The Kershaw Launch 8 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 8 is a folding automatic knife — the 3.5-inch Damascus 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.

Damascus steel — also called pattern-welded steel — is produced by forge-welding two or more steel alloys in alternating layers, then manipulating the billet through twisting, folding, or drawing to create a pattern in the layered structure. The blade is ground to final geometry and acid-etched to reveal the contrasting layer pattern across the finished blade face. Because the manipulation is done by hand, no two Damascus blades carry an identical pattern — the Launch 8 7150DAM you receive is the only one with that exact pattern in existence. Confirm the alloy composition from Kershaw's published specs at kershawknives.com for specific steel performance characteristics.

Damascus blades require 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 bare Damascus. Apply a thin coat of food-safe mineral oil, camellia oil, or dedicated blade oil after cleaning and before storage. Avoid prolonged contact with acidic materials that can damage the etch pattern. The etch pattern can fade over time with regular use and can be restored with a brief ferric chloride re-etch if desired. Damascus patina development and etch fading from use are not covered under the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty.

The Launch 8 7150DAM, Launch 15 7950DAM, and Launch 16 Damascus tanto are all USA-made Kershaw Damascus side-button automatics sharing the same KVT ball-bearing deployment platform. The differences are blade geometry and handle configuration. The Launch 8 runs a Damascus drop point on a black aluminum handle — the most carry-neutral all-black Damascus configuration, drop point geometry for broad everyday utility, Damascus pattern as the sole visual statement. The Launch 15 runs a Damascus spear point on black aluminum and tan Micarta — the warmest and most tonally cohesive Damascus handle, tan Micarta extending the etch tones into the handle material. The Launch 16 Damascus tanto runs Damascus tanto on black aluminum — the penetration-focused reinforced-tip geometry in an all-black handle. For zero-signature everyday Damascus carry, the Launch 8. For warm natural-material Damascus, the Launch 15. For Damascus tanto deployment, the Launch 16.

A drop point blade curves the spine smoothly downward toward a lowered, centered tip — preserving a strong tip geometry while maintaining a long, versatile cutting belly along the edge. The drop point is the most broadly capable blade geometry in a production folder: the lowered tip provides more control than a trailing point on push cuts, more everyday utility than a tanto's secondary-edge geometry, and a longer cutting belly than a spear point's symmetrical tip. On a Damascus automatic, the drop point geometry pairs the pattern-per-blade uniqueness of Damascus with the everyday capability that makes a knife worth carrying regularly — not a collection piece, but a carry piece that earns its place in daily use.

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, Damascus patina development, etch pattern fading from use, handle anodize wear, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Launch 8 7150DAM 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 7150DAM carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.