Nova | Antique (Field-Tested)

Skin overview

Antique already imitates an old, used shotgun, so the worn state fits its theme better than on most finishes. In Field-Tested the gold inlay and the edges of the wood pattern start to lose paint, while the warm red-brown tones and the dark barrel still carry the overall look. Since this skin does not come in more worn grades, Field-Tested is the most affordable way to get it.

Item type: shotgun. Classified is the second-rarest weapon tier, only Covert sits above it.

Custom Paint Job: hand-painted across the whole body; this is the type where wear shows most, the artwork rubs down to metal.

Other qualities of this skin: Factory New and Minimal Wear.

How the skin looks in Field-Tested

The barrel and receiver are painted dark gunmetal with a mottled brown, rust-like patina that gives the metal an aged look. The pump forend is the centrepiece: a red-brown wood surface covered in fine curved engraved lines, framed by bright gold inlay at both ends.

Wear becomes visible on the gold inlay of the forend, where bare metal shows through the trim, and on the butt inlay. The raised edges of the receiver and the curved line pattern on the pump lose some paint, and the stock can look less glossy near the grip. Because the metal is painted to look aged anyway, the scratches blend into the patina and read as natural use in game. The overall colour scheme and the wood look remain clearly recognisable.

Field-Tested wear: float 0.15–0.3

The whole float range of Nova | Antique is 0–0.3; Field-Tested takes the 0.15–0.3 segment (50% of the scale). Within the range, copies with a lower float look cleaner and are valued higher.

Origin of the skin

The skin’s collection is The Phoenix Collection with 13 skins in total.

It drops from Operation Phoenix Weapon Case (on sale since Feb 19, 2014).

What it costs in each quality

By price this skin is 2nd of 3 skins Classified Nova in this quality (the first being the dearest).

StatTrak™ and Souvenir

This skin has a the StatTrak™ version with a kill counter. Right now it is 1.9× dearer than the regular one. There is also a the Souvenir version with tournament stickers.

Which stickers suit it

Gold, brown and dark red stickers match the wood and inlay theme, and holo or gold variants echo the trim on the forend. Placing them on the dark receiver keeps the engraved forend and the stock uncovered.

What to look at before you buy

• Check where the float sits within the wear range, since the gold trim on the forend shows the difference first.
• Inspect the butt inlay and the receiver edges for missing paint on Field-Tested copies.
• Look at existing stickers and name tags, because they change how the forend and receiver read.
• Do not mistake the brown spots on the barrel for wear, as they are part of the artwork.

Who should buy Field-Tested

• Players on a budget who want this skin in their loadout.
• Fans of the aged look, since wear fits the old hunting-gun theme.
• The most accessible entry into Antique.