One of my favorite "All in the Family" episodes was when the asked Archie to go on T.V. basically as the average joe, and talk about his views on certain issues of the day...
After he gets home, he says to turn on the tube, so they could watch how he did... So they pan the camera over to the T.V. and there's Archie sitting there, with his hair slicked down because of the makeup people, and talking as only he does, he says (in his unforgettable Bunker voice...) "And you wanna tawk about hijakins? I got a solution that would put an end ta' dees' hijakins tomora'... My answer, Ya arm all da' passengiz... Problem solved..."
The short sword would be superior to the cavalry saber since there might not be room to draw the longer sword. It might even be superior to the 45 ACP since no one will want to get close enough to grab you while you hold the swort sword edge outwards. They might shoot you, but that would happen anyway with the 45 ACP. So the short sword is the way to go.