OTF stands for out-the-front — the blade deploys and retracts axially through an opening in the front of the handle rather than folding open like a conventional folder. On the Kershaw Livewire, push the slider on the spine forward to deploy the blade and push it back to retract. The blade locks positively when fully deployed and retracts cleanly on the return stroke. On the 9000BLKST, both the plain edge section and the serrated section deploy together as one unit — the full combo edge is accessible at full extension. The black blade and black anodized handle read as a single unified unit at 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. State laws vary significantly: some states permit OTF automatics 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 OTF 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 OTF automatics are prohibited.

The 9000BLKST and 9000ST are the two partially serrated spear point Livewire variants — they share the same CPM MagnaCut steel, partially serrated spear point edge configuration, 3.36-inch blade length, black anodized aluminum handle, and USA manufacture in Tualatin, Oregon. The only difference is blade finish. The 9000ST runs a stonewash finish — natural bare CPM MagnaCut steel reading as silver-grey against the black handle for a visible steel-on-black contrast that shows the two-zone edge clearly. The 9000BLKST runs a black blade finish — a fully blacked-out surface reading as a single dark unit against the black handle, where the combo edge is functionally present but visually quiet. Both deliver identical cutting performance. For visible steel with clear edge-zone contrast on black, the 9000ST. For the fully unified all-black zero-signature combo-edge OTF, the 9000BLKST.

A partially serrated edge — also called a combo edge — divides the blade edge into two functional zones. On the 9000BLKST, a plain edge section near the handle delivers conventional slicing performance for everyday tasks: packaging, food prep, cord, and precision cuts where a plain edge is more controllable. A serrated section toward the tip adds aggressive cutting capability on rope, webbing, seatbelts, strapping, and heavy cordage — materials where serrated teeth grip and cut under pressure without the sawing effort a plain edge requires. The spear point geometry centers both zones on the same blade, maintaining the symmetrical tip while extending edge versatility to two distinct cutting applications in one deployment. Along with the 9000ST, the 9000BLKST is one of only two partially serrated spear points in the Livewire series.

The 9000BLKST's partially serrated edge has two sections that are sharpened differently. The plain edge section sharpens on any standard bench stone, ceramic rod, or diamond stone at the existing bevel angle. The serrated section is sharpened independently using a tapered ceramic or diamond rod, working each individual serration at the serration's bevel angle from the flat side of the blade. Do not sharpen the serrated section on a flat stone — the flat stone cannot follow individual serration geometry. The black coating on the blade will show wear at the edge bevel and serration tips with sharpening, which is normal and expected. CPM MagnaCut maintains edge in both sections through more cutting cycles than lower-tier steels, reducing sharpening frequency for both zones.

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. For a partially serrated OTF, edge retention matters in both the plain and serrated sections — the serrated teeth on CPM MagnaCut stay sharp through more cutting cycles than lower-tier steels, reducing tapered-rod maintenance frequency on the serrated zone. Toughness supports the blade cycling under spring tension with every OTF deployment. The black coating adds a functional corrosion barrier on top of CPM MagnaCut's near-H1 corrosion resistance. Most production OTF knives run 154CM or D2 — CPM MagnaCut is a significant step up in all three categories.

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 blade finish wear at the bevel and serration tips, serration wear from cutting use, sharpening, and damage from misuse are not covered.

The Kershaw Livewire 9000BLKST is manufactured in the USA at Kershaw's production facility in Tualatin, Oregon. Domestic manufacture is a consistent feature of the entire Livewire series. The 9000BLKST carries the same CPM MagnaCut steel, USA production quality, and Kershaw Lifetime Warranty coverage as every other variant in the lineup.