Early Dixie barrel

[Apple]

I am considering the purchase of a .40 flintlock from a fellow who claims it has a Dixie Gun Works barrel from 1955. If that's the case according to some cursory research it would from their first year or so of business. Does anyone have any info about these barrels? Who actually produced them? Any opinions as to quality, accuracy, safety? Or any other advice on how to evaluate a rifle through pictures/email before driving 6 hours to see it (and hopefully buy it) in person.  I would be buying it from the maker and his work is beautiful aesthetically but I need it to be a shooter too.

Thanks in advance for sharing some knowledge with a newcomer. 

[Treebeard]

i shot one around ‘61-‘62 And it was excellent. I believe it was made in Belgium and so marked on the barrel.  Used a .395 ball and pillow ticking patching. Wish I still had it.

[Hungry Horse]

The barrels were 1 in 48 twist with rifling about six thousandths deep. They shot well, but the rest of the gun was marginal at best. With rifling that shallow, it won’t take too many shots to wear it out.

  Hungry Horse