Ferrum Forge is an interesting company, producing intriguing designs, while outsourcing most of their production. In the case of the Lackey, it is produced in China, albeit by WE Knives, one of the few Chinese knifemakers produing quality on par with their American rivals.
The Lackey is available in black or green G10 in both D2 tool steel and 9Cr18MoV stainless steel, a Chinese cutlery steel arguably similar to 440C (though not quite as good according to people with a keener grasp of complex metallurgy than myself.)
I went with black (because it’s black) and D2 because it’s a variety of steel I’m familiar with and which seems to keep a better edge than does 9Cr18MoV (YMMV).
It helps that I live in a dry climate, which allows less-than-stainless cutlery to survive with minimal maintenance. In any location, though, a little preventative maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your knives healthy and happy.
As a fan of neck knives, the Lackey was an easy acquisition for me at its reasonable $60 price point. With an overall length of 6.25″ (the same as an ESEE Izula) and a flat ground, drop point blade that comes in just under 3″, it’s a comfortable size, albeit a 3-finger knife for most people. It has a blade thickness of 0.16″, which is quite stout for its small size, and thin G10 scales that keep the total thickness of the knife at just over one-quarter inch. It is easily the thinnest knife with scales that I own.
It has a small sharpening choil that may prove insufficient for some sharpening systems, but it is appreciated nonetheless.
The included taco-style kydex sheath provides positive retention with an audible click and no rattle. It is about as compact as a sheath can be, with no excess kydex beyond that required for the three metal eyelets. It includes a bead chain and secure snap belt loops to allow for neck or belt carry.
My only criticism of the sheath is the lack of a thumb push-off (such as those found on Armatus Carry Solutions‘ ‘Architect’ sheaths), but given its minimalistic design and intended use, it’s not really an issue for me with this knife.
Final Thoughts
The Ferrum Forge Pro Series Lackey is a compact, lightweight fixed blade knife that will work equally well as a neck knife or for on-belt or in-pocket carry. Its slim design makes it more suitable for typical urban EDC tasks than for bushcrafting, but it could serve as a competent backup for woods use as well.
