Knives really aren't good self defence tools. Without training they are as dangerous to the wielder as to the attacker. Even with training running away is usually a better tactic.

Depending on jurisdiction carrying a knife as a (defensive or offensive) weapon may be illegal. There may also be restrictions on length, foldability, automaticity and concealability to carry a knife as a tool for no particular reason.

Are you aware of their local restrictions? If you let us know we can better advise.

I'm a big fan of ganzo's work, but their low end blade steel is an issue for me. It doesn't need a supersteel but a better budget to mid range steel option would really make their line-up more desirable. For £10-£15 more I'd snap this up in 14C28N or 154CM.

Maybe a CJRB Pyrite mini? The blade is just over 2" but otherwise suits your requirements.

I have an allegedly genuine one of these. It's really not all that large, it is a bit on the heavy side though.

It has 2 real problems.

1. The clip is the usual cold steel pile of shit.
2. The lock is very awkward to use and not very interesting. Half the time your palm stops the lock from opening to engage, and the blade rebounds. Then should you get the knife open, it takes a lot of force to pull the lock open - and your finger may get caught under it. This is a two handed closer if you like your blood on the inside.

I have no idea how the same chap came up with the shark lock and whatever the fuck this scorpion lock is.

Partly it's legal, UK law no longer distinguishes between automatic and assisted opening.

When you get one that wasn't declared by the (usually chinese) retailer and remove the spring, to avoid being arrested for owning a flick knife, the detent is usually so weak due to reliance on the spring that you risk arrest for owning a gravity knife.

They are also really unpleasant in action, sometimes dangerous. I once ordered a cheap knife to see if I liked the wave style opener. Turned out when it arrived that it was also an assisted opener - the wave would catch your pocket and the spring would launch the knife towards your armpit. I actually destroyed that one as a service to humanity.

I was absolutely sold on needing one of these, until you mentioned the spring assist.

I too would appreciate a familiar object for scale.

For UK retailers it's hard to beat Heinnie Haynes they have quite a wide range of stock and their own exclusives in collaboration with manufacturers that alter popular models to be UK no-reason needed legal.

Direct retail tends to work Twisted Assisted and Hoo knives do well.

American retailers are a pain. Knifecentre have a high minimum order. BladeHQ just won't ship to the UK. Similar story for most. Even the giants. Amazon UK seems to have only off-brand weird knives. Not like Sanrenmu, decent but obscure chinese knives. Just novelty tat in 3Cr and tinfoil. Amazon com won't ship knives to the UK. Ebay uk has a strict no knives rule.

Retailers I've had some success with:

Knivesandtools.co.uk - this is a very limited subset of knivesandtools.com a Netherlands based retailer. The co.uk site has the knives they are willing to risk shipping to the UK.

Lamnia.com - the website doesn't give much info about the knives but if you know what you want, they probably have it and will ship it.

The untrained parcel pokers from Border Force may seize your knives but as long as what you ordered is legal a polite letter with a clearly stated willingness to go through with legal action will, in my experience get them to sheepishly send you your knives with an admission they aren't what they claimed (always a flick knife or gravity knife). If your foreign seller will accommodate, ask for any button or crossbar locks to have the pivot tightened so as not to drop shut (or open). You can loosen it later but your typical border force agent gets lots of training on drugs and half a day in a portakabin if they're lucky on knives and other bladed articles.

I see your ZIP drive and raise you an external SyQuest SparQ drive. With Parallel cable.

Nice picture of an angry golfer on it.

Depending how small you want there are lots of knives that will do what you want. Many are also acceptable in restrictive jurisdictions.

Some suggestions:

Fox Vulpis 1 penknife. This is high quality, good materials and unlikely to scare the horses.

Kizer Walnut. It has an unusual look, but it works well for the sort of light duties you are looking at. More likely to intrigue onlookers than alarm them.

Lansky Madrock World Legal. This one might catch the professional interest of police and get you side-eye at the school gates. It looks a bit more aggressive than the previously mentioned knives. It's a bit bigger too, but still a small knife. The Hawksbill blade is probably the best for box cutting and will sharpen a pencil just fine.

The Svord Peasant Mini or Micro. These are bloody great, fun knives. Get one of these. They look like and are perfectly normal working knives. Not zombie apocalypse weapons, just tools. The police may want a look but they won't get alarmed. Brenda at the school gate may still think you are weird, but not an unhinged murderer. The peasant knives will do what you want. You can sharpen them with the most basic tools and you'll learn to do it decently. Just get one, everyone needs one eventually.

I do have a favourite but I think I've been pretty even handed.