OTF stands for out-the-front — the blade deploys and retracts axially through an opening in the front of the handle. On the Kershaw Livewire, push the slider on the spine forward to deploy and push back to retract. The blade locks positively when fully deployed and retracts cleanly on the return stroke. On the 9000DESTBLU, the dagger blade is symmetrical — both edges ground to a centered tip — and deploys on the OTF axis with the needle-sharp centered point aimed directly forward at full extension. The dagger configuration is the most penetration-optimized geometry in the Livewire series for on-axis OTF deployment. OTF knives are true automatic knives by legal definition and are subject to the same state and federal restrictions as side-button automatics. See the legality FAQ below before purchasing.

OTF automatic knives are subject to strict regulation under federal and state law. Under federal law, the interstate sale and transport of automatic knives — including OTF knives — is restricted. Knifeworks can only ship OTF automatics to buyers in states where automatic knives are legal to own and carry. Dagger blades — which typically have two sharpened edges — are additionally restricted or prohibited in many jurisdictions beyond the standard OTF automatic knife restrictions. State and local laws on daggers vary widely and are independent of OTF regulations. Knifeworks cannot provide legal advice. It is your responsibility to verify that both OTF automatic knives and dagger blades 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 where either OTF automatics or daggers are prohibited.

A dagger blade is symmetrical along the blade's centerline — the spine and edge mirror each other, meeting at a centered, needle-sharp tip. Both sides of the blade are typically ground to an edge, giving the dagger cutting capability on the top edge as well as the primary bottom edge. The centered tip geometry produces the smallest, most acute point possible for a given blade thickness — optimized for maximum penetration force with minimum contact area. In an OTF automatic, the dagger geometry is particularly well-matched to the deployment format: the blade fires on its central axis and the symmetrical dagger tip deploys pointed directly forward, centered on the deployment line. No other blade geometry produces a tip this well-aligned to the OTF's axial deployment direction.

A partially serrated edge combines a plain edge section near the handle with serrated teeth toward the tip on the same edge. On the 9000DESTBLU, one edge of the dagger carries partial serrations alongside the plain section — adding aggressive cutting capability on fibrous and tough materials (rope, webbing, strapping, seatbelts) where serrations excel, while the plain edge section and the second dagger edge handle slicing tasks where a smooth edge performs better. The partial serration configuration gives the 9000DESTBLU more edge versatility than a fully plain or fully serrated dagger, covering a broader range of cutting tasks in a single blade. The serrated section is sharpened using a tapered ceramic or diamond rod, independently from the plain edge section.

The Livewire OTF series now spans ten confirmed variants, all sharing USA manufacture in Tualatin, Oregon. The 9000DESTBLU is the only dagger blade and the only partially serrated edge in the series — both are firsts for the Livewire lineup. It is also the only blue anodized handle in the series. The other nine variants are: 9000TCFDAM (Damascus tanto, carbon fiber), 9000DECFDAM (Damascus spear point, carbon fiber), 9000TFDEBW (blackwash tanto, FDE), 9000MERL (blackwash spear point, Merlot red), 9000OLBW (blackwash spear point, OD green), 9000RAWBLK (black PVD spear point, raw aluminum), 9000RAWGLD Aurum (gold PVD drop point, raw aluminum), 9000RAWBLU Cryo (blue PVD drop point, raw aluminum), 9000WBLK Trooper (black PVD drop point, white anodized), 9000WGLD Pope (gold PVD drop point, white anodized).

CPM MagnaCut was designed by metallurgist Larrin Thomas and produced by Crucible Industries to outperform both CPM-S35VN and M390 in edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance simultaneously. In a dagger with partial serrations, all three properties matter: edge retention keeps both the plain and serrated sections sharp longer through sustained deployment and cutting use. Toughness supports the dagger's double-edged geometry under hard use — the acute centered tip requires a steel that resists chipping under hard lateral loads, and CPM MagnaCut's toughness provides that better than harder but more brittle alternatives. Corrosion resistance keeps the blade performing in any carry environment. Most production dagger OTFs run lower-tier steels — CPM MagnaCut is a significant step up.

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 OTF cycling, cosmetic finish wear on the blade and handle, serration wear from cutting use, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Livewire 9000DESTBLU is manufactured in the USA at Kershaw's production facility in Tualatin, Oregon. A USA-made CPM MagnaCut partially serrated dagger OTF automatic is an extremely rare combination in the production knife market. The Livewire delivers this at an authorized dealer price with full Kershaw Lifetime Warranty coverage.