Launch 20 Deep Dive, Hardness, Un-Biased Tests and… stuff ​⁠

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I am keeping up with the deep dive format. Let me know what you think about the format and the knife! Is it a worthy companion to the Livewire?

[@tombrown4683]

Yes for the deep dive format. Like the microscope focus on the edge. The hardness testing & the Kevlar stabbing. At first questioned the vest stab relevance but can see that it provides info on more than just penetration of vests.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@tombrown4683 The vest provides a repeatable media to assess how well the blade will penetrate. This way I am able to eliminate one variable. I should probably build a fixture to make the striking force repeatable as well. Tom, you always ask great questions and provide me with opportunities to challenge myself. Would you please email me your shipping address? I’d like to send you a tangible thank you.

[@TheoVannX]

Here because of the yt short just an idea put some foam from like a pool noodle on your strike protection tubing

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@TheoVannX Thanks! I used a piece of split rubber hose in the previous Hype Smasher videos and was trying out the clear PVC in the short. Needless to say, the rubber works better. Check my channel for the videos of other knives I smashed. 👺

[@heavyweightsound]

Definitely helpful

[@EDCandLace]

I was truly impressed with my magnacut link, at 63.7rc and that's tested on a hardness tester at a machine shop that's accurate as they do turbine stuff. I told everyone kershaw absolutely stepped it up, the first couple releases of magnacut was soft but they corrected the protocol and are now putting out really well done magnacut.

[@monkpato]

That's good to hear!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Great, sounds like they figured it out after the early Bel Air fiasco. Link is kinda cool, tons of old school ZT in its DNA, and for some reason people don’t talk about their aluminum treatment and anodizing, which is excellent! Now, if we could only get them laser etchings off the blades, that would be awesome!

[@Bobs_Pocket_Knives]

Very nice overall. Kershaw has been stepping their game up!!

[@tomjones901]

I purchased the Launch 20 after watching your video. It is a good little gentleman's pocket knife, reasonably priced and very sharp right out of the box. About the blade etching, I don't see it as a problem on this knife due to my intended use. Overall it's a great EDC.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@tomjones901 Agreed! Good knife!

[@tomjones901]

I use lanyards on my knifes whether folding or fixed . Lanyards when passed around the wrist or fobs hanging from the handle, serve as a means to help secure - the knife in hand - against accidental slips or mis-handling. I use the term lanyard for both.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I guess lanyards don’t jive with sweat pants other reviewers are wearing 😂

[@tomjones901]

@@CuttingBoardRx 😂

[@SuperGcraig]

Thanks!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Welcome! And thank YOU!

[@monkpato]

I appreciate the time stamps (and I still watched the video all the way through;).

[@BladeLabMiami]

I always enjoy your deep dives. If I may, I would suggest adding a couple measurements to your arsenal -- both relating to edge geometry. As you know, geometry is the most important factor in terms of cutting performance. Two of the most significant factors re: geometry are edge angle (lower cuts better) and thickness behind the edge (lower also cuts better). So it would be helpful to know what the factory edge angle is, and what the thickness is immediately behind the edge bevel. The two measurements really go hand-in-hand. A blade may be thin behind the edge, but if the factory sharpened it at 25 dps, it won't stay that way when a more efficient edge angle is applied. Anyway, keep up the good work!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Ha! It’s all in the video already! All I have to do is tell you that the magnification is 40X. The rest is asthmatic and trigonometry!

[@davidtate166]

Launch 20 is a winner auto for kershaw.all launch lines knives are 👍 great.

[@LuisGonzalez-gl4wc]

Thanks for your contribution. This is what want to see from manufacturers and good cutting geometry also.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

More to come!

[@stevendalton7686]

I like the deep dive format. It makes your channel unique and refreshing. It would be cool if you graded knives based an engineering score rubric.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I thought about it, but in my line of work we rate a product on how well it met the design requirements, which vary from knife to knife. And in this case they are blending two different categories: EDC and tactical, which is a bit of a compromise in either. Yet they made it work somehow… see? now I’m already in a subjective territory.

[@davidhess3484]

Once again you are such a valuable resource to the community. Thank you sir!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

It’s a pleasure!

[@jacknemo8021]

They make cut resistant gloves. They're pretty cheap. Consider getting one for stab testing.

[@michaelnoyes5557]

I always watch your new videos as soon as I see they are out

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Thanks!

[@jj9936]

Really cool to see that Kershaw increased the hardness of the magnacut on these folders. I recently saw that you tested a Boker fix blade bushcraft in Magnacut at 60 HRC while on the Boker website it is advertised at 62/63 HRC. It would be great to know if Boker increases the hardness on these Magnacut folders like the new Boker Brad Zinker Automatik or the Kwaiken compact button lock Magnacut. thanks for sharing 🙏

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Great question as it made go look at what they wrote. Here’s what Boker states: “This steel, which has been hailed as a "miracle steel", has succeeded in achieving a very fine structure and thus high toughness and shock load tolerance despite its high chromium content of 10.7% and impressive hardenability of over 62-63 HRC.” See the nuance?

[@jj9936]

@@CuttingBoardRx ah yes indeed you are right there is a nuance in the description of the Boker Vigtig vs Wild which explains this, they have undoubtedly hardened less because it is a bushcraft knife. However, on the new boker folders in Magnacut there is no this nuance in the description. For example for the boker kwaiken button lock magnacut: " Intuitive operation is a particular focus of this compact button lock version, as the ball-bearing blade made from powder metallurgy CPM MagnaCut (62-63HRC) opens with a flipper and unlocks with just one press of the button on the front handle scale ". I hope this means that as the folders get harder they need less toughness. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer me 💪

[@HaiNguyen88888]

It’s a good looking knife with high quality materials to back it up

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Absolutely!

[@monkpato]

Great video. I'm glad that Kershaw finally got a heat treat right. I love the Launch series but I wasn't interested in this one until your video. Now I'm going to have to pick it up.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

I like that they kept the price as reasonable as previous launches

[@blockbuster6076]

Hello from Ukraine ;) You know that knife - Shokuroff M2103 ? Interesting knife! (Less details - more reliable)

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Definitely an interesting lock! And it may work with or without the Auto functionality. Is the patent expiring next year? I expect somebody will make these for less money.

[@davidmadrid3453]

I would like to see a short video on your method of making lanyards

[@mel87123]

That's a great idea

[@davidhorvathdr]

Great job, phenomenal testing and conclusions! Thanks 🎉

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Thank you!

[@rjg02005]

I've been a fan of ZT since I got my 0350 over a decade ago. My ZT 0308BLKTS is currently my favorite pocket knife (I didn't see one in your collection, I highly recommend, and would love to see it compete with the Adamas!). With Kershaw and ZTs recent offerings, I'm finding myself getting even more excited for what's upcoming. Keep up the hard work. As a fellow engr, I hugely appreciate your evidence based perspective.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Aha! I’m not the only engineer with an overkilled knife in my pocket! I knew it: there’s nothing wrong with me… wait! Wait! two engineers do not represent a good statistical sample... 🤣

[@dayannahkali]

I think that laser etching a super stainless blade is counter productive, also idk if the spring and other parts are that stainless on this model, nor how it would do in saltwater condition. You did another great review on another great knife, maybe the nicest of the Launch line. Thank you for that. One thing I wonder about is if this aluminum construction with aluminum taping would endure in the long run. GG

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Great questions! I actually think this knife will greatly compliment the Livewire OTF (if that’s what you’re referring to) because it is great at EDC while the dagger-shaped OTF covers everything else life may throw at you. Aluminum is going to hold up to hard use as well as any G10 or Ti because it is hard-anodized. Can one scratch it? Sure, but the same applies to all other materials.

[@dayannahkali]

@@CuttingBoardRx Thank. I was referring to the aluminum screw hole, sorry if I was unclear, this is not my native language... Also in ots knives, there is milling in the blade around the pivot, does it not create a weak spot. I imagine folders are never used that hard and a snap never happen anyway, but it doesn't seem as sturdy as, say, a blade on washers where it's full thickness around the pivot.

[@BenCase88]

@@dayannahkali have you watched his hard use video on the Kershaw Livewire OTF?

[@dayannahkali]

@@BenCase88 I didn't yet, but I was speaking ots, this precise Launch 20 model, as otf have no pivot by definition. Obviously it is only theoretical, because after seeing that "wharnfoot" little guy smack hard a ballistic vest, I am completely convinced that it is plenty strong !

[@BenCase88]

@dayannahkali my mistake, I thought you were talking about OTF knives and that was why I referred to the Livewire video. He really puts it through a crazy amount of abuse and it does excellent. I have the carbon fiber version and love it.

[@artiombeknazaryan7542]

Really love the shape and it looks more interesting than Yojimbo.

[@loosieclocker]

Great stuff

[@BenCase88]

I think it is fair to call to any cordage with a loop whether small enough for two fingers or your wrist a lanyard and the ones with a single nub a fob. I'm so used to using the word lanyard now though I'm probably not going to change.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Good point!

[@tombrown4683]

BenCase, agreed, with both points.

[@brettt1268]

Those are what we call digital veryneer calipers

[@CuttingBoardRx]

Not verneer. This is a digital caliper - officially. As opposed to a dial caliper, that’s the one with a round “clock” face. Verneer caliper refers to the old school calipers with scales, where one had to line up the hash marks to get a reading. Sorry bud, you’re going back to the deburring duty 🤣 Next quiz will be on mikes, indicators, and edge finders.

[@EDCandLace]

It really tickled me when I seen someone doing Rockwell tests on a dlc blade on the Lazer etch marks so they could get a reading LOL... they are placing the tester diamond poker on the Lazer etched spot and doing the pokes and then saying oh the heat treat is ruined because they are getting numbers from 53rc ro 58rc lol... don't they understand that the laser is breaking the temper on a micro scale at that very spot? All I can say is LOL.

[@BenCase88]

@EDCandLace I seen that also

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@BenCase88 I’ve seen it. He also didn’t account for flatness of the blade.

[@tombrown4683]

EDCandLace I have seen that as well. I'm glad more people are exploring the Rc of these blades. Used to be that we just accepted whatever the manufacturers put out as hardness. Bravo to the makers that are delivering !

[@davidtate166]

Launch 20 in my pocket it's great auto.

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@@davidtate166 I think you may have room for one more… 🤣

[@davidtate166]

@@CuttingBoardRx some times I load up .I got more than one blade on me.yes

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@davidtate166 it was a knife addict creed: there’s always room for one more!

[@CuttingBoardRx]

@davidtate166 DISREGARD THIS COMMENT: just be careful if yours made before May 2024.

[@davidtate166]

@@CuttingBoardRxbad batch made..no I got mine a few weeks ago.