There’s really no better place for a gun show to be held than a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

That was the case on the weekend of Sept. 26-27 at Buddy Howell’s sixth annual gun show at the Libby VFW Harper Erdman Post 148.

Of course, long and hand guns of various vintages, makes and models were the major draw for the hundreds of people who attended the show. But ammunition and other outdoor gear were also for sale.

Howell is the owner and operator of Eagle Outfitters, located at 214 Mineral Ave. Howell's parents settled in Libby following World War II and he has plenty of family here. His father's work took them to Missoula and many other locales. Buddy was born in Missoula.   

Howell, who retired from the U.S. Army, founded Eagle Outfitters in 2008 while living in Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government/Criminal Justice.

But the goal was to get back to Montana and buying the location on Mineral Avenue made it happen.

“I did several gun shows in Texas and after I got settled here, it was good to get them up and running here,” Howell said.

While Howell doesn’t sell guns at Eagle Outfitters, also known as “The Montana Trump” store, the business offers a wide variety of merchandise. It has hunting, fishing and camping gear, gun accessories, ammunition, sports cards and collectibles, jerseys, helmets and more.

Howell expects to have another show at the VFW next spring.

The show featured some light-hearted moments, particularly when Libby resident Rachel Reynolds helped Rob Hughes, long-time owner of the Troubled Shooter in Libby, celebrate his birthday on Saturday by making him a balloon animal hat.

Reynolds, a Spokane native who was raised in Seattle, was able to move to Libby where her mother lived years ago.

Hughes has been keeping area gun owners’ firearms operating properly for nearly 32 years at his full service gun smithing shop. 

Another gun dealer located in the Yaak had several long guns, but one of particular note - the venerable Springfield M-1 Garand rifle.

John Cantius Garand, the maker of the M-1 semi-automatic, was born on New Year's Day, 1888 in St. Remi in the Canadian province of Quebec.

According to a story on nramuseum.org, in the words of General George S. Patton, the .30 caliber Garand was “the greatest battle implement ever devised." 

General Douglas MacArthur added, "The Garand rifle . . . is one of the greatest contributions to our armed forces." 

Garand’s top award was in March 1944, when he was presented with the Civilian Medal of Honor for "exceptionally meritorious service to his country." He continued his work at Springfield Armory until his retirement in 1953, after 34 years of service.

Read more about Garand, his work and the M-1 at https://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/innovation,-oddities-and-competition/case-25-camp-perry/us-springfield-m1-garand-national-match-semi-automatic-rifle.aspx.

    A vast collection of long guns, including the venerable Springfield M-1 Garand rifle, were on sale Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the gun show at the Libby VFW Harper Erdman Post 148. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    A variety of firearms were on display and for sale at Rob Hughes’ tables Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the gun show at the Libby VFW Harper Erdman Post 148. Hughes is the long-time owner of the Troubled Shooter in Libby. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Cast bullets were just one of the many items on display Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the gun show at the Libby VFW Harper Erdman Post 148. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)