The Kershaw Launch 21 7106 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. The KVT system uses ball bearings in the pivot for a faster, smoother deployment than a traditional washer-based pivot. To close, disengage the liner lock with your thumb and fold the blade back into the handle. The Launch 21 is a folding automatic knife — the CPM M4 drop 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.

The 7106 and 7106RAW are both Launch 21 CPM M4 drop point automatics sharing the same blade geometry, blade length, and USA manufacture. They differ in blade finish and handle configuration. The 7106 runs a black PVD blade on a FDE anodized aluminum handle with black G-10 inlays — the PVD coating adds a molecular-level corrosion barrier on top of the CPM M4 substrate, significantly reducing moisture maintenance requirements. The 7106RAW runs a bare, uncoated blade on a raw aluminum and black G-10 handle — unfinished aluminum that develops patina with carry, alongside bare CPM M4 that requires wipe-dry after any moisture exposure and regular oiling. Both deliver identical CPM M4 cutting performance. The 7106 is the better choice for buyers who want M4's edge retention with reduced maintenance burden. The 7106RAW is the choice for buyers who want the honest, unmediated material experience of bare tool steel and raw aluminum.

No — black PVD significantly reduces CPM M4's moisture maintenance requirement but does not eliminate it. PVD bonds a titanium nitride layer to the blade surface at the molecular level, adding a hard, adhesion-stable corrosion barrier on top of the CPM M4 substrate. This is a meaningful improvement over bare CPM M4 — the PVD layer protects the blade face from moisture exposure that would rust bare M4 quickly. However, PVD coating wears at the edge bevel and carry contact points over time, and once the PVD layer is thinned or removed at those areas, the bare CPM M4 substrate is exposed. Wipe the blade dry after heavy moisture exposure and apply a light coat of blade oil periodically — less frequently than bare M4 requires, but not zero maintenance.

CPM M4 is a high-speed tool steel produced by Crucible Industries through the powder metallurgy process. It delivers the highest edge retention and wear resistance of any steel in the Kershaw Launch lineup — significantly outperforming CPM MagnaCut, CPM-154, and D2 in sustained cutting endurance, particularly on abrasive materials like rope, cardboard, and fibrous materials that accelerate wear on lower-carbide steels. The trade-off is corrosion resistance: CPM M4 is not stainless and requires more active moisture management than any stainless or semi-stainless option in the Launch lineup. For buyers who prioritize cutting performance above all other steel properties and accept the maintenance trade-off, CPM M4 in a production automatic folder is an extraordinary offering.

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, mechanism wear from sustained deployment cycling, cosmetic PVD finish wear at the blade bevel, surface oxidation from improper CPM M4 maintenance, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 21 7106 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 7106 carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.