I just came across this site by accident and thought that I would reply to your question. My research found that a large majority of the companies in this unit carried three band Enfield rifles, Mississippi rifles, caprured Federal carbines and a smattering of small side arms, mainly Colt revolvers. The only company that was fully accourted as cavalry (having carbine, saber, revolvers and horse) was Captain James S. A. Crawford's Company F, known as the Night Hawk Rangers. The carbines that were used ranged from Sharps carbines from early war to late war and to a large amount of captured Spencer carbines that were captured by the 17th Virginia Cavalry in 1865. The men used these weapons until the amunition that they had captured for them ran out. Several of the men from Company C reported only having a few rounds left for their Spencers when they broke out and retreated from Appomattox. In the early part of the war many men brought their own personal guns from home that ranged from squirrel rifles, shot guns, hunting rifles and old military muskets that had served in previous American conflicts. By January 1863 when the unit was formed out of various other cavalry units from Jenkins' Brigade the men did not have much better armes than they did at the start of the war. Several companies reported as having no revolvers, carbines or horses. Their first great boon, was the capture of large Federal stores of ammunition and rifles and carbines near Berryville and Winchester. More were captured at Bunker Hill, (W.) Va., and Martinsburg. The regiment and the brigade continued to capture more arms, ammunition and horse flesh as they pushed into Pennsylvania. It should be noted that by the time the regiment reached Gettysburg that a large part of the regiment was well armed. It should also be noted that many companies were well armed before going into Pennsylvania, while other companies in the regiment and the brigade reported only having a revolver or a saber per man. Company F, did the majority of the cavalry on cavalry action and they usually led the van. What the regiment lacked in weaponry in the early days they made up for in fighting spirit and were absolutly wild when in a charge or on the skirmish line.
I hope that this little bit helps in your research.
Best Wishes,
Brian Stuart Kesterson
Campaigning with the 17th Virginia Cavalry, Night Hawks at Monocacy

PS: I think that if all goes well and the world does not end in 2012 I will re-publish the book in 2013...B.K.