Flip Knife | Fade
- Wear range
- 0.00–0.08
- Released
- 2013-09-20
- Paint kit
- 38
- Finish style
- Anodized Airbrushed
- Sources
- CS:GO Weapon Case、eSports 2013 Case、CS:GO Weapon Case 2、Operation Bravo Case、eSports 2013 Winter Case、Winter Offensive Weapon Case、CS:GO Weapon Case 3、Operation Phoenix Weapon Case、eSports 2014 Summer Case、Operation Vanguard Weapon Case、Revolver Case
- Drop chance (estimate)
- CS:GO Weapon Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；eSports 2013 Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；CS:GO Weapon Case 2：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；Operation Bravo Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；eSports 2013 Winter Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；Winter Offensive Weapon Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；CS:GO Weapon Case 3：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；Operation Phoenix Weapon Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；eSports 2014 Summer Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；Operation Vanguard Weapon Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed；Revolver Case：Any rare special item 0.256%; exact finish probability undisclosed
Steam / C5GAME
CNY
Introduction
If you’re shopping your first gradient knife and want something that reads sharp without a busy graphic, Fade sits in a sweet spot. The blade starts from a chrome base; transparent color layers stack on top so hues feel like they travel across the metal when you spin it in inspect—not a poster slapped on steel.
Quick facts (for listing filters)
| | |
|---|---|
| Finish | Fade (aa_fade, internal pattern 38) |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Method | Spray-painted / anodized |
| Wear cap | 0.00 – 0.08 only |
| Debut | 14 Aug 2013, The Arms Deal |
Flip Knife | Fade is the classic poster child for this finish. Valve’s in-house art—not a Workshop submission—so it feels like a reference template for how CS knife fades were meant to look.
What you’re actually buying
- The color band, not the icon. Thumbnails lie. Two listings can look identical until you 3D inspect and see purple/red/yellow sitting higher or lower on the blade.
- A narrow float window. With wear capped at 0.08, small float gaps change gloss and edge wear fast. Lock a max float you’ll accept before price comparing.
- Outfit anchor energy. The trainee arms dealer line nails it: fades sell vibe—dark gloves, loud rifles, one pull of the knife sets the whole loadout tone.
How to shop it (inspect-first)
- Open in-game 3D inspect (or equivalent full preview). Rotate slowly at the angles you actually hold the knife.
- Note where the main hue lands: tip-heavy vs handle-heavy fades play differently in motion.
- On C5GAME or Steam Community Market, filter or sort by float once your ceiling is set—then compare ask prices. Beats chasing the prettiest static image.
Shop verdict
Worth it if you want a timeless gradient that still shows up in every “best fade” thread since 2013, you’ll spend five minutes inspecting, and Rare-tier pricing fits your knife budget.
Pass or pause if you need Factory New perfection on a tight float budget—the 0.08 cap makes picky buyers pay up—or you want a loud themed skin; Fade is minimal, not meme.
Editor’s aside
Fade is the finish people measure other gradient knives against. Treat pattern 38 / aa_fade as the textbook: learn how color slides on chrome here, and every other fade discussion makes more sense. Buy the inspect angle you live with, not the screenshot.