Dave's closest friends have called him "Bomber" for almost 30 years now... so it just made sense that when Kingdom Armory decided to make available a special tier within the Bench Series, the closest you can get to a full one-off custom...it should also be called "Bomber".
Differentiated from Dave's full blown, one-off customs only in that fact that some parts are CNC machine made and delivered to Dave in blank unfinished form. He will utilize small batch CNC'd backspacers and clips for example, but still be texturing the frames and grinding the blades in much the same way he would a custom. And of course each one is fully assembled and tuned under Dave's strict attention to detail. His fingerprints are on every piece.
Completely aware that many other makers would just call this a full custom, Dave still adheres to the ethos that "custom" should mean that as much of the knife as possible be handmade, ensuring that each piece is artistically unique and contain the full work of the craftsman who both designed and personally built it. That is the work that dies with the maker, and the skills to be passed to Dave's sons one day. The fingerprints will be different, but the design language will endure.
In this iteration - This Bomber edition folders had frames, clips and backspacers precisioned machined by Chad Nichols of Nichols Damascus in Blue Springs, MS. Chad delivered those parts in the 1st run of Bench Series Rogues he and Dave recently released.
- Dave selected and pulled parts, then hand ground the Titainum frame in the ever popular and timeless sculpted pattern you see here. An Old school texturing that never goes out of style and always looks great, especially in titanium. A dark aluminum oxide blast, and tumble finish off the Ti and adds a bit of contrast to the brite blade finish.
- The blade is ground out of CTS-XHP stainless from Carpenter Steel and wearing a satin scotch brite and tumbled finish. The goal was to create a high slicer style hollow grind, with a clean finish that would hold up well to EDC carry.
- Additionally, this is blade shape is a unique take on the Rogue profile. Still clearly a Rogue in spirit, this blade has more of a bullnose profile, with the curving and reduction of that prominate Rogue nose. A large swedge brings the grinds back nearly to the spine and creates a very cool looking and practical profile.
- Hinderer LBSS (lock bar stabilzing system) disk used under license from Rick.
- Lockbar release milling detail, carbidized lock face, and ceramic detent added before reassembly and tuning.
Designed in and named for the Valley in which Kingdom Armory exists, the Rogue and its sister knife the Rook were both created as a "spydie flicking" taylored design. (made for deployment using the middle finger) The oval slot is sized for easy thumb use if you'd prefer...but, "F" it! Use the bird, and be a little unique! Be a Rogue...
Dimensions
OAL - 7 1/2"
Closed - 4 1/4"
Blade - 3 1/2"
Belly - 1 1/2"
Weight - 5.6 oz