The Kershaw Launch 22 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 22 is a folding automatic knife — the blade pivots from the handle rather than deploying axially through the front. 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.

Micarta is a composite material produced by saturating layers of natural fiber — linen, canvas, or burlap — with phenolic resin and compressing the stack under heat and pressure. The natural fiber base gives Micarta a warm, organic visual texture that no synthetic material replicates: the woven fiber structure remains visible through the resin layer, and Micarta develops a patina with handling over time that carries its own character. G-10 is a fiberglass composite — glass fiber instead of natural fiber — producing a harder, more uniform surface with less visual depth than Micarta. Aluminum provides machined precision and structural rigidity. The Launch 22's two-material handle pairs the organic warmth and grip texture of green Micarta with the structural precision of blue anodized aluminum — a combination that delivers both tactile character and mechanical integrity in a single carry piece.

CPM MagnaCut was engineered by metallurgist Larrin Thomas and produced by Crucible Industries to outperform CPM-S35VN and M390 in edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance simultaneously. Most production automatic folders run stainless steels like 154CM, CPM-154, or D2 — capable steels that serve the format well. CPM MagnaCut is a meaningful step above each of those in all three performance categories. In a side-button automatic, edge retention keeps the blade sharp through more carry cycles between maintenance. Toughness matters at the blade tip under the mechanical stress of deployment. And CPM MagnaCut's near-H1 corrosion resistance handles humidity and carry moisture with less maintenance than semi-stainless alternatives like D2. The Launch 22 is the only Kershaw Launch series folder running CPM MagnaCut — the highest blade steel in the Launch lineup.

Blackwash is a two-step blade finish: a stonewash texture is applied to the blade first, then a black layer is added that settles into the recesses and wears away at the high points — producing a dark, low-profile appearance with visible grind geometry depth up close. The blackwash finish adds a functional corrosion barrier across the blade face on top of CPM MagnaCut's own near-H1 corrosion resistance. In a carry knife, blackwash hides minor surface scratches and carry wear more effectively than stonewash alone. The dark blade against the two-tone blue aluminum and green Micarta handle creates a three-surface visual combination — dark blade, anodized aluminum, natural fiber — that reads as considered and premium.

The Launch 22 and the Livewire OTF series both use CPM MagnaCut, both are USA made in Tualatin, Oregon, and both are classified as automatic knives subject to the same state and federal restrictions. The deployment format is the fundamental difference. The Livewire is an OTF — the blade deploys axially through the front of a fixed-length housing via a spine slider. The Launch 22 is a side-button folding automatic — the blade pivots from the handle at the press of a button and folds back for storage, carrying as a conventional pocket knife profile. OTF automatics and side-button folding automatics are the same legal category; the choice between them is platform and carry preference.

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 blackwash finish wear, Micarta patina development, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 22 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 Launch 22 carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.