Did Dixie Gun Works have their own private label rifles at one time ?
Yes they did. They contracted with different overseas manufacturers over the years which accounts for the various changes in a model with time. My first black powder gun was a Dixie 1851 Navy Colt replica, made (IIRC) by Pietta. That was in 1968. I believe that a lot of their imports (under their name) were by Armi San Marcos.
~Kees~