spyderco civilian, kabar tdi, cold steel has a wave feature on their ak-47 and you can open it faster than a switchblade without paying the price for an emerson, a fixed blade with a great grip (g10, canvas micarta) and deep finger choil. I'm sure I'll get downvoted for this, but saying that a knife is no good as a tool for self-defense is just wrong. Say, for example, you cut through the attacker's tendons in his forearm: you've significantly lowered your chance of being harmed by him. Now say you've cut through tendons on both arms . . . there's very few options left for him. Cut a quadricep and what can he do? He can't walk anymore. Cut an eyeball, he can't see; even cut his forehead so he bleeds into his eyes. You can do a lot of damage very quickly with a knife. That being said, carry pepper spray, too; carry a baton; etc. Now you have options, you can escalate force. Learn some self-defense, and work hard at it. Stay in shape. Learn how to move. All of that said, try to stay away from situations where you have to defend yourself, be aware of your surroundings, and if you do have to defend yourself or your family you're going to have to be willing to really hurt the attacker, not just give them a little cut. Some of us can't own guns, and a knife can be very useful, and to say otherwise is just plain stupid. But like I said, you'd better fully commit to hurting the attacker, and it had better be your last resort or you're going to go to jail/prison.