The Kershaw Launch 12 uses a side-button automatic mechanism — press the button on the spine of the handle and the blade deploys instantly, locking open via the liner lock. To close, disengage the liner lock with your thumb and fold the blade back into the handle. The Launch 12 is a folding automatic knife — the 2.4-inch forged Damascus spear point pivots from the handle. Automatic knives are subject to the same state and federal restrictions as OTF automatics. See the legality FAQ below before purchasing.

Side-button automatic knives are subject to strict regulation under federal and state law. Under federal law, the interstate sale and transport of automatic knives is restricted. State laws vary significantly: some states permit automatic knives freely, some restrict blade length, some require permits or military or law enforcement status, and some prohibit them entirely. A 2.4-inch blade clears the carry length threshold in virtually all US jurisdictions — but automatic knife classification is independent of blade length restrictions. Verify automatic knife legality in your state, county, and municipality before purchasing. Check your local laws at akti.org or call us at 888-225-9775.

The Launch 12's product name pairs "Mini Stiletto" with an explicit spear point blade designation. Unlike a case where "Stiletto" might describe an actual narrow, sharply tapered blade profile distinct from a spear point, the presence of both terms together here suggests "Mini Stiletto" functions as a model or style designation within the Launch 12 product family name — describing the knife's small size and the spear point's symmetric, dagger-adjacent silhouette — rather than overriding spear point as the literal blade geometry. A true stiletto blade is narrow with minimal belly, built almost exclusively for thrusting; a spear point retains more belly and is suited to general cutting as well as penetration. Confirm this naming interpretation at kershawknives.com before publishing, since it affects how the blade's cutting characteristics should be described.

Forged Damascus refers to Damascus steel produced through traditional forge-welding — two or more steel alloys are layered, heated, and physically hammered or pressed together under heat, then manipulated through twisting, folding, or drawing to create a pattern in the layered structure before being ground to final blade geometry and acid-etched. The "forged" designation emphasizes the traditional hot-working bladesmithing process. This is the same fundamental Damascus construction method used throughout the Launch Damascus family — the 7125DAM's "forged" callout describes the same forge-welded process, not a distinct manufacturing method. No two forged Damascus blades carry an identical pattern — the 7125DAM you receive is the only one with that exact pattern in existence.

The Launch 12 7125DAM at 2.4 inches occupies a specific position in the Launch Damascus compact hierarchy. The Launch 9 7250DAM runs a 2-inch Damascus drop point — the most ultra-compact Damascus automatic in the lineup. The Launch 12 7125DAM at 2.4 inches sits just above that, offering meaningfully more blade length while remaining a genuinely compact mini automatic. The Launch 11 7550DAM (2.75 inches) and Launch 18 7551DAM (2.79 inches) sit further up the size range as larger compact options with more everyday cutting capability. For the smallest possible Damascus automatic, the Launch 9. For a mini step up in capability while staying compact, the Launch 12. For the largest of the compact Damascus options, the Launch 11 or Launch 18.

Damascus blades require active moisture management regardless of blade length. Wipe the blade dry immediately after any moisture exposure — hand oils, humidity, and environmental moisture can cause surface rust on bare Damascus. Apply a thin coat of food-safe mineral oil, camellia oil, or dedicated blade oil after cleaning and before storage. The compact 2.4-inch blade accumulates pocket moisture readily with daily carry, making regular oiling an important routine habit. The etch pattern can be restored with ferric chloride re-etching if it fades over time.

Kershaw offers a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. If the knife fails due to a manufacturing defect, Kershaw will repair or replace it at no charge. Warranty service is handled directly by Kershaw — not Knifeworks. Submit a claim through Kershaw's website at kershawknives.com with a description of the issue and proof of purchase. Normal wear, Damascus patina development, etch pattern fading from use, carbon fiber surface wear, handle wear, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 12 7125DAM is manufactured in the USA at Kershaw's production facility in Tualatin, Oregon. Domestic manufacture is a consistent feature of the full Launch series. The 7125DAM carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.