This Smith carbine was manufactured by the American Machine Works of Springfield, Massachusetts. The Smith Carbine was one of the most important Federal Cavalry carbines. A total of 30,362 Smith Carbines were purchased by the United States during the Civil War. Smith Carbines were considered to be accurate and reliable weapons. The carbine has a blued barrel, casehardened receiver, hammer, barrel band and buttplate, and niter blue trigger guard and barrel latch. The stock and forearm are oil-finished black walnut. The carbine is fitted with a folding leaf rear sight on the barrel and a sling bar and ring on the left side of the frame. The left side of the frame is marked: "ADDRESS/POULTNEY & TRIMBLE/BALTIMORE U.S.A." in three horizontal lines above the sling bar and "SMITH'S PATENT/JUNE 23, 1857" in two vertical lines near the breech. The serial number is located on the barrel lug and on the receiver lugs. An Ordnance sub-inspection mark, "L.F.R." is stamped on the left barrel flat. The Ordnance final inspector's and sub-inspector's script initials are stamped in a rectangle and an oval on the left side of the stock wrist.