I asked some other people what they do.
Thery carries a small bone dagger with an enchantment of sharpness, which she made in class. It cuts through paper and leather for her: she buys butcher's paper and crude leather, and sews herself notebooks for her courses. It cuts through the heavy husks of dried sengo fruits, which she eats every day at lunchtime. Once it cut through gabardine and fur and hide and muscle, scraping on bone, when Thery plunged it into the leg of a Cani who shoved her into a midden for being foreign and slightly rich.
Dustweed carries a staff when zie walks in bad parts of town, or Herethroy neighborhoods. Zie has grafted Cruel Ice Fairy, and has used it four times, the worst of which was when Herethroy adolescents in some village or other started shooting at zir with their practice bows. I gather that there is some unpleasant history around this, but zie does not want to discuss it.
Havune never, ever carries a weapon. If someone ever attacks him, he will spont something or other dangerous. He has not considered the possibility.
Yarwain has a metal-edged sword, which he has worn a few times: has worn it on a couple of expeditions to the Verticals seeking gornazzits for conversation. He brought the sword to school, from which the explorers leave. He has never used it outside of gym classes.
Spirshash ... The next time I go
No, I don't carry a weapon myself. Maybe I will make something worthwhile in an enchantment class though