Hello Historians! I have a real quick question. I'm currently working on a novel that mixes a little bit of historical fiction with fantasy. Mostly fantasy, which is what i'm good at, I'm actually not particularly good at Historical which is why there isn't much of it. But, what there is concerns a sheriff, and i'm hoping you fine folks can help me answer some questions.

First Question: The character I have currently listed as a sheriff in a town in the 1860s. What kind of gun would a sheriff from that time era carry?

Second Question: How likely is it that someone from that time period would know how to do something like make bullets? Was that common knowledge for that time period or relatively rare?

Third Question: I've read lots of places that the "Western" movie fashion sense of what sheriff's in the old west wore is pretty incorrect, but i have a lot of conflicting answers to what they actually wore when i look it up online. What would someone from that time period really wear?

Fourth Question: My research has also shown that the sheriff's stars that are so famous also tended to vary wildly, is there any chance someone could give me a better explanation as to why that is and what would be normal material/shape for a sheriff?

Thanks for the help in advance, it means a lot.