LOL! great humor as always Wayne
Absolutely love New Orleans, and have been going there for many years. There is so much fascinating history, and you cannot beat the music and food. This city has been a key location through American history, and intriguing how many nations flags have flown there over the years.
These stilettos were deadly as noted with the manner of stabbing, repeated stabs where the weapon is not lodged but causes massive hemorrhaging wounds, much in the way a 'shiv' is used in the grim business in attack in prisons.
With the Bowies, far too large for this sort of carriage of course, many were indeed made in Sheffield, in fact in larger number than made here in many respects. It is not commonly realized just how many English weapons were used in American frontiers, not just the knives but often the pistols.
This example you are getting is of course a bit long for discreet wear by one of these 'ladies of the night', but probably able to be concealed by men who frequented shady places in those times wearing frock coats. Knives were often carried as in cities open carry wearing of firearms was prohibited. Often carrying small pocket pistols was done, but many of these, especially the cheap available kinds, were called 'suicide pistols' presumably for misfire rate or other issues.