If you 'really' want an example of what was actually carried and used - get a carbon steel butcher knife.
Those were sold by traders, sutlers, hardware stores, etc - and were carried by everyone who needed a good blade for general use - many were sold without handles, as they were easier to ship - and were handled with antler and wood, with the Indians rawhide-wrapping them and decorating the sheaths.
They may seem somewhat prosaic, but the 'real' Old West wasn't a Louis L'Amour novel with big bowies and damascus blades.
Scouts Out!