as a dm i let a player use the heirloom weapon trait for a wand-bayonette arcane bond. it let a wand double as a dagger. this way he had a free hand for casting, while being able to make AoO's and holding his wand
I went with a spiked gauntlet for my transmuter. You still have a free hand, it can't be disarmed, and the flavor of it is pretty cool. We went on break for the summer, so I haven't had the opportunity to enhance it in anyway, but I hope to store Spectral Hand in it for my touch spells.