Case Hardened – is a type of skin that was added to the game back in the Arms Deal update, so these skins are among the oldest in the game. This pattern is available for all knives, AK-47s and FiveSeven. The skin is unique in its variation: the pattern-index affects how the texture will be placed on the surface of the weapon, and this can radically affect the cost of the item.
The name of the skin – Case Hardened – is actually related to its design. It names a certain method of metal working, surface hardening, which is supposed to protect the body of the weapon from damage. The chemical treatment creates a thin film on the surface that protects the metal from scratches. The color of this film can vary – and it is this effect that is reproduced in the design of Case Hardened.
The most expensive skins of this type – Blue Gem, They have the surface of the weapon uniformly colored in different shades of blue. The second rarest pattern is – gold, or Gold Gem. According to many players, it does not look as remarkable as Blue Gem, besides, it is almost impossible to get a completely golden AK-47 or knife.
But the variety does not end with these options. For example, the AK-47 has the most patterns that can command a higher price. For example, with a pattern index of 661, 321 or 670, most of the case remains blue, but a small vertical stripe appears on the receiver. Such a variant is called «scar». A few patterns have only part of the hull blue, for example indexes 151 and 856 will give a blue barrel. AK-47s are also popular Case Hardened with a 50/50 coloring, where the color ratio is about the same.
Another notable pattern is – Blaze, also known as Rainbow or Galaxy. In this case, you will be able to see all three main colors on the surface, smoothly transitioning one into another and forming irregularly shaped spots. The price for this type of pattern varies quite a bit and is often the result of an agreement with a particular buyer, so the valuation here is up to personal preference.
Before buying or selling a Case Hardened skin, be sure to check the pattern index. Sometimes the coloring versions may look similar, but the price difference turns out to be quite significant. But even if you didn't get a skin with a notable pattern index, any item from this series will become a real decoration of your inventory.
