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. 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.

The three Launch 22 MagnaCut variants share the same CPM MagnaCut blackwash blade, side-button automatic deployment, Micarta inserts, and USA manufacture in Tualatin, Oregon. The difference is the aluminum anodized color. The 7205 runs OD green anodized aluminum — the most field-purposeful and tactically deliberate colorway, reading with immediate field-carry credibility in military, law enforcement, outdoor, and tactical contexts. The FDE variant pairs flat dark earth aluminum with the Micarta — the warm earth-tone field-carry option where FDE and Micarta share the same warm register. The blue variant pairs blue anodized aluminum with the Micarta — a cooler, bolder, more assertive color contrast. For tactical field-carry intent, the OD green 7205. For warm earth-tone carry, the FDE. For bold contrast, the blue.

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. CPM MagnaCut is a meaningful step above each in all three categories. In a side-button automatic, edge retention keeps the blade sharp through more carry cycles. Toughness supports the blade under the mechanical stress of automatic deployment. Near-H1 corrosion resistance handles humidity and carry moisture reliably — the blackwash adds a further barrier. The Launch 22 is the only Kershaw Launch folder running CPM MagnaCut.

Micarta is a composite material produced by saturating layers of natural fiber — linen, canvas, or burlap — with phenolic resin under heat and pressure. The natural fiber base gives Micarta a warm, organic visual texture and a grip character that develops with handling over time. On the 7205, the Micarta inserts sit alongside the OD green anodized aluminum frame — two materials with different surface stories: the aluminum's machined precision and field-green anodize alongside the Micarta's organic fiber texture. OD green and natural Micarta are a field-intentional pairing — both materials read as purposeful working hardware, and together they reinforce the 7205's field-carry identity more strongly than either would alone.

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

The Kershaw Launch 22 7205 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 7205 carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.