At the federal level, the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 restricts interstate commerce of automatic knives with blades over 1.5 inches. The Launch 12’s 2.4-inch blade is compact by production automatic standards and falls below many common blade-length thresholds, but individual state and local statutes vary widely. Always confirm legality before ordering.

A drop point (like the Launch 1, Launch 6, Launch 11) has a broad belly with a gentle spine drop toward the tip — excellent for slicing, skinning, and general utility. A stiletto has a very narrow, dagger-like profile with both the spine and edge curving symmetrically to a fine needle tip, which maximizes piercing ability and gives a classic, refined look.

The tradeoff is reduced belly for slicing tasks compared to a drop point. For precision work, piercing, and fine detail cutting, the stiletto excels. For heavy-duty utility work that requires a robust tip, a drop point is stronger. The Launch 12 stiletto is best understood as a precision tool and collector piece as much as a daily utility knife.

The Launch 12 handle is teal anodized 6061-T6 aluminum — the structural backbone of the knife — with a woven carbon fiber inlay panel set into the face. The teal anodizing is a distinctive, non-tactical color that makes the 7125TEALBLK the most visually striking variant in the Launch 12 lineup and one of the most colorful options in the entire Launch series. The carbon fiber inlay adds grip texture and premium visual character beyond what a plain aluminum handle provides.

At 2.4 inches of blade, edge retention matters more per inch of cutting edge than on a larger knife. CPM-154 powder-metallurgy stainless, hardened to 59–61 HRC, provides serious edge retention that significantly outperforms budget steels common in import automatics. The powder-metallurgy process gives CPM-154 better toughness than standard 154CM, which is important for automatic deployment where the blade impacts the lock at high speed on every open cycle.

The black DLC coating on the 7125TEALBLK adds surface hardness and abrasion resistance to the blade flats while keeping the knife visually dark and low-profile against the teal handle. DLC is one of the hardest coatings applied to production knife blades and requires minimal maintenance beyond wiping clean and occasional oiling.

The Kershaw Launch 12 measures approximately 6.25 inches overall when open and 3.75 inches closed. The stiletto blade is 2.4 inches long. The knife weighs approximately 2.0 oz and carries on a reversible deep-carry clip in a tip-up configuration for either hand. At 3.75 inches closed, it is among the shortest-carrying automatics in the Kershaw Launch lineup.

Yes — with the caveat that legality must be confirmed first, and that the stiletto blade shape is more suited to fine precision tasks than heavy utility work. At approximately 2.0 oz and 3.75 inches closed, the Launch 12 is one of the lightest and most compact automatics available from a USA manufacturer.

The teal and carbon fiber handle makes this knife a conversation piece as much as a utility tool. For buyers who want a precisely made USA automatic that is genuinely small, visually distinctive, and carries serious steel, the Launch 12 7125TEALBLK delivers on all three counts.

Kershaw warrants every Kershaw-brand product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for the lifetime of the original owner. If a valid defect is found, Kershaw will repair or replace the item at their discretion. Because Knifeworks is an authorized Kershaw dealer, every Launch 12 we sell is covered by this warranty. For warranty service, contact Kershaw directly at kershawknives.com.

All four share CPM-154 steel, ambidextrous side-button automatic action, liner lock, reversible deep-carry clip, and USA manufacture. The differences are blade length, blade shape, and handle.

The Launch 12 (7125TEALBLK) has a 2.4-inch stiletto blade and teal aluminum + carbon fiber inlay handle — unique blade shape, smallest blade in the family. The Launch 11 (7550) has a 2.75-inch drop-point blade and black aluminum handle at approximately 2.2 oz. The Launch 1 (7100BW) has a 3.4-inch drop-point blade and black aluminum handle at 3.0 oz. The Launch 6 (7800 series) has a 3.75-inch drop-point blade at 4.0 oz. Choose the Launch 12 for the stiletto profile, the distinctive colorway, and maximum compactness; move to the Launch 6 for the most usable blade.