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Kershaw Launch 19 Review
- Pros: Excellent ergonomics, with a comfortable handle and well-designed choil. High-quality materials, including CPM-154 blade steel and a combination of aluminum and G10 for the handle. Impressive automatic action with a snappy and satisfying deployment. Beautiful aesthetics, featuring a satin blade with black flats and an attractive handle design. Fantastic value for an American-made automatic EDC knife
- Cons: Lack of recessed screws for the pocket clip, which would have been a nice touch. A slight gap between the aluminum and G10 handle scales, though Kershaw did a good job minimizing its appearance. No manual version available with a flipper or thumb studs (yet).
Greetings, and welcome to this Kershaw Launch 19 review, where I'll be sharing my thoughts on one of the best Kershaw knives I have ever handled.
This knife is easily in my top three favorite Kershaw knives and, without a doubt, the best knife from their Launch series of American-made automatics.
Let's take a closer look at what makes this knife an absolute banger.
Key Takeaways
- The Kershaw Launch 19 is an absolute banger of a knife and easily one of the best Kershaw knives I have ever handled.
- It has a beautiful clip-point blade with a flat grind and crafted from CPM-154 steel, which is typical for the Kershaw Launch series.
- The ergonomics are outstanding, with a comfortable handle made from aluminum and brown G-10, and a well-placed choil that makes it a joy to hold.
- The action is incredibly snappy and satisfying, rivaling some of the best automatic knives on the market, like the Protech TR-3.
- Minor critiques include the lack of recessed screws for the pocket clip and a slight gap between the aluminum and G-10 handle scales, but these don't detract from the overall excellence of the knife.
Specs and Materials
The Kershaw Launch 19 has an impressive overall length, blade length, and blade thickness. The blade material is the typical CPM-154 seen on just about every Kershaw Launch model, which I'm totally good with, especially when considering the price point. We have a beautiful clip-point style blade with a flat grind, making it a versatile and effective slicer.
The handle, with a comfortable length and thickness, is crafted from aluminum and brown G-10. I've got to say that I am loving this combination. It just gives the knife a really good look, and there's not enough brown G-10 out there. Of course, the Launch 19 features a button lock for the locking mechanism, as it is an automatic knife.
Ergonomics and Aesthetics
One of the most impressive aspects of the Launch 19 is its ergonomics. When I hold this knife, it is one of the most comfortable grips I've ever experienced. It's up there with the Giant Mouse Ace Biblio XL and the Spyderco Shaman for some of the best ergos I've ever handled on a knife. The choil is an absolute joy, making me so happy when I choke up on the blade.
From an aesthetic standpoint, this might be the best-looking blade I've ever seen on a Kershaw. The satin finish with the black flats is awesome, and the handle design is fantastic. I love the little G-10 portion connected with the aluminum. Although there is a slight gap between the two materials, Kershaw did a great job minimizing its appearance with a clever groove design.
Action and Deployment
The action on this knife is outstanding. It has one of the hardest-kicking launches I've ever handled, especially for its size. The Launch 19 is right up there with the Kershaw Launch 1 and another recent Kershaw model with an M4 blade in terms of snappy deployment. I dare say the action is Protech-like, reminding me of the Protech TR-3. The button placement and milling are perfect, making it easy to locate and press without slippage.
Minor Critiques
As much as I love this knife, there are a couple of minor things I would change.
First, I would have liked to see recessed screws for the pocket clip. It still goes in and out of the pocket just fine, but recessed screws would have been a welcome addition.
Second, there is a slight gap between the aluminum and G-10 handle scales, but as I mentioned earlier, Kershaw did a good job minimizing this with their design choices.
Video Review
Conclusion
The Kershaw Launch 19 is an absolute home run of a knife, and this Kershaw Launch 19 review only scratches the surface of what makes it so great. It excels in ergonomics, materials, action, and overall design, offering fantastic value for an American-made automatic EDC knife.
If this is a sign of what's to come from Kershaw, we're going to be in for a treat. I would love to see a flipper or thumb stud version of this knife, but even as is, the Launch 19 is a top-tier offering.
I highly recommend checking out the Kershaw Launch 19. It's a damn good knife that has easily become one of my favorites. Let me know what you think of this one if you've handled it!
