The Kershaw Launch 16 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. The KVT ball-bearing pivot delivers a fast, smooth, one-hand deployment from a fully closed position. To close, disengage the liner lock with your thumb and fold the blade back into the handle. The Launch 16 is a folding automatic knife — the blade pivots open from the handle rather than deploying axially through the front like an OTF. 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 pattern across the finished blade face. Because manipulation is done by hand, no two Damascus blades carry an identical pattern — the Launch 16 Damascus Tanto you receive is the only one with that exact pattern in existence. Confirm the alloy composition from Kershaw's published specs for specific steel performance characteristics.

Damascus blades require more active maintenance than stainless steel blades. 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. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic materials that can damage the etch pattern. Re-etching in ferric chloride solution can restore a faded pattern over time if desired. The tanto geometry means two separate edge sections — sharpen each independently at its own bevel angle without blending the primary and secondary edges.

The Launch 16 and the Livewire Damascus OTF variants (9000TDAM, 9000TCFDAM, 9000DAM, 9000DECFDAM) are both USA-made Damascus automatic knives, but they use fundamentally different deployment mechanisms. The Livewire OTF deploys the blade axially through the front of the handle via a spine slider — an out-the-front format. The Launch 16 deploys the blade by folding it open from the handle via a side button — a conventional folding knife format. OTF automatics and side-button folding automatics are both classified as automatic knives under federal and state law, but they are distinct carry formats. The Launch 16 is a folding knife that carries and closes like a conventional folder; the Livewire is a fixed-length housing that does not fold.

A tanto blade features a primary edge that runs parallel to the spine until it meets a chisel-ground secondary edge that angles down to the tip at approximately 60–70 degrees, creating a reinforced tip that concentrates force into a very small contact area. On a side-button automatic folder, the tanto deploys instantly from the closed position — the reinforced tip is available immediately at full extension. For hard-use and tactical applications where penetration force and tip strength matter, the tanto in an automatic deployment format combines two practical advantages: fast one-hand deployment and a tip geometry built to withstand hard use without chipping.

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, cosmetic Damascus patina development, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 16 Damascus Tanto is manufactured in the USA at Kershaw's production facility in Tualatin, Oregon. A USA-made Damascus tanto side-button automatic folder is an extremely rare combination in the production knife market. The Launch 16 carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.