COEUR d’ALENE — Several golden-colored buckskin hides dangled from a rack behind Ron Nail as he described the hobby and history of brain tanning.

“Native Americans in this country were using the brain-tanned buckskin before Europeans ever arrived here,” said Nail, of Whitefish, Mont. “Some form of brain tan has been used around the world for centuries, probably several thousand years.”

Brain tanning requires using the animal’s brain to treat the hide and was a common practice in pioneer life.

“Lewis and Clark wore this stuff. Our frontiersman, mountain men, it was the material that was readily available,” Nail said.

“They could kill the animal and right on the spot with natural materials they could do the whole process,” Nail added.

Nail and about 30 other traders and vendors were on site during the 19th annual Muzzleloading Arms and Pioneer Craft Show at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, which took place Saturday and Sunday.

Those who walked into Building 1 during the show took a step back in time as they inhaled the smoky-sweet scent of freshly tanned hides, browsed tables of antique tools, examined pre-Civil War-era firearms and exchanged knowledge with others who share a passion for history. Literature, maps, hand-made knives, accessories and an amalgamation of other historical items were also on display or for sale.

Gail Maehler of Harrison said she enjoyed watching a lady spin yarn on an old yarn winder.

“That somebody has an interest to put an effort into something you could just go out and buy, but yet, they like to bring history back and repeat it and just enjoy how we got here,” she said. “This is what people had to do to live at one point.”

Western artist and sculptor Gabe Gabel of Sagle presented artwork of Native Americans, wild horses, wolves and more. She is a buckskinner and has participated in the show for several years.

“A lot of the people here are not only interested in Native American subjects, a lot of them ride horses and they all love wildlife,” she said.

The pioneer arms and crafts show has been organized by the Mountain Top Trading Company for the last 15 years. Owner Tony Roberts of Colfax, Wash., was among several who got into the spirit and wore mountain man garb during the event.

“We try to encourage folks to wear period gear, it kind of helps with the atmosphere,” he said, smiling.

He explained that many of the traders belong to various historical groups that come together throughout the year to participate in rendezvous campouts where they can utilize their knowledge and pioneer skills. This varies from archery and Dutch oven cooking to blacksmithing and firestarting.

“It keeps our history alive. It really does, it keeps our history alive,” Roberts said. “The way things are going nowadays, they’re not teaching this in school.

“It’s all original, all by hand. Everything was made by hand. Normally you don’t get to see that kind of stuff. It’s so cool.”

Bob “Skinner” Kelley of Post Falls wore a beaver cap and a 1920s handmade knife in a sheath around his neck. He will serve as the booshway, or main organizer, of the Coeur d’Alene Muzzleloaders rendezvous in June. He said he thought the show had a good turnout and he really enjoyed talking to people about the crafts, skills and ways of the days from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War.

“Back then, you took care of yourself. You didn’t depend on somebody else. You had to be able to depend on yourself, and that’s a lot of what we teach, like firestarting,” Kelley said. “You will learn a lot about how people managed on their own. People went out West and they just had to do it on their own. They couldn’t even go next door because next door might be 40 miles away. They had to do it, they didn’t get choices, they just did it.”