These are the very first skins in Counter-Strike

Counter-Strike fundamentally transformed first-person shooters by pioneering weapon skins—visual modifications that allowed players to personalize their firearms and characters. While cosmetic items are now industry standard, examining CS:GO’s initial skin releases reveals how these digital assets evolved from simple color variations into a multi-billion dollar economy.

When Valve Corporation launched CS:GO in 2012, their implementation of weapon skins represented a seismic shift in gaming monetization. The earliest collections featured modest designs with limited color palettes, yet these foundational pieces established the framework for today’s intricate skin ecosystem. Understanding their origins provides crucial context for modern collectors and investors navigating the complex skin market.

The cultural impact extended beyond aesthetics, creating new gameplay dimensions where weapon appearance communicated status, skill, and dedication. This innovation spawned an entire economy where digital items gained real-world value, creating opportunities for traders and collectors worldwide.

Desert Eagle | Blaze

This iconic sidearm skin debuted alongside the landmark Arms Deal update on August 14, 2013—a date now celebrated by skin enthusiasts. The Blaze finish employs an Anodized Airbrush technique that creates fiery orange-yellow gradients along the barrel, contrasted by a dark gray frame that enhances its aggressive visual presence.

Categorized as “Banned” quality, the Desert Eagle Blaze immediately gained status as a premium collectible due to its limited availability and striking visual appeal. The flame-like patterns appear to dance along the weapon’s surface, creating dynamic visual effects during gameplay that remain impressive even by modern standards.

Despite lacking StatTrak functionality or souvenir variants, its vibrant aesthetic continues to command attention. The skin’s rarity stems from both its classification and the fact that newer cases have largely replaced the original drop sources.

Current market valuations reflect its legendary status: Factory New condition starts around RUB 77,849.58, while Minimal Wear examples begin at RUB 70,928.51. Collectors should note that condition significantly impacts value, with Factory New specimens representing the pinnacle of collectibility.

Investment consideration: The Blaze has demonstrated consistent appreciation over time, making it one of the more stable high-end skin investments, though liquidity can be challenging due to the high price point.

M4A4 | Faded Zebra

Released simultaneously with the Arms Deal update on August 14, 2013, the Faded Zebra introduced pattern-based variation mechanics that would become central to skin collecting. Its Spray-Paint application with Dull Stripe finish creates zebra-like patterns that vary significantly between individual skins.

The pattern index system means no two Faded Zebra skins are identical—some feature prominent stripes while others show more subtle patterning. This variation system established precedent for later pattern-based skins like Case Hardened and Fade patterns.

As a “Military” grade skin, it occupies the mid-tier rarity bracket but gains additional collectibility through its StatTrak-enabled variants, which track kill counts—a feature absent from many early skins.

Price stratification across conditions demonstrates how wear affects value: Factory New (RUB 4,550.51), Minimal Wear (₽655.50), Field-Tested (₽613.84), Well-Worn (₽583.29), and Battle-Scarred (₽606.43). Interestingly, Battle-Scarred specimens sometimes command premiums over Well-Worn due to specific wear patterns that some collectors prefer.

Common mistake: New collectors often overlook pattern quality, focusing solely on exterior condition. However, pattern placement dramatically impacts both aesthetics and resale value.

M249 | Blizzard Marbleized

This light machine gun skin represents the “Industrial” quality tier with its Hydrographic design featuring Blizzard Marbleized finish. The primary gray tones with variably sized spot patterns create a marble-like effect, while contrasting brown accents on the stock, grip, and barrel provide visual depth.

Introduced on August 14, 2013, the Marble Buran skin established the visual language for industrial-grade weapons—functional yet distinctive.

The absence of StatTrak and souvenir variants positions it as a pure cosmetic item rather than a feature-rich collectible. This simplicity, however, makes it an excellent entry point for new collectors interested in historical skins without premium pricing.

Condition-based pricing illustrates the dramatic value drop between Factory New and other wear levels:

• Factory New: from ₽24,082.41
• Minimal Wear: from ₽1,434.26
• Field-Tested: from ₽743.52
• Well-Worn: from ₽715.22
• Battle-Scarred: from ₽793.37

Advanced tip: The massive price difference between Factory New and Minimal Wear suggests that collectors prioritize pristine condition for display purposes, making FN specimens disproportionately valuable.

XM1014 | Blaze Orange

This shotgun skin’s Hydrographic design with Blaze Orange finish creates vibrant visual impact through rich orange hues complemented by brown and gray botanical elements. The khaki and black accents create sophisticated color harmony that remains visually appealing.

Price points: Minimal Wear (₽3,135.19), Field-Tested (₽1,278.70), Well-Worn (₽800.00), Battle-Scarred (RUB 2,300.15).

P90 | Fallout Warning

Featuring a distinctive Spray Paint design with Fallout Warning finish, this skin’s gray base with red vertical stripes and radioactive hazard symbols creates post-apocalyptic thematic appeal.

Market availability: Factory New (RUB 5,555.56), Minimal Wear (4,474.07 ₽), Field-Tested (900.00 ₽), Well-Worn (RUB 1,628.70), Battle-Scarred (673.15 ₽).

AK-47 | Black Laminate

The hydrography-style application leaves metal components unpainted for industrial aesthetic, while gray-painted wooden elements on stock, fore-end, and handle complete the tactical appearance.

Price structure: Factory New (18,559.26 ₽), Minimal Wear (4,048.15 ₽), Field-Tested (RUB 3,229.63), Well-Worn (RUB 3,169.44), Battle-Scarred (3,751.85 RUR).

M4A4 | Tornado

The “Solid Color” style with Tornado paint job features beige and gray-blue color blocking that creates understated elegance.

Market presence: Minimal Wear (₽1,665.60), Field-Tested (₽484.22), Well-Worn (₽432.37), Battle-Scarred (₽372.19).

Glock-18 | Brass

This Dust collection pistol features Patina finish with brass accents, classified as “Forbidden” quality without StatTrak or souvenir options.

Valuation range: Factory New (9302.78 ₽), Minimal Wear (5302.78 ₽), Field-Tested (2305.56 ₽), Well-Worn (RUB 2,004.63), Battle-Scarred (2019, 44 ₽).

Building a meaningful skin collection requires strategic thinking beyond simple acquisition. For historical skins like these pioneers, condition dramatically impacts both display quality and investment potential. Factory New specimens often appreciate more consistently than worn variants.

Common pitfalls include overpaying for common skins, neglecting pattern quality, and misunderstanding market liquidity. New collectors should research recent transaction histories rather than relying solely on listing prices.

Advanced optimization: Consider the weapon performance characteristics alongside aesthetic appeal—skins for frequently used weapons typically maintain better liquidity.

Time investment varies by collecting goals: Casual collectors might spend 2-3 hours weekly monitoring markets, while serious investors could dedicate 10+ hours to research and trading activities.

For comprehensive guidance on building gaming collections, our complete strategy guide offers detailed frameworks. Meanwhile, understanding class-specific aesthetics can help focus collection efforts on personally meaningful categories.

Remember that skin values fluctuate based on game updates, meta changes, and economic factors. Diversifying across different quality tiers and weapon types can mitigate risk while maximizing collection diversity.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » These are the very first skins in Counter-Strike Exploring the groundbreaking first weapon skins that launched CS:GO's visual revolution