?
August 2018, in CS:GO, with the Horizon Case. It is still available in CS2.
Does the Talon Knife come in StatTrak™?
Yes. A StatTrak™ Talon Knife exists and is listed separately on this page. There is no Souvenir version.
What are the best Talon Knife skins?
The Doppler, Marble Fade, Fade, Tiger Tooth, and Damascus Steel are among the most popular Talon Knife finishes. The vanilla has its own following among players who prefer a clean look.
Can you trade up to a Talon Knife?
Yes. Since October 2025, trade-up contracts using Covert skins can produce a knife from an eligible case.
Where can I buy a Talon Knife?
The offers at the top of this page list every marketplace with a Talon Knife for sale, starting with the lowest price.