The Kershaw Launch 14 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 through the KVT ball-bearing pivot. To close, disengage the liner lock with your thumb and fold the blade back into the handle. The Launch 14 is a folding automatic knife — the 3.375-inch Damascus cleaver blade pivots from the handle, the broad rectangular blade face deploying forward at full extension. 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. Knifeworks cannot provide legal advice. It is your responsibility to verify that automatic knives are legal in your state, county, and municipality before purchasing. Check your local laws at akti.org (American Knife and Tool Institute) or call us at 888-225-9775 — we will not ship to addresses in states where automatic knives are prohibited.

A cleaver blade draws from the kitchen cleaver and Chinese chef's knife tradition — a broad, tall blade with a spine that runs nearly parallel to the cutting edge, producing a rectangular or squared-off profile with a wide, largely uninterrupted flat face and a blunt or mildly curved tip. In a folding knife, the cleaver geometry produces the broadest blade face area in any production folder, delivering maximum slicing surface in a draw cut or rocking push cut while the flat spine provides a natural surface for index finger placement on precision work. The cleaver is the most visually bold and geometry-distinctive blade profile in the Launch lineup — immediately recognizable and unlike any other blade in the series. It is purpose-built for slicing, chopping light-medium tasks, and food prep where a broad, flat blade face is the performance driver, rather than precision entry or reinforced penetration tip tasks.

The cleaver blade's broad, largely uninterrupted flat face gives Damascus steel the largest canvas available in any production folding knife geometry. Where a spear point, clip point, or drop point blade narrows toward the tip and reduces the visible acid-etched pattern area, a cleaver blade maintains its full width from ricasso to tip — the entire layered Damascus pattern is visible across the full length and height of the blade face without taper or reduction. On the 7850BLKDAM, a 3.375-inch Damascus cleaver presents more uninterrupted pattern area than any other Damascus blade in the Launch catalog. The pattern density, the contrast between light and dark layers, and the visual complexity of the Damascus manipulation are all more fully readable on a cleaver face than on any pointed geometry.

Damascus steel is produced by forge-welding two or more steel alloys in alternating layers, then manipulating the billet through twisting, folding, or drawing to create a pattern in the layered structure. The blade is ground to final geometry and acid-etched to reveal the contrasting layer pattern. Because the manipulation is done by hand, no two Damascus blades carry an identical pattern — the Launch 14 7850BLKDAM you receive is the only one with that exact pattern in existence. Confirm the alloy composition from Kershaw's published specs at kershawknives.com.

Damascus blades require active moisture management. Wipe the blade dry immediately after any moisture exposure — hand oils, humidity, and environmental moisture can cause surface rust. Apply a thin coat of food-safe mineral oil, camellia oil, or dedicated blade oil after cleaning and before storage. The broad cleaver face accumulates moisture across a larger surface area than a narrower blade geometry — consistent oiling across the full blade face is more important than on a pointed geometry. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic materials that can damage the etch pattern. 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, handle anodize wear, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 14 7850BLKDAM 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 7850BLKDAM carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.