that is so cool about your S.O mine supports my faith but i would never see him using a protective or blessing spell if he were given one. i like the idea about the mini altar and the exacto blade, i often wondered about what you would use as a 'mini athame.' althought in my town they are really strict about anything that could be classed as a weapon so i dont know i i could get away with it.
Unless you have a legitimate reason for having a knife of any description with you, you can get into trouble for it. Considering there was that case in Melbourne where a retail worker got fined for having her work knife on her
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/cops-fine-teen-1000-for-carrying-work-issue-box-cutters/story-fn7x8me2-1226035333999But imo I don't see why you couldn't use something else instead, such as a letter opener.
As far as portable spell equipment goes, I tend to just use what i find. The only thing i'd consider taking with me is a small amount of some water i keep(usually collected rain water thats been left outside in the moonlight)