How To Craft Knives After The New CS2 Update

The October 2025 Counter-Strike 2 update completely changed how players can get their hands on knives. With the introduction of the new knife crafting system, players are no longer limited to relying on luck when opening cases. Instead, you can now guarantee a knife through the updated Trade Up Contract feature. By trading in five Covert (red rarity) weapon skins from select collections, you can craft a knife directly—eliminating the brutal 0.26% drop chance that’s long been part of CS2’s case-opening grind. This new system gives players a more strategic, reliable way to expand their inventory, especially for collectors chasing specific finishes. In this guide, we’ll explain how knife crafting works, which collections you can use, and how to maximize your odds of landing your dream blade in CS2.

How to Craft Knives in CS2

Crafting knives in CS2 is now easier and more rewarding thanks to the new Trade Up system introduced in the 2025 update. Here’s how the process works from start to finish:

1. Open the Trade Up Contract
Head to your in-game inventory and open the Trade Up Contract menu. This feature now supports Covert-tier (red rarity) skins, allowing you to use them for crafting knives or gloves depending on the collection.

2. Choose 5 Covert Skins
You’ll need exactly five Covert skins for each Trade Up. Using five standard Covert skins will yield a regular knife or gloves, while five StatTrak™ Covert skins will produce a StatTrak™ version. The resulting item will come from one of the same collections as the skins you used, so choose your trade-ins carefully — mixing collections affects your chances of getting a knife from your preferred set.

3. Confirm the Trade Up Contract
Once you’ve selected your skins, hit “Submit.” The system will randomly choose a knife or gloves from the eligible collections based on the inputs. This process costs the combined market value of the skins used, so higher-tier inputs can significantly raise your total investment — but it guarantees a premium drop instead of leaving it to luck.

4. Sell or Trade Your Crafted Knife
After crafting, your new knife or gloves will have a 7-day trade lock before they can be sold or traded on the Steam Community Market. Once the lock expires, you can freely sell, trade, or showcase your new weapon. Because of this system, Covert skin prices have seen a noticeable rise, as more players now use them to craft high-value knives instead of gambling on case openings.

With the right mix of skins and timing, CS2 knife crafting system gives players a fair, strategic way to score some of the most desirable weapons in the game—no luck required.

What Do You Need to Craft a Knife in CS2?

To craft a knife in Counter-Strike 2 after the new update, you’ll need five Covert-quality (red rarity) skins, either all standard or all StatTrak™ versions. These skins can come from a single collection or a mix of collections that include knives or gloves. Unlike traditional case openings, crafting doesn’t require any keys — your selected skins act as the materials for the Trade Up Contract.

Here’s what to keep in mind before starting your Trade Up:
• All five skins must be Covert-tier. Lower-rarity items won’t qualify for knife crafting.
• StatTrak™ skins produce StatTrak™ knives. Mixing regular and StatTrak™ skins isn’t allowed, so stick to one type per trade.
• The resulting item is random. The knife you receive will be chosen from one of the collections your input skins belong to, so the outcome depends on your mix.
• Steam Market rules apply. Skins purchased directly from the Steam Market can be used right away, while skins obtained through trade are locked for seven days before they can be added to a Trade Up Contract.

This system makes crafting knives in CS2 much more accessible and strategic. By carefully choosing your Covert skins, you can influence which knife you’re likely to get — giving you control that was never possible with random case openings.

Conclusion

The new knife crafting system in Counter-Strike 2 marks one of the biggest and most exciting changes the game has seen in years. Instead of relying purely on luck from case openings, players now have a guaranteed and strategic way to earn their favorite knives through Trade Up Contracts. By using five Covert-quality skins — whether regular or StatTrak™ — players can craft high-value knives and gloves directly from specific collections. This update not only makes rare items more accessible but also adds a layer of depth to CS2’s economy and trading scene. Whether you’re looking to complete your dream inventory or flip your crafted knives for profit, mastering this new system is the key to staying ahead in CS2’s evolving marketplace.