First Automatic Knife

[MtnmanofGod]

Greetings everyone and Happy New Year to you! I must admit I am a neophyte to knife collecting and am just starting on my adventure. I decided to focus first on something that truly ignites my heart with awe and I experience a sense of the knife being an immediate extension of my intentions, unlike a folding knife which must be manipulated with more movement to help it along to its utilitarian form as an open blade. When that blade snaps out prepared to execute whatever task is at hand, it is a thrill and a beautiful mechanical work of martial art.

I chose the Kershaw Launch 1 as my beginner's blade. I've done a little bit of research into the knives and the Kershaw launch 1 seems to get a good amount of respect. Does anyone have thoughts regarding the choice I made? And what do they think of the knife? Why?

I want to learn the metals for the blades, the material used to compose the handles and all the language of knife description and quality and assessment. If there is a book which newcomers typically use to learn these things, please pass it along by name and author, thanks for your time and I hope my question is according to protocol as a newcomer.

[Railsplitter]

I’ve never handled the Launch 1 but I’ve owned a Launch 4 and a Launch 9. Both are well made, quality autos.

I’d say you made a great choice. The Kershaw Launch series all get excellent feedback from people who own them.

I don’t have a recommendation for the book you’re looking for. I learned most of what I know on knife forums just like this one. That would be my recommendation.

[Railsplitter]

If you’re serious about learning about blade steels, you won’t go wrong with one of these two books authored by Larrin Thomas:

The Story of Knife Steel
Knife Engineering

The Spyderco website and the A.G. Russell website both have Steel Charts if you want a quick glance of knife steels and their composition.

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK.

From your post it seems your primary interest is automatic knives, but your questions about steels, handle covers, etc are fairly generic to most knives regardless of construction or operation. You can find just about everything you want to know right here in this forum. I recommend starting with the Research section which can be found by clicking on it in the header at the top of this page. That will bring you to a page like this screenshot below

That will get you off to a good start for the basics. You can add specifics applicable to automatics as you go. Although most everything you need is here on the forum, unfortunately it’s not typically organized in a fashion to make it a quick study. You can help yourself in that regard by learning to use the keyword search capability, which can be found under the Quicklinks header at the upper left of this thread. (On some mobile browsers it’s the little stacked 3-line icon). Click on it, then scroll down the drop down menu to “Search”. Click on Search and follow the prompts. That will let you enter topics you want to learn about and bring up posts about only that subject without having to read everything here to find it.

Last but not least go to the forum home page and scroll through all the subforums. If you have specific questions, simply post them in the appropriate forum. Folks here are friendly and helpful, someone who knows the answer to your question will help.

Ken

[Reverand]

Welcome to AAPK!

[Madmarco]

to AAPK, Mtnman!
I like just about any knife I see, but the autos have and always will hold a special place in my heart. Feeling the knife tremble in my hand and hearing the crack when it opens are things that just never get old to me.
As for recommendations for a beginner, I would look closely at the Kershaw Launch 8, the Ganzo 707, and perhaps even the new Kershaw Launch 15 for starting out, IMO, I think you'll find any of these suitable for your needs.
This is a long-term hobby, so don't rush yourself and you can wind-up with a nice collection/accumulation of useful or simply cool knives!
I also suggest you keep checking back to this thread for any new information other members may have supplied, as you can see, some of ours guys really know their stuff about steels and other pertinent information about many of the aspects of knives.
Welcome aboard, glad to have you here!

[RedRaiderRick]

Welcome Mountainman! I've only been here a few months but have learned a ton. As for the Launch series I have the 6, 7, and 13. all all fire hard and have good steel.

[1967redrider]

USA made Kershaws are great, and sport the American flag. Here's a thread about different blade metals-

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... 91#p819391

to AAPK!

John

[QGofLake]

I love the Kershaw Launch 1. It is a good hefty knife which fires nice and hard. I think you made a fine choice. You might find you enjoy the vintage styles as well. I came at it the other way. Got into knives as a youth and got into the kinds of knives that we could get then... Rizzutos, Edge Co etc. I always enjoyed the vintage Italian styles but did not have access to them then, but of course now we do. Its been recent for me to get into the knives such as Kershaw, Benchmade, etc. With you 100% about the Launch 1.

Welcome

[1OldTreeClimber]

Auto or not, Kershaw is a good choice. My 1035 moose hunter has been probably the hardest working knife I've ever owned.Oh,and yes I also have a launch 1,seems to be a very stout knife but I've done no rigorous test.,though I'm certain it would hold up well.