The Kershaw Launch 12 7125 is a sophisticated automatic knife, designed by Matt Diskin and inspired by Italian daggers.
Launch 12 is a smaller version of the popular Launch 8 knife, which is distinguished by a refined Italian style, light construction and an aggressive dagger blade.
Tool steel
The knife has a narrow blade, 64 mm long, made of 154CM hard tool steel, which is subjected to hardening to a hardness of 58-60 HRC, optimal for EDC knives. 154CM is a stainless steel with molybdenum addition, with a very high carbon content, which can be described as the improved version of the 440C.
American steel is especially valued for its resistance to corrosion and wear (high toughness), long maintenance of working sharpness and relative ease of sharpening.
Utility blade
The slender blade with a symmetrical spear-point profile has a uniform, matte finish using the stonewashed method (bathing in abrasive stones), which effectively masks any scratches or abrasions of the blade caused during use.
Thanks to the sharp point, flat cut and a slightly rounded cutting edge, the knife penetrates easily and has excellent cutting properties. The thickness of the blade at its widest point is 2.8 mm, which is a compromise between the durability and functionality of the knife in everyday work.
Automatic unfolding
The most important element of the automatic knife is its extremely comfortable and easy unfolding system.
Unlike the models with a powered blade, in an automatic knife, unfolding the blade requires only pressing the button, which is responsible for releasing the lock and activating the internal spring.
Folding the blade requires pressing the button again and manually retracting the blade. Such functionality makes "vending machines" very popular among soldiers, employees of uniformed services and the rapidly growing group of EDC enthusiasts.
The release button is embedded in a milled cutout, so it does not protrude above the handle, which in turn effectively prevents accidental unfolding of the blade. It is recommended to be extremely careful and prudent when using the automatic knife.
Aluminum 3D handle
The knife has streamlined cladding made of anodized aviation aluminum 6061-T6, equipped with a double-sided guard. An element that gives the knife an elegant style is the decorative carbon fiber insert with a shimmering texture.
The anodized coating is resistant to fading, scratching and abrasion, which guarantees an attractive appearance of the knife for a long time. Discreet carrying of the knife in a pocket is possible thanks to a standard clip that can be moved to the other side