The Kershaw Launch 15 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 15 is a folding automatic knife — the 3.5-inch 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. 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.

Damascus steel — also called pattern-welded 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 specific pattern in the layered structure. The blade is ground to final geometry and acid-etched to reveal the contrasting layer pattern across the finished blade face. Because the manipulation is done by hand, no two Damascus blades carry an identical pattern — the Launch 15 7950DAM you receive is the only one with that exact pattern in existence. Confirm the alloy composition from Kershaw's published specs at kershawknives.com for specific steel performance characteristics.

Damascus blades require more active moisture management than stainless steel blades. Wipe the blade dry immediately after any moisture exposure — hand oils, humidity, rain, 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. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic materials that can damage the etch pattern. The etch pattern can fade over time with regular use and can be restored with a brief ferric chloride re-etch if desired. With consistent care, Damascus rewards the effort with a blade pattern that no production stainless knife can match.

The Launch 15 7950DAM and the Launch 16 Damascus tanto are both USA-made Kershaw Damascus side-button automatic folders, sharing the same premium Damascus blade material and the same KVT ball-bearing deployment platform. The differences are blade geometry, blade length, and handle configuration. The Launch 15 runs a 3.5-inch Damascus spear point on a black aluminum and tan Micarta handle — the versatile everyday geometry with the natural warmth of tan Micarta. The Launch 16 Damascus tanto runs a 3.45-inch Damascus tanto on a black aluminum handle — the reinforced-tip penetration-optimized geometry on a single-material all-black handle. For versatile everyday Damascus automatic carry with the warmest handle in the Launch lineup, the Launch 15. For Damascus tanto deployment with zero-signature all-black carry, the Launch 16.

Acid-etched Damascus produces a blade face with contrasting dark and light tones — the etched layers read in warm browns, caramels, and charcoal-greys depending on the alloy combination and etch depth. Tan Micarta is a natural fiber composite in the same warm neutral register: warm, earthy, and organic in a way that directly mirrors the color vocabulary of the Damascus etch. Where green Micarta creates a cool-warm contrast against Damascus tones, and black aluminum disappears against the darkest layer tones, tan Micarta extends the Damascus blade's warm palette into the handle — the etch pattern and the Micarta read as part of the same warm material story. No synthetic handle material produces this tonal continuity with Damascus.

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, Micarta handle patina, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 15 7950DAM 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 7950DAM carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.