Henry Davis and David Bozeman were cotton gin manufacturers in Elmore County, just north of Montgomery, Alabama prior to the War. At the outset of the War, Davis and Bozeman made a contract with the state of Alabama to manufacture 1000 rifles on the 1841 Mississippi rifle pattern. The contract was later amended to allow the production of carbines. It seems this was done as a way of utilizing parts unfit for the production of rifles. When the last deliveries, 40 rifles and 20 carbines, were made in November of 1864 it was recorded that 882 rifles and 89 carbines had been delivered to the state of Alabama. Serial number 15 shown here is one of the carbines that utilize a cut down Davis & Bozeman rifle barrel. This is likely the lowest serial number D & B Carbine known., The breech is stamped ALA. 1864. The clamping style barrel bands, the trigger guard assembly, nose cap and the butt plate are made of brass. 15 is stamped into the back of the lock and into the inner side of the hammer. VI is cut into the underside of the barrel’s breech and into the breech tang.

The gun is in beautifully original untouched condition and has a rich original patina. This exact carbine is shown on page 75 and 76 of Confederate Carbines and Musketoons, by Dr. John Murphy

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