Custom weapon finishes in Counter-Strike have long been a staple of the game, with some being more special than others. One of the most iconic finishes across multiple weapons is the Case Hardened variation, a one of a kind skin that features the colors red, blue, and yellow in multiple available patterns for players to obtain. Due to their rarity, a specific subset emerges as the holy grail for collectors – the Case Hardened Blue Gem. This goes for any and all skins that have the Case Hardened finish: the cleaner the blue on the gun, the more valuable.
The Talon Knife, sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s Karambit”, stands proudly among the true giants of the Counter-Strike knife collection with the exceptionally beautiful Blue Gem finishes it has to offer. There are multiple Talon Knife Case Hardened patterns in the game when it comes to the “Blue Gem” variation, with some fetching more of a premium than others.
Why is Case Hardened So Valuable?
Case Hardened is a weapon finish that gives your gun a metallic texture with a worn, aged feel. Imagine a well-used firearm that’s seen its share of action. The so-called case hardening effect adds a unique touch, making the metal appear slightly mottled with patches of darker and lighter colors. The beauty of Case Hardened is that the patterns and colors can vary significantly from weapon to weapon, so you can end up with a truly one-of-a-kind item. While Case Hardened is a fairly common finish, it’s impossible to underestimate its appeal. Some Case Hardened finishes develop incredibly attractive designs, with areas of bright blue or gold hues particularly sought after by players. These unique patterns, known as “Blue Gems” can significantly up the value of any Case Hardened weapon from hundreds to even thousands of US dollars at a time.
However, even amongst Blue Gems, a hierarchy of value and desirability exists determined by a combination of intricate details.
The most fundamental factor influencing a Blue Gem’s worth is the extent of solid blue coverage. Imagine a spectrum, with common Case Hardened skins on one end displaying a mottled mix of blues, grays, and browns. As we move towards the Blue Gem end, the blue area steadily expands, pushing back the other colors until it dominates the weapon’s surface. The most sought-after Blue Gems boast a near-uniform expanse of blue, with minimal interruptions from other colors. This creates a visually stunning effect, where the weapon seems almost to glow with an otherworldly sheen. The higher the blue percentage a Blue Gem possesses, the rarer it becomes, and consequently, the steeper its price tag climbs.
The story doesn’t end with just the amount of blue, however, as pattern elements within the dominant blue color play a significant role in a Blue Gem’s allure. Some Blue Gems showcase a uniform spread of blue, but the most coveted ones take things a step further. These distinct blue patterns add a layer of visual intrigue, transforming the Blue Gem from simply valuable to a true collector’s piece. The specific formations and how they interact with the base blue color are subjective aspects influencing desirability, but generally, a Blue Gem with captivating and unique patterns fetches a higher price than one with a uniform blue expanse.
While wear and float value – a metric indicating a skin’s condition – are crucial factors for most CS:GO skins, their influence on Blue Gems is slightly different. Unlike other Case Hardened skins where higher wear values result in increased scratches and a diminished value, Blue Gem worth is primarily determined by the pattern itself. A well-worn Blue Gem with a phenomenal pattern can still command a hefty sum. However, a Factory New or Minimal Wear condition can add a slight premium to the price. This is because a cleaner presentation, with minimal signs of wear, allows the intricate details of the Blue Gem’s pattern to shine through unimpeded, further enhancing its visual appeal for collectors.
Talon Knife Blue Gem Patterns
Talon Knife Case Hardened Blue Gems are a variety of designs brought together by a singular element: a stunning blue majority throughout most of the weapon’s body. The effect is a visually stunning blue masterpiece with very few or no yellow accents.
These patterns are unique since Case Hardened designs were produced in many unique ways. Each Talon Knife Case Hardened skin is given a different pattern value that establishes the specific color distribution. Designs that are considered Blue Gems are just a tiny, albeit extremely valuable, sample of what is possible.
Multiple Blue Gem patterns for the Talon Knife Case Hardened exist, with some being better than others.
The Bluest Gem Money Can Buy: Talon Knife Case Hardened Blue Gem Pattern #55
This pattern is, without shadow of a doubt, the very best and cleanest Talon Knife Blue Gem in the entire world. The whole “play side” of the knife is covered in varying shades of blue, with every part of it from the ring portion of the handle up until the tip of the blade having a nice, clean finish. It is not only the best Talon Knife Case Hardened in the game, but one of the very best patterns for a Blue Gem amongst any knife finish.
Blue Tip, Gold Ring: Talon Knife Case Hardened Blue Gem Pattern #923
This pattern of the Talon Knife Case Hardened also features a completely blue blade, with its only drawback being the ring part of the handle not coming in a full blue color compared to that of the #55. It is a small difference in hindsight especially since the ring is not even seen all that much during gameplay, but in such a precise and perfectionist market the small lack of blue on the knife brings it down to second best.
Other Blue Gem Patterns
All the other Talon Knife Case Hardened Blue Gem patterns currently in Counter-Strike are listed as follows:
Tier 1 | 55, 923, 241, 602, 899, 316, 180, 222, 528, 10, 837 |
Tier 2 | 185, 3, 14, 80, 114, 351, 866, 311, 176, 170, 199, 805, 819, 299, 357, 56, 609, 501, 707, 468, 657, 379, 365, 345, 583, 283, 807, 506, 576, 116, 570 |
Tier 3 | 873, 95, 203, 891, 367, 19, 533, 941, 693, 473, 374, 658, 18, 111, 976, 130, 137, 291, 516, 456, 621, 186, 505, 669, 660, 883, 599, 328, 749, 488, 491, 815, 761, 798, 960, 58, 46, 830 |
Tier 4 | 618, 917, 481, 292, 881, 598, 547, 633, 76, 496, 838, 557, 730, 890, 347, 411, 933, 72, 77, 959, 313, 507, 88, 115, 70, 497, 188, 381, 191, 606, 168, 293, 577, 255, 704, 668, 342, 404, 458, 820, 431, 607, 504, 702, 403, 640, 503, 391, 138, 447, 446, 835, 383, 59, 67, 372, 280, 248, 821, 100, 956, 218, 75, 681, 927, 729, 780, 157 |