Aficionados of history talk the trade

The faint smell of a campfire filled Kootenai County Fairgrounds buildings Saturday as craftsmen, fur traders, traditional firearms dealers and history buffs met to buy and sell their wares at the 11th annual Muzzleloading Arms and Historical Crafts Show.

The get-together is reminiscent of the “rendezvous” of bygone years when fur trappers and traders would meet to restock their supplies for the coming year, said Chris Roberts, of Mountain Top Trading Co., sponsor of the event.

Many of the items sold at the event are purchased by people who participate in club-sponsored re-creations of historic camps held across the country from spring to fall.

“A lot of times it starts out with people interested in shooting and guns, then the rest of the family gets interested in the history, costumes and crafts part of it,” Roberts said. “Individuals and families can go as far as they want with it.”

This is the seventh year Chris Roberts and his parents, Tony and Judy Roberts, of Colfax, have sponsored the event.

Tony Roberts said that when they first started, about 600 people attended the two-day event. This year they expect about 1,500.

“It’s grown and expanded every year. We’re getting folks in from all over Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alberta and B.C.,” said Tony Roberts. “We’ve got everything here from sewing needles to tepees.”

Bob Twito, a marketing manager for a grocery store in Anchorage, Alaska, flew down to sell fur pelts. He admitted that bringing reindeer antlers, guns and fox and beaver skins can make getting through airport security a challenge, but it’s worth it.

“It’s like a vacation for me,” Twito said.

Bob Gray, of Libby, Mont., may spend $50 in gasoline traveling around looking for the perfect larch stump for the burl-wood base for his handmade knives. The knives are polished to perfection and sell for about $200 each.

“If 100 people go through here, maybe one or two will really appreciate the huge amount of time it takes me to make these,” Gray said.

Some vendors come from closer to home. Ann Bohart, a professional weaver from Hayden Lake, demonstrated yarn spinning at the event.

The wool comes from Lillian, a sheep from Sandpoint. Bohart dyes the wool blue using indigo leaves she has grown in her garden.

Spinning is her hobby.

“It’s very soothing, and it’s cheaper than Prozac,” Bohart said.

The event continues today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4060 N. Government Way in Coeur d’Alene.

Admission is $3; free for children younger than 12 when accompanied by an adult.