The Kershaw Launch 18 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 18 is a folding automatic knife — the compact 2.79-inch CPM-154 spear point pivots from the handle. Despite the compact blade length, the deployment mechanism delivers the same fast, positive action as the full-size Launch variants. 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 2.79-inch blade clears the blade length carry threshold in most US jurisdictions — but automatic knife classification is independent of blade length restrictions, and the automatic deployment mechanism subjects the Launch 18 to the same automatic knife laws that apply to full-size Launch variants. 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 18 7551 occupies a specific position between the ultra-compact Launch 4 (1.9-inch blade) and the full-size Launch variants (3.45 to 3.5-inch blades). The Launch 4 at 1.9 inches is the most compact and discrete option — sized for shirt pocket, suit jacket, or carry-alongside-a-phone situations where even sub-3-inch knives create too much profile. The Launch 18 at 2.79 inches is more capable for daily cutting tasks — enough blade length for food prep, packaging, rope, and general everyday utility — while still fitting comfortably in a front pocket without the profile of a 3.45-inch folder. The full-size variants at 3.45 to 3.5 inches offer the most cutting capability and handle real for sustained work. For ultra-compact discrete carry, the Launch 4. For compact but capable everyday carry, the Launch 18. For maximum cutting capability in a production automatic, the full-size Launch variants.

Sub-3-inch automatic knives fill a genuine carry gap. Most professional, business, and formal carry environments either do not welcome the profile of a 3.5-inch folder or simply have no comfortable pocket carry solution for a full-size knife. A 2.79-inch automatic like the Launch 18 handles the full range of everyday cutting tasks — packaging, food prep, cord, everyday light work — while carrying at a size that reads as a small pocket tool rather than a tactical knife. The automatic deployment advantage is preserved at 2.79 inches: instant one-hand access without a manual technique, ready in the same motion as reaching into a pocket. For buyers whose carry environment calls for discretion without sacrificing cutting capability, the Launch 18 is the right size.

CPM-154 is the powder metallurgy version of the classic 154CM stainless steel formula, produced by Crucible Industries. The powder metallurgy process produces a more uniform carbide distribution than conventionally melted 154CM, resulting in better edge retention, improved toughness, and cleaner sharpening behavior while retaining 154CM's excellent corrosion resistance. In a compact 2.79-inch blade used for continuous everyday tasks, edge retention is especially important — a blade this size gets used for incidental cutting throughout the day and benefits from steel that maintains a working edge through more cutting cycles before maintenance. CPM-154 sharpens readily on standard ceramic rods and requires no special maintenance in carry conditions.

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 stonewash patina development, handle anodize wear, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 18 7551 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 7551 carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.