The Kershaw Launch 9 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 9 is a folding automatic knife — the compact 2-inch Damascus drop point pivots from the handle. Despite the compact blade length, the deployment mechanism delivers the same fast, positive action as the full-size Launch Damascus variants. 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. A 2-inch blade clears the carry length threshold in most US jurisdictions — but automatic knife classification is independent of blade length restrictions, and the automatic deployment mechanism subjects the Launch 9 to the same automatic knife laws that apply to full-size Launch variants. Verify automatic knife legality in your state, county, and municipality before purchasing. Check your local laws at akti.org or call us at 888-225-9775.

Damascus 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. Because the manipulation is done by hand, no two Damascus blades carry an identical pattern — the Launch 9 7250DAM you receive is the only one with that exact pattern in existence. On a 2-inch compact blade, the Damascus pattern is proportionally concentrated — the full layered pattern across a shorter blade face, more dense and visually intense per square inch than on a full-size Damascus blade. Confirm the alloy composition from Kershaw's published specs at kershawknives.com.

Damascus blades require active moisture management regardless of blade length. Wipe the blade dry immediately after any moisture exposure — hand oils, humidity, 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 compact 2-inch blade accumulates pocket moisture readily with daily carry, making regular oiling more important than on a larger blade with less pocket time. The etch pattern can be restored with ferric chloride re-etching if it fades over time.

The Launch 9 7250DAM is the compact member of the Kershaw Launch Damascus automatic family, all USA made with KVT ball-bearing side-button deployment. The Launch 9 runs a 2-inch Damascus drop point — compact carry, dress carry, discrete everyday automatic carry. The Launch 8 7150DAM runs a 3.5-inch Damascus drop point on black aluminum — the most broadly capable everyday Damascus automatic in a zero-signature black carry package. The Launch 15 7950DAM runs a 3.5-inch Damascus spear point on black aluminum and tan Micarta — the warmest and most tonally cohesive Damascus handle. The Launch 16 Damascus tanto runs a 3.45-inch Damascus tanto on black aluminum — the penetration-focused Damascus automatic. For compact Damascus carry, the Launch 9. For full-size everyday Damascus, the Launch 8. For premium natural-material Damascus, the Launch 15. For Damascus tanto deployment, the Launch 16.

The primary reason to carry the Launch 9 Damascus over the CPM-154 Launch 4 (1.9") or Launch 18 (2.79") is the Damascus blade's pattern-per-blade uniqueness. Every compact stainless automatic in production carries a blade that is identical to every other blade of the same model. The Launch 9 7250DAM carries a blade pattern that exists on no other knife in the world. For carry buyers who want their everyday compact automatic to be a genuinely unique piece rather than a catalog item, the Damascus option is the only path. The trade-off is moisture maintenance — CPM-154 requires no special care, while Damascus requires active drying and oiling. For low-maintenance compact carry, the stainless compact options. For compact carry with a one-of-a-kind blade, the Launch 9 Damascus.

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 9 7250DAM 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 7250DAM carries the Kershaw Lifetime Warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.