CS2 (CS:GO) was first released on August 21, 2012, making it one of the longest-lived games in gaming history. When CS:GO first introduced the oldest CSGO skins in 2013, the definition of the gaming market was completely changed. For the first time, a skin economy was formed for CSGO skins, which could be traded.
Some of these oldest CSGO skins have become legendary and remain highly valued and in demand in the community. Whether you are a player, collector, or just looking to learn about the oldest CS2 (CS:GO) skins, this guide will take you through the top 10 oldest CSGO skins that shaped CS2 history.
If you are interested in getting classic and the oldest CSGO skins, you can check out Gocsgo, a website that has a complete skin encyclopedia where you can find some of the oldest CSGO skins. Now, let’s take a deeper look at the legendary skin that started it all.
The Evolution of CS2 Skins
Valve introduced skins in CS:GO’s Arms Deal Update (2013), revolutionizing the way the game is played. At first the idea was simple, just to introduce something new that allowed players to customize their weapon skins and show their personality. But as CS:GO got better and better, CS skins gradually developed into an economy. As time goes by, the skins in the first CS:GO case have become the oldest CSGO skins.
The First Skins and Cases
The first CS:GO case, released in August 2013. This was a milestone. It showed a new way to play, so much so that many competitive games were copied or borrowed from CS:GO. This case is the Weapon Case, which contains classic skins such as AWP | Lightning Strike, AK-47 | Case Hardened, and Karambit | Fade. These classic skins were relatively immature in the early designs, and there was nothing too out of the ordinary.
Skins introduced a rarity level from Consumer Grade to Extraordinary, which profoundly affected market value. Case drop rates, official events, and the rise of various third-party trading websites have also entered the skin economy trading market.
How skins have influenced CS esports and streaming
CS:GO is a large-scale competitive game, so with the development of the times, e-sports competitions have gradually emerged, and in recent years have even developed into a world-wide competition, which is a feast for all CS2 players. Among them, professional players began to use specific skins, making them immediately popular.
Professional players such as s1mple, device, and NiKo all have legendary skins such as AWP | Dragon Lore, M4A4 | Howl, and Karambit | Fade. s1mple is known as the best AWPer, without a doubt, which also makes AWP one of the most popular rifles. They also loves using the oldest CSGO skins.
On social media, many dedicated CSGO intagramers and youtubers have emerged, and they will post CSGO-related content, which is inseparable from CS2 skins.
Top 10 Oldest CS2 (CS:GO) Weapon Skins
Generally, in CS2 (CS:GO), the rarer and older the skin is, the higher its value. Therefore, the oldest CSGO skins have a high investment value. This guide will introduce you to the Top 10 oldest CS2 (CS:GO) weapon skins.
1. AK-47 | Case Hardened (August 2013)
AK-47 | Case Hardened is part of the first CS:GO weapon case and is one of the oldest CS2 skins that is still popular. It is case-hardened with hot charcoal, giving it a dark wood texture and the metal parts are also charred. Factory New can cost thousands of dollars.
Release date: August 14, 2013
Rarity: Classified
2. AWP | Lightning Strike (August 2013)
It is also one of the first Covert AWP skins and also is the oldest CSGO skins. The AWP | Lightning Strike has a purple body and is covered with lightning. It is full of oppression. It is a relatively outstanding early skin. The simple design can reflect the danger and mystery.
Release date: August 14, 2013
Rarity: Covert
3. Karambit | Fade (August 2013)
The Karambit | Fade is one of the most iconic knife skins in CS history and also is the oldest CSGO skins, introduced in the first weapon case of CS:GO. Various pinks are mixed to form a shining gemstone blade.
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Rarity: Covert
4. M4A4 | Asiimov (Winter Offensive Case – December 2013)
M4A4 | Asiimov was released in the Winter Offensive Case and quickly became one of the most popular and also the oldest CSGO skins of all time due to its sleek, simple design. It comes with a kill function, and the highest quality currently available is Field-Tested.
Release Date: December 18, 2013
Rarity: Covert
5. Desert Eagle | Blaze (Dust Collection – November 2013)
Desert Eagle | Blaze is one of the oldest skins of pistol. The gun body uses a large area of flame pattern with high clarity, just like the flame is really burning.
Release Date: November 27, 2013
Rarity: Limited
6. AK-47 | Fire Serpent (September 2013)
Released as part of Operation Bravo, the AK-47 series is the most popular rifle of all time. The AK-47 | Fire Serpent uses the style of street painting to depict a fire snake on the gun. The use of green, black and fire orange makes it full of tribal style.
Release Date: September 19, 2013
Rarity: Covert
7. AWP | Dragon Lore (2014)
AWP | Dragon Lore is the most famous AWP skin in CS. Many professional players use AWP | Dragon Lore as their rifle. It is also very expensive, with a brand new quality of $13700+. Most players can only appreciate it. These oldest CSGO skins will always be the top weapons in CS2.
Release date: July 1, 2014
Rarity: Covert
8. M4A4 | Howl (Banned and Removed in 2014)
This is a very special weapon skin that was originally released in 2014. However, due to copyright issues, it was deleted. So it became a true “out of print” skin.
Release Date: May 1, 2014
Rarity: Contraband
9. Glock-18 | Fade (2013)
Glock-18 | Fade is one of the oldest CSGO skins released in CSGO. As a pistol, it is very practical and can fire three bullets in a row. The gun body is painted with a special paint to form a rainbow gradient effect.
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Rarity: Restricted
10. M9 Bayonet | Crimson Web (2013)
This knife was launched in 2013. It has become one of the most expensive knives after a long period of development. The price is $1300+. Its blade is red and covered with dark patterns of spider patterns. It is one of the Crimson Web series launched by CSGO and also the oldest CSGO skins.
Release date: August 14, 2013
Rarity: Secret
You can check more about CSGO skins here:
Best AK-47 Skins in CS2 (CS:GO)
Why Old Skins Still Dominate the CS2 Market Today
In the more than ten years since its release, CSGO has released thousands of skins, so why are the oldest CSGO skins still rare and valuable? There may be several reasons.
Nostalgia & Legacy
Many players are old CS2 (CS:GO) players, and have been silently supporting from CS:GO to CS2. The sentimental value of these oldest CSGO skins is immeasurable.
Exclusive & Limited Availability
Some oldest CSGO skins were only available in past operations and are no longer available. The only way to obtain them is to trade directly in the market or buy the corresponding weapon case on a case opening website, such as Gocsgo.
Competitive & Pro Scene Influence
Many professional players like to use the oldest CSGO skins, such as s1mple, M0ney, etc.
Wrapping Up
The above 10 oldest CSGO skins are not just skins in the game, they are the embodiment of prestige and status, the inheritance of nostalgia, and also represent part of the culture of e-sports.
If you are interested in buying the oldest CSGO skins, you can go to Steam to find and trade. However, the official price generally fluctuates greatly and is relatively expensive. We recommend that you choose a professional and formal website to buy, such as Gocsgo. It is a professional unboxing website with high cost performance, and you have a certain chance to get the oldest skins in CSGO you like.
FAQ About the Oldest CSGO Skins
Q: What Is the Oldest CS:GO Skin Ever Released?
The oldest CSGO skins were introduced in the Arms Deal update on August 14, 2013. It was the CS:GO Weapons Case, which contained the AK-47 | Case Hardened, AWP | Lightning Strike, and Karambit | Fade.
Q: Do the Oldest CSGO Skins Increase in Value Over Time?
Yes, generally, the value of the oldest CSGO skins goes up over time. Most old and rare skins are in short supply due to their limited quantity and unique significance. The prices of the oldest CSGO skins in CSGO, such as M4A4 | Howl, Desert Eagle | Blaze, have been rising.
Q: How Can I Get the Oldest CSGO Skin?
You can buy or trade the oldest CSGO skins on trusted skin marketplaces like Gocsgo, where you can find a variety of classic and oldest CSGO skins from CS2 and CS:GO history.