Along the lines of Kilgar's thinking, each situation is different and you have to use what is available and gives you any advantage possible (including running away always as your first choice if that is possible).
For most of my life, I've carried either a backpack on one shoulder or an attache`in my hand when I am out in public. Each one with stuff in it that brings the weight to 5-6 pounds. (A knife is always in my pocket, and a gun often on my hip or in the backpack or attache`).
Either bakpack or attache' can be a very effective flailing weapon if someone approaches me in a less-than-polite manner (and with anything less than a gun in their hand).
I can quickly swing and strike from a further distance than they can, and I can make it hurt with little to no telegraphing.
I know it works as I've done it, and it takes little to no training other than mental preparation.
Picture someone coming at you aggressively and you have one of those items in your hand. I just rotate a little to the right to "cock my weapon" (I'm right handed) and then pivot left and strike with that item extended. A broken jaw, wrist, forearm, bones in the hand, are all pretty easy to achieve.
If the situation is close quarters, the items can be use to block/deflect a punch, knife strike, etc., push the skell away to give you room to fight or escape, etc.
Easily used because they are at-hand most of the time.
If you carry a knife and are taken by surprise (shame on you for not being situationally aware, but it happens), where is your "perfect EDC" knife at?
Likely not in your hand.
And you aren't gonna' be able to "take a pause" to get it out.
People always ask what is the best knife, gun, taser, stick, etc., to have for a fight.
No offense intended to the OP or anyone who asks, but by asking the question, they are showing that no matter what they carry, they are not ready for the fight to begin with.
THE best (insert item here) is whatever you can access the fastest, and use with the most effect to preserve your safety.
It could be a knife, a desk phone, a book, a bic pen, your car keys in your fist.
Be prepared to fight that way, as there is no "magic bullet" that you can carry to protect you if you're otherwise unprepared.
