Hello. This is my first post, and I don't know much about firearms, so please be gentle.

I'm researching, for a potential book, a 1922 incident in my hometown that resulted in a sheriff's death. In researching his background (very little information seems to exist), I've discovered little evidence of any law-enforcement experience prior to about 1908, about three years after he arrived in town. (The city directory of 1910 lists his vocation as "reader"; the following year, a "housepainter and paper hanger" -- maybe peacekeeping was a side gig?)

However, in 1905 he did have in his possession a .38 Smith & Wesson Special, model 1902, which I understand is a military or police weapon. Was this gun available for purchase by the general public, or given only to military/police personnel?

See? Silly question. Fire when ready.

Welcome to the forum. This revolver was available for purchase by the general public and was popular with police forces. I think it became the S&W model 10 later on. Alanfir.

"Military & Police" was simply the nomenclature for that model of S&W revolver. As the previous poster has noted, though, anybody could purchase one.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Back in that period, in the USA, aside from the laws of a few cities (like New York), there were generally no restrictions on the purchase or possession of any weapons of any type (even machine guns) by anyone. And guess what? Crime rates were far lower than at present.