The Smith carbine was designed by Dr. Gilbert Smith of Buttermilk Falls, New York, in the late 1850s and was manufactured by the American Machine Works, Massachusetts Arms Company, and American Arms Company in Massachusetts from 1861 to 1865. The Smith was one of the more popular cavalry carbines used during the war. A total of 30,362 Smith carbines were purchased by the United States during the Civil War. Smaller quantities of the carbines were sold commercially including through Schuyler, Hartley & Graham. Confederate forces are known to have captured and used many Smiths as well. Poultney & Trimble served as Gilbert Smith's agents. This American Machine Works carbine has the standard three sets of markings on the left side of the frame and has the standard German silver blade front sight and notch and folding ladder rear sight. The stock has a "JH" cartouche on the left, and the barrel has an "L.F.R" inspection mark on the left at the breech.