The Kershaw Launch 19 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 19 is a folding automatic knife — the 3.3-inch CPM-154 clip point pivots from the handle with the fine acute tip 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.

The Launch 19 family now spans three variants, all sharing the same 3.3-inch clip point geometry, KVT ball-bearing deployment, liner lock, and USA manufacture in Tualatin, Oregon. The 7851 runs CPM-154 two-tone on a black aluminum handle with earth brown G-10 onlay — the warm-carry configuration, organic earth tone for outdoor and natural-environment carry, CPM-154 stainless with no active moisture maintenance. The 7851BBLK runs CPM-154 black Cerakote and satin on a black aluminum handle with black G-10 onlay — the zero-signature all-dark stainless configuration. The 7851CFDAM runs Damascus acid etch on a black aluminum handle with carbon fiber onlay — the per-blade-unique premium Damascus configuration, requires active moisture maintenance. For warm organic earth tone carry, the 7851. For zero-signature all-dark stainless, the 7851BBLK. For premium Damascus visual uniqueness, the 7851CFDAM.

Earth brown G-10 is fiberglass composite in a warm, dark brown tone — darker and more saturated than tan, less olive than OD green, distinctly warm and earthy in character. G-10 regardless of color is moisture-impervious, temperature-stable, hard, and abrasion-resistant. The carry signal of earth brown is what distinguishes it: where black G-10 is zero-signature tactical-neutral, OD green signals military field carry, and tan reads as desert or arid-environment carry, earth brown reads as naturally warm and organic — suitable for hunting, woodland, hiking, and outdoor carry contexts where a warm earth tone is appropriate without being as specifically military-coded as OD green. Earth brown is the first and only earth brown handle material in the Launch clip point family, and the warmest handle tone in the Launch 19 lineup.

A clip point blade runs the spine straight from the handle, then curves it concavely downward — as if a section of the spine were clipped away — creating a fine, acute, lowered tip. The clip point is one of the most historically significant blade geometries in American folding knife design, associated with classic Bowie and jackknife traditions. The concave clip produces a more acute tip than a drop point's rounded spine, excelling at precision entry, detail push cuts, and controlled tip work, while the long cutting belly along the edge handles everyday slicing tasks. All three Launch 19 variants share this clip point geometry — the 7851's earth brown G-10 onlay is the warmest carry configuration for the same refined clip point blade.

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 the Launch 19, CPM-154 delivers consistent, measurable stainless performance — no active moisture maintenance required in carry conditions, sharpens readily on standard equipment, handles the full range of everyday utility and precision cutting tasks the clip point geometry is designed for.

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, two-tone blade finish wear, G-10 surface wear, handle anodize wear, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 19 7851 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 7851 carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.