The Kershaw Launch 21 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 drop point blade 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.

CPM M4 is a high-speed tool steel produced by Crucible Industries through the powder metallurgy process. Where CPM MagnaCut was designed to balance edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance simultaneously, and CPM-154 offers excellent stainless performance with good edge retention, CPM M4 pushes the edge retention and wear resistance envelope to its maximum — accepting a high carbon and vanadium content that produces exceptional abrasion resistance at the cost of corrosion resistance. CPM M4 is not stainless. It will develop surface rust if left wet or unprotected. The trade-off is explicit: CPM M4 holds a working edge through significantly more cutting cycles than CPM MagnaCut, CPM-154, or D2 — particularly under abrasive tasks like rope, cardboard, and fibrous materials. For performance-focused buyers who cut frequently and maintain their blades, CPM M4 in a production automatic folder is an extraordinary steel. For buyers who want lower-maintenance carry, the stainless options in the Launch lineup are the better fit.

CPM M4 requires 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 unprotected CPM M4. Apply a thin coat of food-safe mineral oil, camellia oil, or dedicated blade oil after cleaning and before storage. Periodically check the blade for any surface oxidation and address it early with a fine stone or oil. A light coat of oil before extended storage is the most important CPM M4 maintenance habit. With consistent care, CPM M4 rewards the effort with edge retention that significantly outlasts any stainless alternative in the Launch lineup.

Raw aluminum is unfinished aluminum — no anodizing, no coating, no surface treatment beyond machining. Where anodized aluminum has an electrochemical oxide layer that adds color and a hard surface barrier, raw aluminum shows the natural silver-grey of the bare metal. Raw aluminum will develop contact marks, oils, and minor surface oxidation with carry — not rust, but a natural patina that records the knife's use history the way natural handle materials do. This is the appeal of raw aluminum to the buyers who seek it: an honest, patina-developing material that carries as genuine hardware without a surface treatment mediating the experience. The black G-10 scales on the 7106RAW pair practical grip texture and moisture resistance alongside the raw aluminum frame.

The Launch 21 CPM M4 and Launch 22 CPM MagnaCut represent different performance philosophies in the Launch lineup. CPM MagnaCut was engineered to excel across edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance simultaneously — it is near-H1 corrosion resistant, maintains excellent edge retention, and is a low-maintenance stainless carry steel. CPM M4 pushes edge retention and wear resistance to a higher ceiling than CPM MagnaCut, but is not stainless and requires active moisture management. For buyers who want the best all-around performance steel with low maintenance, the Launch 22 MagnaCut. For buyers who prioritize maximum edge retention above all else and will actively maintain their blade, the Launch 21 CPM M4.

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, surface oxidation from improper CPM M4 maintenance, cosmetic raw aluminum patina development, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

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