You'll note in the following that in 1863 and 1864, the 8th were equipped with pistols, sabres and carbines. [The carbines being mentioned specifically in 1864, in addition to the pistols and sabres still cited as in use.] Also note that the 8th did *not* fight "mostley dismounted" as purported by Brewer...even the best of sources have errors!

EIGHTH CONFEDERATE CAVALRY 1861- 1865 by George Knox Miller

An outline history of this splendid regiment of "light horse"…

Feb. 1863 - driven in closely followed by a brigade of cavalry consisting of the 4th Regulars, 4th Michigan, 3rd Kentucky and 7th Pennsylvania. They came down the pike in column at a charge with flanking battalions in line on either flank in the open fields. Colonel Prather formed his men in column on the pike between high staked-and-ridered cedar fences on either side. We met the enemy’s column with a counter charge and after a glorious but ineffectual, hand-to-hand combat with pistols and sabres, were simply overwhelmed. Captains Moore, Thompson and Miller yielded under sabre strokes and with some twenty-five of the men were captured, carried to Eaglesville and were safely guarded that night by a division of infantry, two batteries of artillery and the brigade of cavalry under General Minty that had comprised the whole expedition on our pike. Next day the prisoners, nearly all with sabre-cuts, […] There were a few men, in the camp proper, who were so suddenly aroused that they did not have time to dress or saddle the few horses tethered in camp, but many of them buckled on sabres and pistols, mounted bareback and beat a hasty short retreat until they could be properly aligned and then charged the enemy and drove them pell-mell from the camp, capturing some of them.
[…]
May 9, 1864 – The writer still had a shot or two in his "navy six" and fired at the cowardly fellow…
[…]
May 9, 1864 – Following them in their flight brought us again to the main road and a view of the open fields. Here a scene was presented that to the Confederates was exhilarating beyond expression. Over that open field, in wild disorder, hats dropping, canteens flapping, officers yelling, steeds dropping their riders, every man for himself and all for a place of safety, madly rushed, scrambled, hobbled, struggled and roared a mass of more than 2500 defeated, disorganized, demoralized Federal cavalry, while behind them with pistol, sabre or carbine in hand, yelling like Comanches, their long hair flowing behind them, their nimble fingers pulling the triggers of their trusty six-shooters, rode in indomitable, if not incomparable, Texans and Arkansans, not more than 800 in all told, but every man a host. We pursued the discomfited, routed Federals until they found shelter behind their infantry and artillery entrenchments, when General Wheeler had "recall" sounded and we fell back to the line where we had first struck them, and unmolested held the field until nightfall and until we were called to another post of danger and battle.

Additional info from George Knox Miller:

"Brewer’s History of Alabama states that the 8th Confederate in the “Dalton-Atlanta” campaign “fought mostly dismounted”. The reverse is true; and the statement would fully apply to the 1st, 3rd and 10th 'Confederate' in the same brigade, but the 8th was strictly 'light-horse
cavalry' and so operated to the end." Source: George Knox Miller, Captain, 8th Conf. Cavalry, Company A